Street Name Change Has Upset Residents of Vineland

By: Erin Haskell

Vineland- The Vineland Planning Board has received several complaints in the past few months from residents over a street name change due to an in-fill project.

An application for a major subdivision called Woodcrest Fields was before the Planning Board.  This project, intended to create new building lots, including construction of a street that would connect existing streets called Woodcrest and Joshua Drives.

 “We wanted them to have the same street name because Woodcrest was an older neighborhood with older homes, “said Kathie Hicks, Planning Board Supervisor. “ The public, when that went to City Council, was not happy about having their street name changed.”

Residents of Joshua Walk have been advocating against the street name change during recent board and council meetings, stating that the added cost to the existing residents is a burden and should be charged to the developer.

“A gentleman came in (to the October Planning Board Meeting) and expressed the opinion that a developer should have to stick to existing street names,” said Hicks. “It was explained that the developer didn’t advocate changing the street name, but rather the Planning Board required it.  It was also explained that generally existing street names are retained, but in this particular instance where existing streets were being connected, one name had to be selected.  Councilman Albrecht advocated that the ordinance be changed to require the developer to pay for the costs incurred by existing residents (change of address, driver’s licenses, etc.). 

The issue of the ordinance being changed to require the developer to pay the costs was further discussed at the November Board meeting, where Frank DiDomenico, Board Solicitor, explained that State statute doesn’t allow the cost to be put on the developer.  

Neither the City Council Members nor the Planning Board Solicitor could be reached for comment.

“The positive (of the street name change) is that there is a single street name, which is better for emergency management,” said Hicks.