Developer Joins Narberth Planning Panel
Jason Duckworth's company is moving to the borough, too.
Perhaps the most important task facing Narberth's government—or at least the one drawing the most public interest—is the impending borough-wide rezoning that will decide what buildings can look like and what they can be used for, depending on where they are.
The five-seat Planning Commission will be integral in that process, and at Monday's Borough Council meeting, members split over whether to fill the commission's one vacancy with an urban design planner, Todd Bressi, or a real estate developer, Jason Duckworth, president of Arcadia Land Company.
Council members considered both men highly qualified; "I think the county would be lucky to have either of them on their board," Councilman Bob Wegbreit said.
While Councilwoman Heidi Boise said, "Having a planner on the planning commission just makes the most sense," Council Vice President Aaron Muderick added, "Jason, as a developer would be a unique perspective ... a perspective that might challenge some of the ideas we have."
When it came to a vote, Muderick, council members Michael Alexander and Bob Weisbord and Council President Sam Quinn chose Duckworth, appointing him by a single vote over Bressi, the choice of Boise, Wegbreit and Councilwoman Andrea Deutsch.
Duckworth did not attend the meeting but later spoke with Patch about the appointment, saying the impending rezoning was the main reason he had made himself available as a candidate.
"I'm delighted to be serving Narberth borough. I'd like to see the zoning preserve the elements of Narberth we cherish the most, as well as add to the existing fabric," Duckworth said.
Arcadia had already planned to move Aug. 3 from Haverford to an office on Forrest Avenue in the borough, said Duckworth, who lives in Narberth with his wife and two daughters.
Duckworth acknowledged he would have to recuse himself from any Planning Commission discussions and votes of properties tied to Arcadia. As for the company's and borough's financial dispute over fees from the Narberth Arbors development at Wynnewood and Sabine avenues—which Quinn brought up before the vote—Duckworth said it would not affect his work on the commission.
The council also discussed the possibility of expanding the Planning Commission from five to seven seats but took no action Monday night.
evelyn
9:54 am on Sunday, July 15, 2012
I believe that all of the storefronts in Narberth should be well maintained with a traditional village look. This would mean clean windows and not solicitations scotch taped to windows or buildings. This look is cheap and unappealing.
Narberth is a unique little town and should maintain its quaintness. Trashy looking store fronts ruin this image.
Solicitors can be limited to one bulletin board somewhere in the town. Store fronts should be maintained with clean looking well appointed windows. Evelyn
Michael Alexander
9:50 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
Evelyn, I agree that our new zoning code should regulate signage.
The Planning Commission has its next meeting on Wednesday July 18th at 7:30pm at Borough Hall. Please come and share your ideas. This is their general meeting.
The next Form-Based Code Project meeting is Monday August 6th at 7:30pm.
Deborah Lonsdorf
11:33 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
Posting notices of local events may or may not be something that can or should be regulated, but community feedback is a vital part of the Design Narberth zoning rewriting process. Guidelines can be suggested and community feedback can be a regulator in itself in many cases. (My pet peeve - Grand Opening signs which have outlived their time frame and appear tiresome and tacky.) Do come to the Design Narberth zoning meetings the first Monday of each month. You can find info on the Narberth Civic Associations website www.narberthcivic.org. Check the calendar on the newspage as well as the dedicated link to the zoning process.
Jim Speer
1:05 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
I would disagree with a prohibition of this sort. The business owners can regulate their own posting policies. If they feel they are losing customers because the streetscape is somehow not charming enough then they should consider that. But in that case I would expect that the Business Association to come up with a proposal of its own, instead of having this dictated by ordinance.
Narberth is small enough such that photocopied taped up posters can actually reach a significant portion of the population. It's a primary means of communication with people who frequent the downtown shops and i do not feel it should be curtailed.
Michael Alexander
2:43 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Jim, that's a good point. I wouldn't want to prohibit posters completely, but I think that there are some standards that should apply, such as: prohibit covering more than 25% of window area with signs.
There are some interesting ideas out there, such as the Signs module for the SmartCode developed by Brown & Keener Urban Design. http://www.transect.org/docs/M-039-SIGNS_pdf.zip