Ridley approves rezoning park to allow development

RIDLEY TOWNSHIP » Commissioners at their November meeting approved an ordinance rezoning a portion of Mann Park from Municipal

Use to C-2 Zoning, paving the way for a new commercial development on MacDade Boulevard at Kedron Avenue (Route 420).

The property is owned by the township and the portion rezoned is a little more than one-half acre. Solicitor Peter Rohana said the rezoning provides a contiguous link to properties on MacDade that includes the long-closed Array Appliance Store and the Cash for Gold store.

He noted the C-2 reclassification is more in line with the zoning of the property fronting on MacDade Boulevard. No plans for any type of commercial redevelopment were discussed at the meeting. The township is the owner of the rezoned parcel even though the zoning was changed from municipal use.

In a related matter concerning an area of that same intersection, Holmes resident Jim Newman voiced concern at the public forum about the traffic effect on the south side of the MacDade intersection with Kedron Avenue if a proposed car wash is built behind the Wawa that is on that corner.

Newman said motorists traveling from Prospect Park often ignore the yellow lines on Kedron as it approaches MacDade Boulevard, making illegal turns and not staying in their lane. He feels a car wash at that site would create a higher volume of traffic. Newman also suggested that traffic poles could be erected along the lines on the road to keep motorists in line.

Folsom resident Nancy Brady also spoke at the forum, noting the dangerous conditions for pedestrians trying to negotiate their way around a fence erected along MacDade Bouldevard at the old PathMark Supermarket that is being demolished to make way for a new market.

“There are people who walk,” she said. “I’m not the only one.”

She also complained about the timing of the walk signal at MacDade in front of the Wells Fargo Bank and Wendy’s. She said there is not enough time for pedestrians to get across the street.

Bob Willert, president of the board of commissioners, told the public forum speakers the commissioners will look into their complaints.