Electric Car Charging Stations To Get Further Look In Gloucester

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Gloucester Township Council gave final approval to one alternative energy proposal while deciding to take more time to explore another when it met Monday night at the municipal building.

Council gave final approval to a proposal to add a section concerning solar energy to its land development ordinance. It provides the opportunity for solar energy to be installed at homes, businesses and other public places throughout the township to "protect the public health, safety and welfare," preserve environmentally sensitive land and open spaces and preserve the character of the environment.

It tabled another proposal to add plug-in electric vehicle charging stations to its land development ordinance. It would have provided the general public with "adequate, convenient and safe locations" for charging stations, according to the proposal.

But the proposal was tabled after residents questioned the need for it. Republican mayoral candidate Joseph Damico questioned the need for it when there are fewer than 60 electric vehicles in the township.

“We have a lot of vacant buildings, and we’re not doing a good job bringing businesses in,” Damico said. “If you require businesses to have one station for every 50 spots, this will just add more restrictions to business. People already have charging stations at home. You’re just being more restrictive, and it comes at a large expense for incoming business.”

Damico said the township should accommodate businesses that want to add the spaces, but shouldn’t mandate it for incoming businesses and take on that liability as a township.

The proposal states that all land development applications that have at least 100 parking spaces will be required to have at least one electric vehicle parking space for every 50 non-electric vehicle parking spaces, and spaces for charging stations will be included in the overall number of required spaces.

The installation of these spaces would be an accessory use. Currently, businesses would have to apply for a variance to add them, and this proposal would eliminate that.

Existing businesses will be unaffected by this change because they will be grandfathered in, according to Township Planner Ken Lechner.

It was recommended by the mayor’s energy committee as part of the township’s green initiative. The township is pursuing Gold Certification from Sustainable Jersey, and parking is part of that qualification, according to officials.

But residents were concerned about the impact that mandating one spot for every 100 spots would have on attracting businesses to town.

“I’m not sure that should be a stipulation put on to developers or businesses coming into the township,” resident Paul Krug said. “I think the Lowe’s or Target would go out to Electrify America and do some type of profit-sharing where it makes sense because they have so many unutilized parking spots that they’re going to want to profit off of those spots.”

He asked that the township remove that stipulation, but officials weren’t sure if that was possible.
The township also couldn’t say what specifically moved the energy committee to make this recommendation, or if any existing businesses have expressed interest in it.

“It’s clear the administration’s not clear on these answers,” resident Ray Polidoro said. “It’s better to be sure than to vote on something just because, and it’s not a time-sensitive issue. It’d be great if you guys could table this and review it, know a lot more about it before you call that vote.”

Councilwoman Michelle Winters put forth the motion to table, and council voted 4-1 to table. Winters, Council Vice President Tracey Trotto and Councilwomen Carolyn Grace and Andrea Stubbs voted to table, while Council President Orlando Mercado voted not to table the issue.

The solar energy proposal that was approved provides the opportunity for solar energy to be installed at homes, businesses and other public places throughout the township to "protect the public health, safety and welfare," preserve environmentally sensitive land and open spaces and preserve the character of the environment.

Solar energy systems in association with a principle single-family and/or two-family residential will be exempt from township zoning permit fees.