Council Introduces Senior Housing Proposal; Diocese Proposes Site

MOORESTOWN, NJ - Moorestown Council introduced a proposal to establish zoning for senior affordable housing on Centerton Road Monday night during a meeting at town hall. The proposal put forth Monday night calls for a 100 percent senior affordable housing complex on Centerton Road to help the township satisfy its affordable housing obligation of 337 new units by 2025.

The maximum density proposed allows for no more units than provided for in the township’s agreement with the Fair Share Housing Center. The developer intends to put market rate senior housing on the site, and wanted to ensure that the whole complex would be set aside for seniors, according to officials.

The proposed ordinance was passed unanimously with a public hearing and final vote scheduled for May 20. To view the full proposal, click here.

Moorestown Council has not yet selected an alternative site to the proposed 75-unit site off Route 38. On April 12, Judge Ronald Bookbinder denied summary judgement in a case concerning restrictive covenants currently in place on the site. Read more here: Moorestown May Need To Seek Alternative To Proposed Housing Site

The township has 45 days from the date of that ruling to select a new site. The Catholic Diocese of Trenton owns 18 acres of land near the site of the proposed senior affordable housing complex on Centerton Road, according to David Roskos, an attorney for the Diocese.

It acquired the property as part of a land swap with Moorestown’s Board of Education in 2004, hoping to use it as a parish center, according to Roskos. However, the Diocese wasn’t able to develop the land the way it wanted to, Roskos said. It has asked the township to re-zone the land to allow for affordable housing to be developed on the site.

Roskos believes 35-40 units could go on the site. If the township approves re-zoning, the Diocese could then sell the land to a developer for affordable housing purposes. There has been some communication, but it’s not clear what the final outcome will be, Roskos said.

Township officials haven’t publicly discussed specific possible sites for alternative housing.
In response to an email requesting comment for this story, Township Manager Thomas Neff said, “The Township in the process of complying with Judge Bookbinder’s attached order.”

Read more here: Moorestown Residents Concerned About Alternative To Pennrose Site

According to the order provided by Neff, a compliance hearing is scheduled for June 19. The township must approve a Housing Element and Fair Share Plan ahead of that meeting. It must be made available to the public for inspection by May 19, and objections to the plan must be registered with the court by June 7.

The immunity granted to the township from all affordable housing lawsuits under the Mount Laurel doctrine remains in effect until July 31.