PENNSAUKEN
The Catholic diocese passed the first step last week in its plan to build a senior citizen housing complex behind a church on Browning Road. The Diocese of Camden received planning board approval Tuesday to subdivide the St. Stephen's Church and School lot where it will build a 75-unit, three-story apartment building behind the existing buildings.

"I'm concerned with the traffic," said Laverne Parker at the public meeting. Parker lives across the street from the church. "There's a lot (of traffic) now with the church and the school," she said.

Curtis Johnson, executive director of the diocese's housing division, said the diocese will apply for a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Development to help fund the project.

He said if that grant isn't enough, the diocese will apply to the county and state for additional funds. He said the diocese has included senior citizen housing as part of its strategic plan and will build a low-income housing unit in West Deptford, scheduled to open some time next year, in addition to the one in Pennsauken that will probably take two to three years to complete.

"It looks like there's a population boom in the southern end (of the state)," said Johnson of the number of senior citizens seeking housing. Johnson said the diocese operates a senior complex in Cape May, built in 1973, and another in Cherry Hill that was built in 1983 and both have waiting lists. The diocese will have to apply for site plan approval and any variances needed before the project receives the go-ahead from the township.