Voorhees Planning Board split its vote, with the board attorney saying the deadlock equates to a denial by law.
By SEAN DEVLIN
The Sun
Voorhees residents won’t be purchasing hoagies near the corner of Kresson Road and Route 73 for quite a long time — if ever.
At the Aug. 8 Voorhees Township Planning Board meeting, after nearly three and a half hours of deliberation, the board was deadlocked in a vote to approve VRI-W/J&J Voorhees II LLC’s application to build a Super Wawa and Tractor Supply Company store near the intersection. The board voted twice on Aug. 8, both votes led to a stalemate. By law, that equates to a denial of an application, according to board solicitor CherylLynn Walters.
Much of the evening was focused on meeting the needs of multiple variances, including moving the Tractor Supply Store forward 20 feet to include a further vegetation buffer with residential properties and also including privacy measures to block light and glare. The board also required the applicant to ensure tractor trailers would not be used as storage units on the property.
The applicant agreed to all of this and more. However, the Achilles’ heel of the application seemed to be the proposed driveway located behind T.D. Bank with the exit/entry way onto Kresson Road and the possible left-turn lane included in the site plans. This turn lane would require approval from the county. The applicant’s attorney, Timothy Prime, stated T.D. Bank has agreed to share a driveway with the potential store.
While the applicant agreed to spend nearly $1 million to add a three-lane exit/entry way onto Kresson Road along the Route 73 intersection to improve traffic conditions, residents and multiple board members voiced concerns about the already congested intersection and the increased light pollution to homes across the street from the proposed driveway.
“We’ve agreed to meet with [residents],” Prime said. Mentioning a wall or a line of vegetation, he said, “Doesn’t matter left or right, that has to be dealt with either way.”
Planning board engineer Rakesh J. Darji said, “T.D. Bank has certain hours and during the summer, there are not people with their lights on leaving the bank.”
Darji was making reference to the fact the proposed Wawa is a 24-hour operation and the additional traffic, along with an added turning lane, presents an issue.
Anthony Nicini was the first to offer his disapproval of the application.
“You’ve had me swayed a few times but after five times meeting here and reviewing everything that was said, I feel it is best for the community at this time that this application not be approved,” he said.
Vaughn Vandegrift seconded the motion which led into the initial vote.
Kelly Jo Stroemel voted in favor of the application.
“The bottom line for me was that this was permitted use. This was zoned for major business. This is on Route 73, and I truly believe the grass might not be greener on the other side if something else comes in,” she said.
Stroemel stated that while she is concerned about the intersection, she is encouraged by the applicant’s willingness to pay for road improvements rather than have costs fall on taxpayers.
Deputy Mayor Jason Ravitz said, “I’m going to vote to deny the application, but I will allow respect for Mr. Prime and developers and thank them for having interest in our town.”
Ravitz mentioned he believes residents around the site would experience more negatives than positives if the project came to fruition.
While the project was denied, the applicant has the opportunity to appeal the decision and present the board with a different application.
Board members Anthony Nicini, Vaughn Vandegrift, Jason Ravitz and Chairman Tom Fanelli voted to deny the application.
In favor were Kelly Jo Stroemel, Stella Sytnik, Mario DiNatale and Subash Rashatwar.
Not present were Brett Waters, David Kleiman, Michelle Nocito and Mayor Michael Mignogna.
Many of the residents opposing the application are represented by attorney Howard N. Sobel.
