No More Encroachment: Moorestown Establishes Law About Invading Open Space Land

Moorestown residents will now have to think twice before

The Moorestown Zoning Officer now has more power to enforce regulations on encroachment.

Moorestown Council unanimously passed an ordinance establishing rules and regulations over encroachments into public space land Monday night.

The ordinance tackles an increasing problem in which property owners have been encroaching on adjoining dedicated spaces in Moorestown, including extending their backyards and maintaining land that should be left in its natural state.

The ordinance came at the suggestion of the Zoning Officer, who was powerless to stop these encroachments, Township Manager Scott Carew said.

The proposed ordinance defines encroachment as any unauthorized activity on Township Open Space or easement that damages or changes the land, vegetation, drainage, groundwater or other features.

No encroachment will be allowed unless the Township gives its expressed written consent.

Anyone who violates the ordinance would be given 45 days to correct the encroachment. Anyone who doesn’t correct their violation would be fined up to $500 for each additional day the encroachment continues.

Other ordinances approved on first reading on April 13 included:

• The appropriation of $150,000 and the borrowing of $142,500 for preliminary engineer and design expenses for the reconstruction of the municipal parking lot, along with related costs;
• Adding a provision increasing the required escrow for conditional use applications from $300to $1,200;
• amending the definition of a billboard sign; and
• amending various sign regulations.

There will be a 90-day period in which residents will be educated on the new ordinance before it takes effect, Mayor Victoria Napolitano said.