It’s official. Pennrose is out, the Miles site is out and a new location at 307 Harper Drive is in as of last Monday’s Moorestown Township Council meeting. Council passed a resolution on first reading authorizing the purchase of the site to construct affordable housing, and it also passed a pair of ordinances amending the township’s settlement agreement with Fair Share Housing and amending the site’s zoning to allow for affordable multi-family housing.
The new site is located at the corner of Harper Road and East Gate Drive, a location just down the street from the Moorestown Mall. The site will be 100 percent affordable housing hosting 75 units.
Resident Craig Roberts, a member of the Resident Action Coalition, questioned if the township is considering building a four-story building and wondered if it had looked into purchasing space at the adjacent, vacant parking lot, which is also owned by the same party who possesses 307 Harper Drive.
Township Manager Thomas Neff said part of what’s being discussed as part of the township’s negotiations is that they would make 50 parking spots available on the adjacent lot. He said, right now, the township is certain it can build a four-story building to house the 75 units, but it might be able to fit the units in three stories. He said the township has yet to choose a developer and won’t know what route it’s going in until that time.
Resident Jeffrey Jones questioned if Walters Homes, which was tapped to build at the Miles site, might have any interest in suing the township in the same way Pennrose has been engaged in litigation. Neff said Walters Homes knew from the beginning there was a possibility that they might not move forward with the site.
“We have no reason to believe that Walters Homes would sue us or otherwise litigate over this,” Neff said. “They’ve been nothing but cooperative.”
Jones also inquired if the township has any developer in mind for the site. Locatell said he identified the site for the township, and he gave the property owner contact information for a Pennrose representative.
“My intention was if we can give Pennrose an alternative location, we can pull them out of the litigation that’s costing the town and neighbors a lot of money,” Locatell said.
Mayor Lisa Petriello said, while she’d also like to see an end to the litigation surrounding Pennrose, her feeling is that the township should still solicit requests for proposals from other developers. Deputy Mayor Nicole Gillespie echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that they want to construct the best possible site and should therefore try to get the best ideas on how to do so.
Resident Roberta Scott commended council’s choice of property. She said there’s a national trend happening where developers are building residential properties surrounding commercial real estate. She said in King of Prussia, apartments have been seamlessly integrated near the mall creating a “highly desirable” and “urban like” setting in a suburban area.
Scott said these apartments could mark the beginning of an interesting trend for Moorestown. She said Moorestown is currently mostly single homes, but these apartments might encourage more townhouses and rentals to come to the area.
“This is actually a pretty desirable way to go,” Scott said.
Former councilman Greg Newcomer also commended the choice. He said some residents have previously voiced complaints about the site being located on the “other side of 38,” but he said having lived on that side of 38 himself, he and his neighbors still feel like part of the Moorestown community.
Petriello said they’ve heard these complaints about the affordable housing being located across Route 38. She said there are already residential communities in that area and there will continue to be more as the full affordable housing plan roles out. She said these new residents will not be isolated from the Moorestown community.
“We are inviting people in; we are not keeping them out,” Petriello said.
In other news:
- Council issued a proclamation declaring Sept. 17 to Sept. 23 National Constitution Week. Michele Juliana, a representative of the Moorestown Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, was on hand to accept.
- The next meeting of Moorestown Township Council will take place on Monday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall.
