H-Mart's Route 70 renovation and the Plaza Grande senior community have officially met Cherry Hill's construction standards. Township Council, led by Council President William Carter III, released performance bonds for both developments and acted on a half-dozen other items at its Monday, Aug. 17 meeting at the Municipal Building. It was the council's first regular session since members unanimously banned large-scale data centers on July 27.
H-Mart bond release
Resolution 2026-8-3 released the cash performance guarantee and temporary certificate of occupancy guarantee for HAR Cherry Hill Corp., the operator of H-Mart at 1720 Route 70. A portion of the cash guarantee transfers to a two-year maintenance guarantee. H-Mart reopened April 23 after a 10-month renovation that doubled the store's square footage and added a second-floor food hall featuring Paris Baguette. Council members including Councilwoman Jill Hulnick attended the ribbon-cutting that day, according to the April 27 council minutes.
Plaza Grande Phase 1B
Resolution 2026-8-1 released the performance surety bond for Plaza Grande Phase 1B at 700 Citation Lane in the Garden State Park area. The council had already released a separate temporary certificate of occupancy bond for the same project at its April 27 meeting. Plaza Grande is a 507-unit, 55-plus senior rental community completed by Procida Funding & Advisors in 2025 and reported 80 percent leased as of March 2026.
Both releases confirm the developers satisfied their obligations.
Holly Ravine Farm
Resolution 2026-8-15 authorized public bidding for a lease of township-owned land at Block 528.01, Lot 32, known as Gilmour Farm or Holly Ravine, for agricultural purposes. The township purchased the 22.54-acre property in 2024 for $3.87 million from the heirs of former Mayor John C. Gilmour Jr. and demolished two farmhouses on the site in April 2026. As we reported Aug. 17, the lease will bring crop farming back to the property.
Roads and pedestrian safety
Resolution 2026-8-11 awarded a road-improvement contract to Asphalt Paving Systems Inc. for Morris Drive improvements using the New Jersey State Contract for a Micro Surfacing Pavement System Program.
Resolution 2026-8-14 approved an easement agreement between the township and First Order HQ LLC for land needed for the Haddonfield-Berlin Road Pedestrian Improvements Project, funded in part by a New Jersey Department of Transportation Safe Streets to Transit grant. Ordinance 2026-12, authorizing acquisition of a public right-of-way easement at 1804 Haddonfield-Berlin Road for the same project, was introduced on first reading.
Parking relief for High Holy Days
Resolution 2026-8-6 temporarily suspended parking restrictions on both sides of Cropwell Road and Kresson Road for the Jewish High Holy Days. Areas within 250 feet of a traffic signal are excluded.
Other business
The agenda also included bond releases for Polar Service Center Trucking and Ilkem Marble and Granite, contracts for elevator inspections and paper leaf bags, a cooperative contract extension for Western Products parts, and a second amendment to a Memorandum of Understanding with Volunteers of America.
The full meeting agenda and recording are posted on the township's Agenda Center. Residents who wish to speak at future meetings must register with the Township Clerk before 5 p.m. on the meeting day; remote access is available via Zoom.
