08/04/2026
Hi everyone, things have been business as usual so I spared you my updates the last few weeks. But a few interesting topics came up that I want to update you on. Here's my take from tonight's work session:
2027-2030 Road Program
We're moving forward with our 2027-2030 Road Program. I've shared before that we usually spend about $1 million a year on roads. What's worth knowing this round is that our roads took a beating after last winter, so our administrator asked our borough engineers, Re*****on & Vernick, to re-rate everything using their drive-through system (a car with a sensor plus AI, sanity-checked by engineers). Plenty of roads dropped hard. Some went from a rating of 53 down to 35 in the span of a bad freeze-thaw season. Salt is not kind to asphalt.
The new four-year plan focuses on the worst roads first (ratings roughly 28 to 39). A few streets you'll notice are NOT on the list, and that's on purpose:
-- Farwood is being fully repaved by NJ American Water as part of a utility project. Radnor and several side streets get the same treatment.
-- Glover Avenue has been submitted for our annual state aid grant.
-- Hopkins Lane is waiting on the Woodmont project, plus we're chasing a separate grant so we can add a sidewalk along the park side while we're at it.
Some historical context that was also new to me: about 11 years ago when the borough sold the utility, we were able to use the proceeds to double what we put into roads (from $1M to $2M a year) for about a decade. That money is now gone. We're back to $1M a year and picking priorities more carefully.
The full ratings list and four-year plan will be posted on the borough website in the next few days so you can look up your street.
2025 Master Plan Ordinance Updates
We've also been discussing the ordinance language coming out of the 2025 Master Plan process. One proposed change should make life a lot easier for all of us: for existing nonconforming items (think an old deck, a walkway, a driveway that sits closer to the property line than current code allows, front steps), we're aiming to allow like-for-like replacement without a zoning board application. Same footprint, same purpose, maybe just new materials. Residents shouldn't have to go through a full application process for that. This alone should save real time and money.
Our planner will be meeting with the borough team over the next two weeks to work through the technical questions, and the updated draft will be back at the September work session.
Radnor Field Updates
Thank you to everyone who has been engaged, attended meetings, and submitted written feedback. A few repeat questions came up, so sharing some clarifications below:
-- What's posted is a concept, not a final design. And some of the notes on the drawing are old engineering notes and not necessarily part of our plan.
-- Grass fields stay grass. No turf.
-- We're expanding the parking somewhat (~ 12 spots) and improving drainage (installing actual pipes rather than relying on the current overgrown swale).
-- The proposed playground is partially funded by a state grant. This area of town is the farthest from any borough managed playgrounds and this has been a recurring request from parents in the area.
-- We won't have the final design done until late fall or early winter, which means you'll have more opportunities to share your thoughts along the way.
The primary motivation for updating Radnor was to provide rest and rotation across all our active fields. Our fields are used every season by every sport and rarely get a chance to recover. The 2016 and 2020 Parks & Rec studies both identified a 4 to 6 acre gap in active-space capacity, and Radnor was specifically flagged as underused space that could carry multi-use fields plus a playground and walking paths. This is a chance for the Borough and Recreation Commission to take advantage of that underused space and invest in our land. It's meant to be an improvement, and we're weighing every factor (parking, stormwater management, and more) to make sure it actually is one.
The comment period on Radnor Field stays open until August 17, so please submit your thoughts for the team to review and incorporate into the next design. Every submission is being read, and you'll see the final plan before anything is decided.
One last thing
At our July action meeting, we approved the bid for our stump and tree removal contract. I know I have a few emails about this sitting in my inbox. If I haven't gotten back to you yet, just know the contract was freshly awarded and the work will begin shortly.
(Image is a screen capture from Google Maps showing E Cottage Ave, between Centre and Walnut, one of the segments we're prioritizing for 2027's Road Program)
