Town reaches deal to bar development at country club site

CHERRY HILL (AP) — A South Jersey town has reached a deal to buy the development rights for a golf course that was sold at a bankruptcy auction two years ago.

The deal approved Monday by the Cherry Hill Township Council calls for the town to pay no more than $4 million for the rights regarding Woodcrest Country Club. But the agreement must still be approved by a judge, which could occur aqs soon as next month.

If approved, the deal would settle two lawsuits regarding the site and immunize Cherry Hill against more litigation over past affordable-housing goals. It was reached after months of settlement talks.

The 165-acre Woodcrest property was sold at bankruptcy auction in May 2013, and some residents and town officials feared major development would occur at the site.

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