Residents urge traffic-calming measures and raise questions about state affordable-housing law implementation

During the public-comment period, residents raised traffic-safety concerns and asked the county to consider traffic-calming measures, and several speakers sought county guidance and higher-level advocacy regarding the state's affordable-housing law.

Mitch Burrows thanked the board for past four-way stop installations at Watson Hill Road intersections and urged the county to approve a township resolution seeking to convert a signalized intersection to a four-way stop, citing near-miss incidents observed in the community.

Nicholas (Nick) Messiano presented a Pittsgrove Township resolution proposing two speed tables on Virtual Avenue (one between Garden and Almond streets, and one between Almond and Landis). Messiano said the township has engineering documents from Burlington County showing that speed-table installations on comparable county roads meet engineering criteria and argued the measures would improve public safety.

Jennifer Thomas asked the board for guidance on how residents can engage third-district legislators about affordable-housing implementation. County staff instructed Thomas to file a formal request so the board could consider sending a letter and noted that county authority is limited compared with municipal land-use control; staff said the county can echo constituent concerns to state legislators.

Other residents praised the board's handling of the Giordano decision and urged responsible, locally guided growth and public education on the law. The board invited municipal leaders and staff to participate in upcoming informational meetings and public hearings noted by the Office of Planning Advocacy.

No formal traffic-calming decisions were taken at this meeting; Public Works staff indicated that the township's request will be tracked through the department for engineering review and that an engineer will follow up with local contacts.