Borough Commissioners introduced amendments to Planning Board for review

The redevelopment site currently includes age targeted townhouses.

Last Wednesday, Nov. 29, borough commissioners introduced amendments to the Bancroft Redevelopment Plan to the Planning Board for review.

The Bancroft school first announced it was moving to a new location 10 years ago, leading to a decade of uncertainty about the future of the property. Haddonfield purchased the property by signing an agreement between Bancroft School and 2 Hopkins Lane, LLC, the buying company of Brian O’Neill of Recovery Centers of America Originally, O’Neill wanted to use the property to open a drug rehab center. The borough paid $12.9 million, which was split between Bancroft at $11.5 million and 2 Hopkins Lane, LLC, at $1.4 million.

An agreement was reached last April to adopt the bancroft redevelopment plan, which led to the purchase of the property. Since then, the borough has been in discussions with the developer to negotiate details of the plan that work for both parties.

“It is our hope that working together we will have a concept that will work for the benefit of Haddonfield for decades to come,” Mayor Neal Rochford said.

“It’s our opinion, the three of us that serve on the board of commissioners, that after 10 years of discussion and debates and studies, plans and proposals, we have gotten to this point where we are very very close to finally having this happen,” Commissioner Jeff Kasko said.

Kaso estimated that about $450,000 was spent on planners, architects, engineers and consultants and attorneys, adding “We didn’t get here quickly and we didn’t get here lightly,” Kasko added.

Member of the Planning Board, John LaProcido asked the commissioners what the impetus was to make amendments to the plan that was collectively approved last April.

“We were trying to make plans closer to the original redevelopment plan, and there was some space between certain aspects of what we considered, what we wanted to see at that site versus what the developer wanted and it took that time to work out those details, “ Rochford said.

The redevelopment plan includes age-targeted townhouses. With 14 goals and objectives, both commissioners and the redeveloper hope to clarify and provide general guidance for the design and development. Some of the amendments to the original plan include increasing the maximum average floor area per townhouse unit from 2,000 square feet to 2,250 square feet, not including basements or attics. Another amendment includes landscape buffers only being required on the perimeter property lines along the Cooper River corridor and wooded area, and was a point of contention for the Planning Board.

The Planning Board had concerns about the cohesive and symmetrical aesthetic of the landscaping and buffer requirements plan.

“So we are going to have this gateway of symmetry and I’m not sure how it exactly lines up with these townhomes. The preservation of that green berm makes a stronger statement coming into Haddonfield versus creating an edge of townhouses that only last on that side of the street for a very short amount of time,” LaProcido said.

During public comment, residents expressed concerns about the future of the Bancroft site and the proposed amendments.

“I am 75 years old and I have lived in Haddonfield for 49 years in the same house. My husband passed away four years ago, we were talking about stairs going up. If I’m going to trade in a house that is maybe $500,000 and buy a townhouse for $600,000 where there’s stairs and no elevator, it’s very difficult,” Valerie Spinanger said.

“I don’t think that we should make any modification. In fact, I think we should ask the planning board what will ‘we get in return?’ I would strongly suggest holding the redeveloper to the redevelopment plan,” resident Jack Tarditi said.

The commissioners are scheduled to meet again with the Planning Board on Dec. 5. At 7:30 p.m. to continue the discussion on the Bancroft site plan. To see the amendments or blueprints, visit www.haddonfieldnj.org/latest_news/bancroft_site_redevelopment_plan.php.