Meetings Set To Discuss Berkeley's Future

BERKELEY, NJ — Residents will have the opportunity to voice their opinions on what the future of Berkeley should look like at two upcoming meetings.

At 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 21, before the Township Council meeting, officials will hold a meeting regarding town center redevelopment.

Berkeley's town center is the site of the Beachwood Mall, which has been vacant for several years.

At the meeting, Council acting as the Redevelopment Entity will consider proposals of possible uses for the site and decide if they fit the site's vision, along with considering amendments to the plan.

"The foregoing may include, but not necessarily be limited to, use(s) involving Retail Goods, Commercial Merchandise, Commercial Service Establishments and other components of the Redevelopment Plan," the public notice for the meeting reads.

Additionally, in June the Township held a "Township Visioning Workshop," with the promise that more meetings would come in the future. The second of these is set for Sept. 5 at 6 p.m.

The first meeting was to gather feedback from residents to craft a visioning statement, which officials said at the time would be the subject of the second meeting. Read more: What Will Berkeley Look Like In 20 Years? Residents Share Ideas

Township Planner James Oris previously insisted that Berkeley intends on striking a balance between smart growth and preservation. Not every bit of green space can be saved, but the township hopes to reduce suburban sprawl as they continue to grow and preserve what they can.

The public is invited to partake in both meetings. They will be held in the main meeting room at the Berkeley Township Municipal Building, 627 Pinewald Keswick Road.