Belmont Avenue CVS Advances at Planning Commission

Lower Merion's Planning Commission on Monday night signed off on a preliminary land development plan for the CVS pharmacy project slated to occupy a corner of Belmont Avenue and Rock Hill Road.

The plan involves demolishing six buildings and erecting a 13,000-square-foot pharmacy, with 66 retail parking spaces and 18 spaces designated for users of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail. The trail's northern end is across Belmont Avenue from the development site.

Planning officials at the meeting negotiated a few fine points of the project's many conditions with Ross Weiss, a representative of Summit Realty Advisors, the applicant.

The project has the appreciation, if not the outright endorsement, of the local civic association, the Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd. Incoming NCBC president Amara Briggs said of Weiss, "He's done a commendable job trying to allay our concerns with how the trail and the CVS uses fit together."

Briggs added that the civic remains concerned that parking lot entrances and exits must be clearly marked at the busy intersection.

 Also at the meeting, the commission endorsed Lower Merion School District's plans to expand Gladwyne Elementary School and install temporary modular classrooms during construction.

Modular installation would begin this summer, with the permanent classrooms meant to be finished in time for the 2013-14 school year.

Gladwyne ES is one of four buildings, out of 10 in the district, that school administration officials hope to expand in response to a recent study projecting increased enrollment.