Cherry Hill Sun

Tag: cherry hill township council

  • Second read on solar measure postponed

    Courtesy of Cherry Hill Township
    Mayor Dave Fleisher at the Nov. 10 council meeting. The ordinance was approved on first reading at council’s last session on Oct. 27.

    Township council has postponed until December a second reading and public hearing on an ordinance that would amend township zoning regulations on solar energy.

    The ordinance was approved on first reading at the last council session on Oct. 27. If it eventually passes, the measure would repeal and replace the township’s existing section on solar energy to update standards for various types of installations.

    The change would be made with the goal of supporting solar projects that are both a part of the state’s Community Solar Energy Program and that provide benefits to the program’s subscribers, including residents who have low or moderate incomes.

    New standards would also facilitate the development of projects that serve the on-site energy needs of a property’s principal use, whether residential, commercial or public. The ordinance also outlines standards for all ground-mounted solar systems: They cannot exceed 12 feet in height and must be screened off from adjacent property lines and public roads, sidewalks and trails with landscaping or opaque fencing.

    The new second reading and public hearing on the issue will take place at the Dec. 8 council meeting.

    Council also approved two redemption amusement games licenses for the 2026 calendar year for Chuck E. Cheese and Lucky Strike Bowling.

    Since the October council meeting was the first after election day on Nov. 4, Mayor Dave Fleisher spoke about the reelection of council President William Carter III. Councilwomen Sangeeta Doshi and Jill Hulnick congratulated newly elected member Rob Connor, who will join the body in January.

    “Tremendous progress has been made over the last two years, which would not be possible without the leadership and partnership of all of our council members, including those who were reelected last week,” said Fleisher.

    He also addressed the issue of food insecurity in the community caused by the government shutdown and the resulting delay in November’s SNAP allotment, and asked for donations to the township’s Thanksgiving food drive, which runs through Sunday. The shutdown ended last week.

    “Food insecurity is not a new problem in our community,” Fleisher explained. “Uncertainty that has surrounded the SNAP nutritional program … has created even greater urgency for our residents in need at this time of year.”

    Several council members echoed the mayor’s sentiment, emphasizing the need for donations.

    “It’s a wonderful time to give back, and I know my family cleaned out our pantry last weekend and had a lot of good giveaways for those in need,” Doshi said, “so hopefully the community can help with that.”

    The mayor and several council members also made their gratitude for veterans and active-duty service members known in honor of Veterans Day. 

    “I sincerely hope that our veterans are appreciated and supported, because they certainly do deserve it,” said Councilman Daniel DiRenzo.

  • EV stations, solar program addressed by council

    Courtesy of Cherry Hill Township
    Resident Jeffrey Tabello speaks during public session at an Oct. 27 council meeting about increasing no-parking zones on Europa Boulevard.

    Township council approved resolutions for renewable-energy initiatives at its Oct. 27 meeting, including the purchase of four new electric vehicle charging stations.

    The stations will be installed with accessories under the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey (ESCNJ) cooperative pricing system. The stations’ seller is Hamilton-based Bryan Electric, and the purchase is not to exceed $435,984, with $280,000 of the cost offset by state and utility incentives.

    Two Level 2 and two Level 3 charging stations are expected to be constructed at town hall. While they will primarily serve township vehicles, there are plans to allow use by people outside Cherry Hill at specific times and days of the week.

    In her public remarks at the meeting, Councilwoman Jennifer Apell praised fellow member Sangeeta Doshi for her role in advocating for the stations.

    “I’m going to say it because she won’t say it herself, but we should be calling this the Sangeeta Doshi charging station,” Apell said, “because Sangeeta has really been a champion for this. I have to say in every Green Team meeting that we have had, she has pushed for these EV charging stations.” 

    Council also approved a resolution to consult with Gabel Associates Inc. for evaluation and implementation of a community solar program. The measure also authorizes requests for proposals from solar developers to fund, install and operate an energy system at no cost to the township.

    Another ordinance approved on second reading will prohibit parking on certain streets throughout the community at all times. During the meeting’s public session, Jeffrey Tabello of the township’s Europa section spoke in support of the ordinance and asked it to be extended to his neighborhood.

    Several of his neighbors were at the meeting to support the measure. They are also asking the township to increase no-parking zone space and address safety concerns caused by cars from people who don’t live in Europa parking near its entrance, blocking it and making exits less visible. 

    “Our priority is safety, access for fire trucks, emergency vehicles, snow plows,” Tabello explained. “Getting around the median looks like it’s going to be addressed in this ordinance, and we’re just looking to see if we can make it a little bit more restrictive to address the geometry of the roadway on the south side of Europa Boulevard.”

    No decision was made on the issue but council indicated it would discussed further at future meetings. The next council session will be on Monday.

  • Council adds to the township zoning board

    Township council appointed two people to fill vacancies on the Zoning Board of Adjustment and declared the alternate member position vacant at its Oct. 14 meeting.

    Kevin Cockfield was named a regular member to fill an unexpired term that ends on Dec. 31, 2026. Neelima Straiges was also appointed a regular member; she will fill an unexpired term that ends on Dec. 31, 2027.

    Council approved an ordinance on first reading that would prohibit parking at all times on specific streets in the township. An amendment to the revised general ordinance would prohibit parking on Europa Boulevard, at the Marlkress Road entrance, and Jefferson Avenue, at the entrance across from an Erlton South resident’s home.

    The proposed measure comes after requests from residents who hope the change will improve safety and traffic flow in areas where road widths and ingress-egress commissions don’t support concurrent vehicle passage. 

    Now that the amendment has been formally introduced to the council, it will be considered for final adoption after public comment at the next council meeting.

    A consent agenda for the October meeting featured a resolution to authorize the cancellation of property taxes for those approved for a full tax exemption, namely totally disabled veterans or their widows. Another agenda measure will increase the township’s temporary budget for fiscal year 2026 to allow for funding the township payroll and other essential operating expenses until a full budget is adopted. 

    Residents expressed concerns during the meeting’s public comment on a range of issues. Resident Rick Short expressed disappointment that the township’s first statement on the ceasefire in Gaza did not acknowledge the efforts of President Donald Trump. He thanked Mayor Dave Fleisher for rectifying that in his meeting statement.

    Short also expressed concern about consultants in the school district voicing their own political agendas to township students.

    “This town’s either going to be a town of truth or a town of lies,” he said. “So in my speech, it’s kind of the same thing. No one can come to a public mic and praise the radical, crazy consultants we have.” 

    Resident Andy McLean made his opposition to Short’s views known, though he did not specifically mention anyone. 

    “There is a cancer in Cherry Hill,” McLean maintained. “Online trolls have for years been spreading increasingly malicious and blatantly false information about our community, our schools and this council. The cancer is hate being promoted as a reasoned response to what they characterize as hate in our schools and in our community.” 

    The meeting ended with each council member acknowledging recent events related to township diversity and the ceasefire in Gaza.

    The next meeting will be held on Monday in person and via Zoom.