Larger Venue Selected for August Zoning Board Meeting

Officials have selected a township elementary school as the site of the next zoning board meeting after hundreds of residents crowded July's session to protest a nursing facility application, .

According to Darlene Garcia, the board's secretary, the meeting, at which testimony will continue in the controversial Manchester Rehab Realty application, will be held on Aug. 25 in the multipurpose room at Ridgeway Elementary School at 7 p.m. 

After approximately 200 residents showed up to the July regular meeting to hear and comment on the expected expert testimony for the proposed skilled nursing facility that could be built at 3086 Ridgeway Rd., the board decided that the courtroom at the could not accommodate everyone.

Though the other agenda items were heard, Manchester Rehab Realty's application was postponed.

The applicant's attorney, Harvey York, at the time said that he agreed with the board's decision to adjourn the meeting as a larger venue will allow all those wishing to speak the opportunity. He said that his office will again mail notices to property owners within 200 feet of the site and submit notice to newspapers. 

The application for the $25 million facility has with those living nearby since it requires a variance as the land is zoned as residential. Some nearby also worry that the facility could one day be used for drug and alcohol rehabilitation, even though Manchester Rehab Realty has not applied for those usages.