Vote on COAH land delayed

Wed, Sep 23, 2009 at 2:53 pm

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By AUBRIE GEORGE | The Moorestown Sun
Council extended public hearings for two ordinances pertaining to land purchase and pay-to-play contracts that were up for final adoption last week.
On last week’s agenda was a vote on a $1.4 million bond ordinance that would put funds in place to purchase 2.75 acres of land at the lower southeast corner of Main Street and Marter Avenue.
Council has been looking at the land to possibly fulfill a portion of new construction for the 412 units of affordable housing the township is responsible to implement by 2018 under state Council on Affordable Housing third-round regulations.
The township already owns two parcels of land – the Maybury tract on Westfield Road and the Nagle tract at Centerton and Hartford Roads – on which they hope to build 180 new affordable housing units.
However, studies that were done by concerned citizens indicate that environmental constraints may mean the Maybury tract may not be as developable as the township originally thought, Mayor Dan Roccato said.
To help fulfill the obligations, Council had planned to use 96 existing units owned by MEND (Moorestown Ecumenical Neighborhood Development) as credits toward their requirements. However, COAH officials only deemed 78 of those units as eligible – leaving the plan 18 units short.
Mayor Dan Roccato, said the township is out at least 18 units and could be out more if a portion of the Maybury tract is deemed un-developable – suggesting a need for a third parcel of land for new construction of affordable housing units.
See this week’s print edition of The Sun for the full story.

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2 Responses to “Vote on COAH land delayed”

Cathy Says:
October 21st, 2009 at 11:38 pm

I am appalled. Moorestown is going to spend $1.4 million to buy a “different” parcel of land to place the required affordable housing units? UNBELIEVABLE WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY. Moorestown already OWNS land that is perfect for this endeavor – EXCEPT, the wealthy neighbors in that “section” of town REFUSE to have that type of “Traffic” in their “section of town” – Maybury Tract. Translation- we don’t want them in our part of the neighborhood. Your article FAILS to mention that the council is considering placing the affordable housing on Flynn Ave, less than 2 miles from the other TWO sets of affordable housing. Flynn is in the “poorer” section of Moorestown – regular hard working middle class and retired professionals live there. Moorestown Twp is unfairly distributing the affordable housing units – disparate treatment, affecting mostly African American and middle class families. SHAME on THEM. SHAME on the residents of Moorestown for thinking that because they live in million dollar homes, they can SHIRK their responsibility – I guess MONEY really does BUY anything – even an unfair advantage. WE WILL FIGHT. Get ready! No more affordable housing on this side of the “tracks”.
Mayor, Council Members, do not WASTE our tax dollars on purchasing another parcels of land in order to appease the more affluent Moorestonians. If they want affordable housing moved to another section, make them foot the bill – and don’t make it Flynn Ave – we have our FAIR SHARE!

Rick Says:
November 19th, 2009 at 12:45 pm

Hold on to your hat Kathy it only gets worse. Now our council has proposed placing this housing on the last open space parcel located in Lenola. We have been dumped on time and time again when Moorestown East has something that they dont want in their end of town. And if past history repeats itself as soon as they approve the Wesley Bishop site you can guarantee that they will continue to shift more of the burden to this alternate location as they discover more enviromental issues up town. Looks like our fair share just got bigger! Your right money does buy anything, a town council.

Cathy Says:
October 21st, 2009 at 11:38 pm
I am appalled. Moorestown is going to spend $1.4 million to buy a “different” parcel of land to place the required affordable housing units? UNBELIEVABLE WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY. Moorestown already OWNS land that is perfect for this endeavor – EXCEPT, the wealthy neighbors in that “section” of town REFUSE to have that type of “Traffic” in their “section of town” – Maybury Tract. Translation- we don’t want them in our part of the neighborhood. Your article FAILS to mention that the council is considering placing the affordable housing on Flynn Ave, less than 2 miles from the other TWO sets of affordable housing. Flynn is in the “poorer” section of Moorestown – regular hard working middle class and retired professionals live there. Moorestown Twp is unfairly distributing the affordable housing units – disparate treatment, affecting mostly African American and middle class families. SHAME on THEM. SHAME on the residents of Moorestown for thinking that because they live in million dollar homes, they can SHIRK their responsibility – I guess MONEY really does BUY anything – even an unfair advantage. WE WILL FIGHT. Get ready! No more affordable housing on this side of the “tracks”.
Mayor, Council Members, do not WASTE our tax dollars on purchasing another parcels of land in order to appease the more affluent Moorestonians. If they want affordable housing moved to another section, make them foot the bill – and don’t make it Flynn Ave – we have our FAIR SHARE!
Rick Says:
November 19th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Hold on to your hat Kathy it only gets worse. Now our council has proposed placing this housing on the last open space parcel located in Lenola. We have been dumped on time and time again when Moorestown East has something that they dont want in their end of town. And if past history repeats itself as soon as they approve the Wesley Bishop site you can guarantee that they will continue to shift more of the burden to this alternate location as they discover more enviromental issues up town. Looks like our fair share just got bigger! Your right money does buy anything, a town council.

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