Three apartment buildings near a tire shop? Why Vineland planners are saying no

Joseph P. Smith, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
·2 min read
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VINELAND — City planners are not in favor of a proposal to shoehorn a three-building apartment complex into an undersized lot off South Orchard Road, a site close to West Landis Avenue and just up the road from a public elementary school.

City records indicate the 3.04-acre property at 49 S. Orchard Road was created in April 2019, one of two new lots carved out of 1430 West Landis Ave. One lot was meant for Mavis Discount Tire store, since constructed.

The Zoning Board was to consider a “use” variance for developer VCC 49 South Orchard Road LLC at its August 16 meeting. However, the developer was granted a hearing delay until Sept. 20.

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“The Planning Division has significant concerns with the proposed development, specifically with respect to density, setbacks, and buffering,” a report board planner Ryan Headley prepared for the pending review.

The review states one problem is fitting three, three-story buildings on a lot that is undersized by customary zoning goals. Another issue is the area is zoned for business uses, with multi-family housing barred even though nearby there are single-family houses.

Vineland Zoning Board members, board staff, and applicant attorney Michael Gruccio (far right) huddle Wednesday night to look at a map submitted by Creekview Development Company LLC. The company was seeking approval to convey part of one property lot on East Elmer Road to another adjacent one. The move was needed to correct mistakes that led to construction of a house partially on a neighboring property. The approval was granted on a 5-0 vote. PHOTO: August 16, 2023.

The analysis looks at the proposal using standards devised for townhouses, a residential type that city planners say is the “closest comparable” use under Vineland regulations.

Under that townhouse standard, the report states, the property falls short of meeting or coming close to code standards in five significant ways. For example, at least 20 acres is a minimum for a project this size.

“The combination of all the above variations show that the proposed development vastly exceeds the standards of even our densest allowable residential development,” the report concludes.

VVC 49 South Orchard Road, at this point, is seeking only a use variance. If it gets one, it plans to return for approval of an actual design.

The company says the buildings would have 48 apartments in total, all for rent at market rates.

The developer had notified residents as required about the August 16 meeting. However, the company does not have to contact them again about the new hearing date.

Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.

Have a tip? Reach out at jsmith@thedailyjournal.com. Support local journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Developer wants Vineland apartments on undersized lot