Township Council Delays Vote on Old Mill District Rezoning After Packed Hearing
The Eastwick Township Council postponed a scheduled vote Tuesday on a rezoning plan for the Old Mill District, sending the proposal back to the planning committee after nearly three hours of public comment ran past 11 p.m.
The plan would raise the height limit along a six-block stretch of Riverside Avenue from two stories to four and permit ground-floor retail beneath residential units. Supporters say it would bring housing and foot traffic to a corridor that has struggled since the textile mill closed decades ago. Opponents warned about parking, flood risk near the Marren River, and the character of the low-rise blocks nearby.
What the plan would change
- Height limits on Riverside Avenue would rise from two to four stories
- Ground-floor commercial space would be required in new buildings
- A minimum of one parking space per unit would be mandated, down from the current 1.5
- A riverfront setback of 30 feet would be added for flood management
Council members said they wanted more detail on the parking reduction and on how stormwater would be handled before taking a final vote. The planning committee is expected to return with revisions at the next regular meeting.
Residents who signed up but did not get to speak will be given priority at the next hearing, the council chair said.
Related: Town Hall · township budget draft
Further reading: Zoning
