By Jessica Ercolino, Staff Writer
UPPER FREEHOLD — Imlaystown residents are happy their voices were heard, causing Township Committee to revise a proposed zoning change that would have affected their village.
The committee last week discussed amending a proposed land use ordinance that would expand the permitted uses in the villages of Hornerstown and Imlaystown after residents of the latter expressed concerns.
On Oct. 30, Township Committee plans to vote to create two separate Village Neighborhood (VN) districts: VN-Imlaystown (VN-I) and VN-Hornerstown (VN-H).
The original ordinance proposed an expansion of the VN district to Hornerstown and along Route 537. Permitted uses also would have been expanded to include beauty shops, travel agencies, banks with drive-throughs and personal health facilities. Bakeries, bed and breakfasts, health-care offices and restaurants without drive-throughs would be conditional uses.
But during the ordinance’s Sept. 18 public hearing, Imlaystown residents spoke for an hour about their worries on expanding permitted and conditional uses in their village, citing traffic concerns and damage to Imlaystown’s “frozen-in-time” image.
As a result, officials proposed a split of the VN zone: The uses in the VN-H zone would be expanded and those in Imlaystown would not. The only thing that would change there, Township Planner Charles Newcomb said, would be the zoning district’s title.
Residents at the Oct. 16 meeting were pleased with the change.
Thanking the committee, Davis Station Road resident Steven Voehl said, “I appreciate the consideration and whole-heartedly support your keeping the VN zone in Imlaystown the same.”
Imlaystown residents also encouraged the township to examine traffic in and around the village.
Mayor Steven Alexander said officials want to address a number of township traffic issues, including Sharon Station Road, Imlaystown and the potential construction of a traffic light on Route 539 and Burlington Path Road.
The amended VN-H ordinance and the VN-I ordinance will come before Township Committee at its Oct. 30 meeting. Residents in the VN-H zone and within 200 feet of it will receive personal notice of the hearing because of the changes in zoning, Township Administrator Barbara Bascom said.

