Borough commissioners recently passed an ordinance on second reading they believe could be one of the most historic ordinances passed in recent years.
Commissioners held a special meeting on Wednesday, April 6 where they unanimously approved the adoption of the Bancroft Redevelopment Plan on second reading, taking them one step closer to the borough’s purchase of the property.
“This is a plan that is going to affect this town for 100 years or more when you think about it. I don’t think we’ve done anything this important probably since the adoption of the historic district ordinance. I put this on that level of importance,” Mayor Jeff Kasko said.
The goal of the Bancroft redevelopment plan is to expand the public open space in Haddonfield for active and passive recreation, foster the development of an age-targeted and affordable residential development, provide room for the expansion of Haddonfield Board of Education facilities, and retain the 1886 Lullworth Hall and the other preservable historic facilities on site. To achieve that goal, the plan establishes a set of objectives based on public input conveyed over the many years during which Bancroft property redevelopment has been considered.
“I’m pleased to see we have a plan that is both flexible and has a mix of uses … I think it is a good plan that is balanced, gives flexibility for the future and that ends up not being a burden on the taxpayers of the town,” Kasko said.
According to Kasko, there would be little to no tax increase due to resources being used to pay for the bonds. Those resources are payment from the developer, open space monies, rent from the Bancroft institution and the eventual taxpayers on the property.
Commissioner John Moscatelli wanted to remind residents that this plan is not set in stone and can be modified through the same redevelopment process it has taken thus far.
“There will be ample time for public input on what actually will go there … It will be at least two years before Bancroft vacates the property. In that time, things can change,” Moscatelli said.
All three commissioners expressed pleasure with the plan and thanked all of those who were involved.
“It took us a long time to get here … As Jeff said, when someone is looking back 100 years from now (I hope they say) that we got it right,” Commissioner Neal Rochford said. “I think it is a balanced plan, and I look forward to working with it and our professionals and the public to get this done.”
Members of the public thanked the commissioners and all of the other professionals involved throughout the process for their hard work.
“From our standpoint, we’re very grateful to the municipality for the effort you put in and for the planning board’s guidance, and we strongly urge the adoption of the ordinance this evening,” attorney Jeffrey Baron of the Voorhees firm Baron and Brennan, which represents the Haddonfield Citizens Group, said.
Commissioners unanimously approved the redevelopment plan as was presented to them by the Planning Board. A copy of the redevelopment plan can be found on the borough website at www.haddonfieldnj.org.
The next step in the process is for commissioners to introduce a bond ordinance to cover the acquisition costs, which was planned to be done at their next meeting on Tuesday, April 12. If passed, there will be a second reading and public hearing. Due to the redevelopment law as well as the bond law, there is no need to go out for a public vote.
The process will continue with advertising and going out for notes to pay for the bonds. This is all expected to happen within the next two months, so that 2 Hopkins Lane, LLC, Brian O’Neill of Recovery Centers of America’s buying company, and Bancroft can be paid by June 30.
