Vineland council continues public hearings on zoning changes after extended public comment on harm-reduction services

The Vineland City Council on Tuesday continued public hearings on two proposed zoning ordinances that would change where substance use counseling and related mental-health services may operate in the city, after more than an hour of public comment from service providers, residents and county officials.

The proposed ordinances — Ordinance 2025-9, which would amend multiple business- and institutional-zone standards, and Ordinance 2025-10, which would clarify definitions including “office” and “substance abuse counseling or treatment center” — were opened for public hearing and then continued to a later date. Council members voted unanimously to continue both hearings to Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.

Why it matters: Speakers at the meeting said the changes could force small private mental-health and counseling practices and harm-reduction programs to relocate, creating access barriers for people who rely on walkable, bus-accessible locations. Supporters of the changes said the city is attempting to place these uses where medical infrastructure and public transportation are concentrated. The council paused further action to allow more public…