With City Avenue Rezoning Vote at Hand, Where Do You Stand?

On the eve of a scheduled vote on sweeping changes in City Avenue’s commercial zoning, Bala Cynwyd’s civic association and municipal legislators ended two hours of debate Tuesday night further apart than they had been before.

“This is actually a really disappointing turn,” said John Grugan, president of the Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd.

Lower Merion’s voted 8-5 in November to introduce a rezoning ordinance that would, most notably, raise the height restriction for City Avenue-corridor buildings from 120 to as much as 200 feet in some areas.

Bala Cynwyd commissioners George Manos, Paul McElhaney and Brian McGuire, who regularly give reports at Neighborhood Club meetings were among those voting to send the ordinance to a final vote Wednesday. However, most of the Club’s leadership, as well as leaders of neighboring civic association, have long opposed the bulk of the ordinance.

Both Grugan and Manos said they thought at the outset of Tuesday’s club meeting that there was a good chance Manos would move to postpone the vote after the public hearing Wednesday, allowing the possibility that input from the public could spark amendments.

However, as club members rattled off desired changes Tuesday night, Manos said, “It seems to be a moving target as to what is a form you will not oppose. … When I came into this meeting, I thought I would do it, but with all these issues I’m wondering, ‘why table it?’”

Replied Grugan, “The facts have changed, and so our position has changed.”

Township officials last week announced a tax settlement would add an unexpected $6.9 million to the township’s coffers. Grugan suggested the money should fund City Avenue traffic improvements as soon as possible, another item on the list of changes the club wants to see before considering support of the ordinance.

“We need to talk about that,” McGuire said. “It’s a good idea, (but) politically, you’ve got to remember that (Bala Cynwyd is) a small part of the township.”

“We’re not saying that every dollar of this $6.9 million needs to go into this,” Grugan said, “but we are saying that a significant portion should.”

Other items on the club’s wish list include:

• a greater street buffer for buildings;
• incentivizing developer contributions to traffic improvements above the establishment of open space on commercial properties;
• publishing a comprehensive map of what the rezoned area could look like.

Said McGuire, “I’m not convinced at all that the federation of civics would come out neutral or in support of this with a map. I do think they want to scuttle it.” And as for bumping up to 100-foot gaps between building, the commissioner said, “we’re being told we’ll get sued and we’ll lose the suit.”

Those attending the meeting also debated the potential increase of crimes and nuisances that a family entertainment center like Chuck E. Cheese or Dave and Busters could bring. Manos and McGuire were nonplussed.

“There’s going to come a point when there’s going to be a vote on the ordinance,” McGuire said. “I think some of these things will be addressed, I think some of them won’t be addressed.

Said Grugan, “There’s going to be profound disappointment if the vote goes on, and secondly if the ordinance passes.”

“As much as I respect what you’re saying,” Manos said, “I think there’s way more good (in the ordinance) than there is bad.

The public hearing on City Avenue rezoning is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the township building. 75 E. Lancaster Ave. in Ardmore.