Collingswood Planning Board to Review Cat Café Application Nov. 24

Collingswood officials will hold a public hearing on Nov. 24. They'll examine an application for a cat café at 557 Haddon Ave. Ashe Ember, LLC has requested a use variance from the Planning Board to open the business in the town's Central Business District, where cat cafés aren't allowed under current zoning rules.

The proposed business would sell premade food and drinks. Customers could visit a separate "cat room" housing residential cats available for adoption, according to a public notice per Patch.com.

The applicant plans to make minor interior renovations to the empty building, which would include new walls and counter space to fit the operation.

Calico Cat Café in Oaklyn opened last month. It became South Jersey's first cat café. That location has food preparation and dining in one room, with a sealed-off lounge for adoptable cats in a separate space.

The Planning Board meeting will take place at 7 p.m. at the Collingswood Community Center, located at 30 W Collings Ave.

Cat cafés combine traditional coffee shop services with animal adoption programs, allowing visitors to interact with cats available for adoption while eating and drinking in designated areas.

Ashe Ember, LLC must get approval from the board before moving ahead. The use variance is required because current zoning laws don't permit this type of business in the downtown area.

The building at 557 Haddon Ave. sits empty. Renovations would need to happen before any opening date could be set.

Residents can attend the hearing. They may voice opinions about the proposal. Public comment periods are standard at Planning Board meetings for variance requests.