Politics & Government

What Would You Improve in Cinnaminson: Mayor Answers 2013 Wish List

A new community center, a farmer's market and an updated township website are among the issues talked about.

 

A few weeks ago, we asked our readers what you would like to see improved in Cinnaminson in 2013.

We read every single comment and picked some of the most popular answers and chatted with Mayor Ben Young about them.

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We didn’t want to let those ideas to go waste.

Here is a Q&A with Young with the topics you inquired about: 

Find out what's happening in Cinnaminsonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

New township website/Updated community calendar/Message board

“Committee agrees that we need to improve our website,” said Young. “We need to improve our entire communication on the Internet. How to do that exactly seems to be the problem.”

Over the years, several residents have asked about an online community calendar, a township website which has agendas and meetings minutes and just an overall improved look of the site.

Young said he thinks a community calendar, minutes and more should be posted. He would even like for there to be building permit and planning board applications.

“To do something that well,” he said, “you’re either going to hire a professional or have someone on staff.”

That costs money.

“Do I expect to have something done before the end of the year? Yes,” Young said. “Will it be perfect? No.”

 

Farmer’s market

Although having a farmer’s market in our town would be something to brag about, Young said he wouldn’t even think of duplicating what the county is already doing four miles away.

The Burlington County Community Agricultural Center on Centerton Road in Moorestown is open on Saturdays from May to October.

“The county is already providing this service,” Young said. “It’s regional. Why would you spend dollars duplicating something that is four miles away?”

There are also options in-town, Young reminded residents. Taylor’s has the option to garden with them if you can’t garden at home and neighbors near Extension Park have a community garden started two years ago.

 

Township welcome signs

Mayor Ben Young admits the signs could be “freshened up” but was quick to say that all the welcome signs going into Cinnaminson are intact with the exception of one.

Over the years, Young said, committee has talked about a new design for the signs but nothing had been decided upon.

Three years ago, Eagle Scouts refurbished the signs. 

 

New community center

Young knows the Cinnaminson Community Center isn’t ideal. “By any stretch of the imagination,” Young said.

Township committee has talked about a new community center—most recently a few years ago, when they bought the former Cinnaminson Home and brainstormed its possible future uses.

“We ran the drill and there was no practical way to make it cost effective,” Young said.

People kept suggesting features of a new community center, including indoor basketball courts, an indoor swimming pool, conference rooms, etc.

“Pretty soon, it’s a huge facility…and you’re talking about the YMCA,” Young said. “Now you’re competing with the local businesses. I don’t think that’s the goal of government—to compete with the people who pay taxes in this town.”

But out of all the issues plaguing Cinnaminson, a new community center hasn’t been one brought up too many times, Young said.

“I think there’s people who would like to see a community center, but I think of the logistics,” Young said. “I’m wide open to looking at it but when push comes to shove, there’s not enough support to make it happen.”

 

Sharp turn on Forklanding Road near bridge

“There’s been a lot of things talked about down there,” said Young.

The sharp turn in question is right by Winner’s Farm stand before it moved. If you’re driving toward Route 73 from Church Road on Forklanding Road, longtime residents know the need to slow down, take the turn very carefully and then wait at the bridge until it’s safe to drive over.

The township doesn’t own property right at the turn so nothing can be done right now, Young said.

“There would have to be some negotiations to purchase property to fix it,” he said.

The township did however buy property nearby, known as the Kay Property. Something could be done with that package to turn part of that into more park space and parking lots for Memorial Park.

As far as the turn goes, Young said there’s been talk about bright yellow lines or signage.

 

What other issues and improvements would you like to see Cinnaminson tackle in 2013? We’ll keep a list going and ask the mayor once a month. 


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