Vineland council adopts definition changes but continues public hearing on zoning limits for substance‑use services

Vineland City Council on Feb. 11 adopted an amendment to the city's zoning definitions but deferred a companion zoning change that would restrict where substance abuse counseling and mental‑health counseling can locate.

City planner Kathleen (Kathy) Hicks told the council the planning department and the planning board recommended removing substance‑abuse counseling and treatment from B1 and B2 neighborhood business zones and adding two new land‑use categories ' mental‑health counseling/treatment and "service office" ' to place those uses instead in B3, B4, industrial and Institutional‑1 zones. The planning board adopted resolution 6667 supporting the changes, Hicks said.

The changes on the table prompted more than two hours of public comment. Residents and local organizations, led by the Cumberland Cape Atlantic YMCA and nearby homeowners, urged the council to reject or modify the zoning changes because of concerns about proximity to children, parks and the YMCA and possible discarded syringes. Representatives of the South Jersey AIDS Alliance and other harm‑reduction advocates said their programs reduce HIV and overdose risk and urged the council not to remove access to services in Vineland.

Hicks said the goal of the amendments was to "insulate and refine the uses permitted in B2, which is neighborhood business," and to create categories that the current ordinance did not address. Hicks also told the council she had "clarified those 2 definitions that they are outpatient only." Mike Malinski, the planning board solicitor, told the council both ordinances accurately reflect the planning board's recommendation in resolution 6667.

Opponents repeatedly cited the YMCA's proximity. John Antonelli, chief executive officer of the Cumberland Cape Atlantic YMCA, said the proposed location of some programs "less than 500 yards from our doors raises significant concerns" for children who use YMCA programs. Luigi Traumetano, president of the YMCA board, asked officials and the South Jersey AIDS Alliance to "identify a location for the needle exchange facility that minimizes potential risk to our youth and residents, while still addressing the vital need for harm reduction services."

South Jersey AIDS Alliance staff and volunteers described their services and local data. Babette Richter, a harm‑reduction nurse with the alliance, said the state created a process in 2024 for eligible entities to apply to run harm‑reduction centers and that Cumberland County ranks among New Jersey's higher‑prevalence counties for HIV and drug‑related deaths. "The effect of your new ordinance is to prevent us from providing substance use counseling or treatment to those who are using substances," Richter said. Georgette Shelton, CEO of South Jersey AIDS Alliance, said the group is a long‑standing nonprofit in Vineland and that its staff do syringe sweeps and provide naloxone and referrals.

After public comment, council members voted to adopt ordinance 20‑25‑10, the definitions amendment, by roll call. The council also voted to continue the public hearing and consideration of ordinance 20‑25‑9 (the zoning changes that would remove certain uses from B1/B2) to the Feb. 25, 2025 meeting at 5:30 p.m.

Why it matters: The pair of ordinances would shift where substance‑use services, counseling and nonprofit service offices may legally operate in Vineland's land‑use map. Opponents said the change would reduce local access to lifesaving services and concentrate risk; supporters of the zoning changes said neighborhood business districts should not host treatment facilities and that the amendments aim to protect residential character.

Votes at a glance (selected items from the Feb. 11 meeting): - Ordinance 20‑25‑10 (amending definitions to clarify "office" and "substance abuse counseling or treatment center," and add service office/mental‑health definitions): adopted by roll call (Dr. Arthur: yes; Mr. English: yes; Mr. Gomez: yes; Mr. Vargas: yes; Mr. Spinelli: yes). - Ordinance 20‑25‑9 (zoning changes to remove certain uses from B1/B2 and apply planning board resolution 6667): public hearing continued to Feb. 25, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. (motion passed by council).

What the ordinances would change: As described by city planning staff and the planning board, substance‑abuse counseling and treatment would no longer be permitted uses in B1 (primary commercial corridors) or B2 (neighborhood business) zones; mental‑health counseling and treatment would be added as a companion use and likewise excluded from B1/B2. A new "service office" category was introduced to provide a land‑use category for nonprofits that did not fit existing office definitions. Hicks said the new clinical uses would be outpatient only.

Public comment highlights: Residents and YMCA leaders raised safety and quality‑of‑life concerns, citing nearby parks and youth programs and the potential for discarded syringes. Opponents referenced research and property‑value impacts cited at the hearing. Harm‑reduction advocates, including staff of South Jersey AIDS Alliance, described services they provide (syringe access, naloxone distribution, testing, case management) and cited local overdose and infectious‑disease statistics. Several speakers said syringe programs reduce disease transmission and that the alliance conducts syringe returns and street sweeps.

Next steps: The council will take up the continued public hearing on ordinance 20‑25‑9 on Feb. 25, 2025 at 5:30 p.m., when the council will have a further opportunity to hear public comment and consider final action on the zoning changes.

(Additional council business at the Feb. 11 meeting included adoption of multiple other ordinances and first‑reading items; those votes are recorded in the meeting record.)