By: Stephanie Prokop
SPRINGFIELDTownship residents who oppose the 10-acre downzoning ordinance that was scheduled for public hearing Wednesday night came out to ask questions of land use experts at a meeting at the Jacksonville Community Center on Tuesday night.
The meeting, organized by resident Roger Lord, focused on residents’ plans to show their opposition to the 10-acre zoning ordinance, including the plan to show their strength in numbers at the public hearing, which was scheduled after the Register-News deadline Wednesday.
JoAnn Bauma Banks, a resident who lost in a Democratic bid for Township Council this fall, urged residents opposed to the issue to make their voices heard.
"You have to stay involved," she said.
The ordinance would restore 10-acre minimum zoning in certain portions of the township. A trio of ordinances had initially been adopted in March, raising the township minimum lot size from 3 to 10 acres except in clusters designated for development. Some landowners have claimed that the change would devalue their land and have described the changes as restrictive.
Proponents of 10-acre zoning have said that it will prevent excessive development and help maintain the township’s rural character by limiting the number of houses that can be built.
After seven suits were brought against the township challenging the downzoning ordinances, state Superior Court Judge John A. Sweeney ruled that the ordinances were invalid because insufficient notice had been provided to residents and because the measures violated state municipal land use law.
The township then responded by saying that the judge was mistaken and the notification provided was sufficient.
In late October, the judge refused the township’s request to reconsider and reverse his ruling, but told the township that the ordinances could be reintroduced and adopted to fit the legal criteria.
Some of the residents who had planned to make their presence known at the Wednesday night meeting stated that to a farmer, there is no such thing as a retirement account the land is their savings.
According to professional land planner Creigh Rahenkamp, of Palmyra, a consultant to the N.J. Farm Bureau, "Your ability to recover isn’t there, and your borrowing opportunity is compromised."
Also attending was land use attorney Richard Hoff and former state Sen. Alene Ammond, both of Cherry Hill, who provided background on how other municipalities have dealt with similar land use issues.
The consensus Tuesday night among residents who oppose the measure was that it would be much more difficult for farmers to recoup financially after giving away 10 acres as opposed to 3 acres at a time.
Other arguments included speculation that property taxes would increase.
Ms. Bauma Banks encouraged participants to come to the Wednesday night meeting. "You have to say ‘No, I don’t want this,’" she said.
The meeting was expected to take place in the Springfield Elementary School instead of the usual location at the Municipal Building.

