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Residents press Haddonfield commissioners over Bancroft redevelopment, PILOT and transparency
Summary
At the Aug. 26 meeting residents urged the commission to preserve more open space at the Bancroft site, questioned a proposed rental-focused plan and PILOT, and criticized the borough’s public records and communications procedures.
About a dozen residents used the Borough of Haddonfield’s Aug. 26 public-comment periods to press commissioners for more transparency and to urge either greater open space or more affordable units at the Bancroft redevelopment site.
The comments came during both the agenda and non-agenda public-comment periods. Several speakers criticized printed flyers and borough communications about recent votes and asked for more detailed public records about the Bancroft process. Mary Burke, owner of Jersey Java & Tea, said borough leaders circulated flyers she described as “false” about her; the mayor and borough administrator did not concede that characterization during the meeting.
Other residents pressed commissioners directly on the developer selection. Jon Simonson asked why the commission had not shared its rationale for choosing Woodmont; Mayor Bianco Bezich replied that rentals can offer tax advantages “through the use of a PILOT” and provide housing options for residents who cannot afford to buy. Commissioner Troy said he initially supported the Woodmont option in April but later opposed moving forward after speaking with residents who preferred for-sale options.
Speakers also raised concerns about record-keeping and access to historical documents. Anne Hearing asked that documents previously hosted online about Bancroft and the borough’s affordable-housing history be restored so newer residents can review them. Hearing also told the commission she wanted this year’s tree lighting to be called a “Christmas Tree,” not a holiday tree.
Several commenters questioned the Open Space Fund accounting. Carol Stoner said public records she received in response to an OPRA request did not make clear how Open Space funds were spent and criticized the use of some funds for Public Works salaries. The meeting record shows commissioners did not provide an immediate accounting during the session; follow-up steps were not detailed.
Residents also asked that the borough post Zoom recordings to the website. Walter Weidenbacher said recordings should be available online; Mayor Bianco Bezich said recordings will not be posted until sound-quality issues are improved and a bidding process is completed, and that there is a plan to post recordings in the future but no established timeline.
The commission took no substantive policy vote on Bancroft at the meeting; it moved to add and approve a separate Resolution #134 to apply to Camden County for Open Space Preservation funding for approximately 4.85–5.00 acres on Block 14, Lot 2.
