Manchester Council Delays Vote on Zoning for Proposed Walmart Site

The Manchester Township Council delayed final action Monday night on three ordinances that would have amended zoning in the township, including one in response to a lawsuit over a proposed Walmart supercenter.

Action on the ordinances was delayed until Nov. 10, in response to a request from the township’s Planning Board, which is seeking further information and clarification on the three ordiances, officials said after Monday’s meeting at the municipal building.

One of the ordinances, first heard at the council’s Aug. 11 meeting, would have amended the definitions of “improvable lot area” and ”shopping that would have more clearly defined where shopping centers are permitted in the township. That measure is in response to ongoing court proceedings over the proposal for a super Walmart located on the Manchester-Toms River boundary,

The other ordinances would have amended the township’s zoning regulations to bring them into harmony with the state’s Pinelands regulations and rezoned a parcel at the intersection of Routes 571 and 70 for multifamily use.

Councilman James A. Vaccaro Sr. said the ordimances were tabled at the request of the township’s Planning Board. The ordinances were introduced based on a request from the Planning Board, Council President Craig Wallis said, but that board sought the postponement of the ordinance adoption.

The Planning Board is seeking additional information on the proposed zoning changes, Vaccaro said. He would not elaborate on the nature of the planning board’s questions.

The next Planning Board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 6.