Gloucester Township Observer Podcast - April 21st, 2025

April 14th Council Meeting Recap

Pennco Tech donates $20K to Jakes Playground.

Ordinance 0-25-11 Block Parties
Ordinance 0-25-12, 13, 14 New Parking restrictions, Stop signs and One Way Streets

Consent Agenda
Nash votes NO on new lighting that was never discussed prior to this meeting.
The 2025 Municipal Budget is being introduced. No Increase.

E-Gov
We kick off E-Gov with a new description of E-Gov and find out you have to be verified to ask questions.
Dena Hendry asks questions about bid splitting.

2nd Public Portion
Ray
- Asks about the bank building and the money spent. The term for this is called “Throwing Good Money After Bad”
- Asks when the Art’s District will become at Arts District. This is like the Fire Festival in the Bahamas.
- Can you put the MUA back together?
- Doesn’t like that you can’t anonymously send in E-Govs

Smithman almost rides back to Millbridge in the back of a police car.

Brian Burns
- The new format and thanks Nash for standing up for dialog.
- Is Hickstown Road going to become a Redevelopment Zone?
o Orlando stated that Council cannot comment on a potential project because doing so might affect the Planning Board process. However, that position does not apply to Form A applications. These applications are not site plan approvals—they are infrastructure decisions. The fact that Form A applications come before Council for a vote suggests that Council has both the authority and the responsibility to review and decide whether extending sewer service is appropriate, especially when a property is environmentally sensitive or subject to recommended zoning changes.

By approving the Form A for this project, Council enabled the development process to proceed. If the applicant now submits a plan that conforms to current zoning and technical requirements, the Planning Board will be obligated to approve it. At that stage, the Board cannot deny the application solely based on community concern or environmental considerations, even if those concerns are valid.

That is why the Master Plan Reexamination Report, adopted in June 2024, is so important. The report clearly recommends that the properties in question be reconsidered for rezoning or be addressed through a formal Redevelopment Plan due to their proximity to residential uses and recognized environmental value. These parcels are also identified by the NJDEP as part of a Natural Heritage Site.

Gloucester Township is entirely designated as an “Area in Need of Rehabilitation.” Under New Jersey law, this designation allows the Council to initiate a Redevelopment Plan without a finding of blight. Therefore, Council had both the legal authority and the planning rationale to take action to protect this land before approving the sewer extension. To date, that opportunity has not been acted on.

It is misleading to suggest that Council has no role or is prevented from weighing in. The time to act is before a formal site plan is filed—when Council can shape the direction of development through zoning, redevelopment, or infrastructure decisions. By not acting on the recommendations in the Master Plan, it allowed this project to move forward by default. Why did they spend tax payer dollars on Master Plan reexamination report if they are not going to follow the report's recommendations?

Ira Eckstien
- Has questions about the lights that Mr. Nash voted no to and everyone else just let slip by.

RVs in driveways.

Denise Coyne
- Remind council they are responsible for the budget.

Chief explains later that they are limited in what they can do whent it comes to punishing children that cause large fights.

Helen gives her thoughts on camping.