Haddonfield Business Zoning Rewrite Hits a Snag

An effort to fast-track changes to the borough business zoning laws has apparently hit a snag.

Borough commissioners had planned to introduce a measure in a regular meeting Tuesday that would tighten restrictions on storefront, service businesses—specifically massage, tattoo and piercing parlors—along Haddonfield’s business districts.

But the ordinance was pulled from the agenda late last week, according to borough Administrator Sharon McCullough. John LaProcido, the planning board chairman, made the request for the delay, McCullough said. LaProcido is a member of a subcommittee borough commissioners organized after a Chinese massage parlor opened last month at 144 Kings Highway East. 

LaProcido was part of a heated commissioners meeting last week in which the zoning changes were discussed. Commissioner Jeff Kasko said he “strenuously” objected to moving forward with the new rules, which could restrict certain service business from storefront locations to second-floor locations in areas zoned for professional services, such as physicians or attorneys.

Kasko’s objection came after borough solicitor Mario Iavicoli said: “In my view, it's invalid to do this. I can’t shine the apple just to please you. You can regulate time, place and manner, but you can’t chose to exclude a business you don’t like.”

Commissioner Ed Borden, a former Camden County prosecutor and current partner in a Cherry Hill law firm,  and Planning Board solicitor William “Pete” Lundgren disagreed with Iavicoli's stance. Both felt the proposed changes in zoning were appropriate and legal. Borden also expressed a need to move quickly before other service businesses applied for operating permits.

“I don’t think we need any more legal argument,” Borden said. “I think we should adopt the proposed language and look at the overall downtown usage. This is an interim measure to restrict businesses coming in.”

LaProcido said he thought the planning board needed “consultant’s help” to complete the zoning rewrite.

Borden and Commissioner Tish Colombi, the mayor, cited a study done several years ago on a successful business mix for the downtown area.  The report suggested a mix of no more than 15-percent service businesses. New zoning regulations seek to regulate services businesses such as massage, tattoo and piercing, but not businesses such as hair and nail salons.

Borden and Colombi had agreed to place the zoning changes on Tuesday’s agenda which Kasko opposed. The new rules would not affect the Chinese Tai Ji Massage Center at 144 Kings Highway, which was granted an operating permit under language Borden and Colombi believe needs to be tightened.

It was not clear Monday when the proposed changes would be voted on by the borough commission.