Lutheran to Appear Before Zoning Board Tonight for Senior-Housing Variance

Officials involved in the on Riverton Road will once again present a use variance to the zoning board this evening that would allow senior housing to be built in Cinnaminson.

Kimco Realty, the group behind Speed Raceway, the slated for the empty Vanity Fair building, will present site plans tonight. 

Lutheran Social Ministries, the group behind proposed senior housing, had testified before zoning board officials on Dec. 7 for more than two hours. But the vote was to consider the plan.

The application submitted for the use variance said 54 units are slated for the building that once thrived as a retirement home about five years ago. The variance would lift a ban on senior housing and propel Lutheran to move forward with site plan approval.

“I’m not sure how the discrepancy came about,” said Jason Konek, executive director of project development for Lutheran, shortly after the tabling.

Charles O’ Malley, zoning board chairman, said one of the reasons he felt the issue needed to be tabled is because he’s not sure he can vote on a use variance that would bring 54 units to the township.

“There’s a threshold of units that really make the project feasible or unfeasible,” Konek said. “We do look at the area and how it would impact it. There’s a lot of thought that goes into the planning. We wouldn’t come into this area and try to get 80 or 90 units. Based on what we saw and our interactions with the town…that’s how we came up with the unit mix.”

Konek, whose voicemail indicated he’s on vacation this week, said last month officials addressing the zoning board this evening will solicit feedback.

“We want to hear some of the concerns, especially from the township, as well as from the residents, and we’ll look to incorporate things in our design and our planning that would mitigate some of the issues they were discussing,” Konek said.

At the December meeting, several residents who live in the vicinity of the proposed Lutheran home had .

Tonight’s meeting for Lutheran will not yet address site plans. The use variance needs to be granted first.

“We plan on addressing these concerns when we get to that point,” Konek said.

Another concern surrounding the senior apartments is that it’s affordable housing.

“The whole idea is to allow seniors making under 60 percent median the ability to have rental housing at an affordable rate and to enjoy their surroundings,” Konek said.

Konek is hoping the use variance is granted, so site plans can be finished for presentation.

“I think people will be pleasantly surprised,” he said. “I completely understand because I would have the same concerns as everyone, especially if I’m already experiencing the conditions. At the end of if, they will see an actual benefit in relation to some of the issues.”

The zoning board meeting begins 7:30 p.m. tonight at the . The board will re-organize at 7 p.m.