Lower Merion board to vote on rezoning, development deal
The Lower Merion Board of Commissioners will vote on the City Avenue rezoning ordinance, and on a settlement agreement with O'Neill Properties during the Legal Affairs Committee meeting.
The debate in Lower Merion Township over the controversial City Avenue rezoning ordinance will end tomorrow, Wednesday, Dec. 14 after it's put to a vote during the Board of Commissioners meeting.
The rezoning ordinance, which has been in discussions since 2007, seeks to redevelop the corridor of City Avenue in Bala Cynywyd and Philadelphia into two zoning districts to make it more pedestrian friendly, create mixed-use residential and business space, and indoor and outdoor recreational facilities.
The ordinance has caused an uproar among township residents, who've expressed concerns ranging from redevelopment's impact of traffic, to the lack of a master plan to deal with future redevelopment, as well as a fear that the ordinance would transform the suburban community of that corridor to a more urban look.
The 6 p.m. meeting tomorrow might be the final chapter for the rezoning ordinance, but it's not the only major item on the Lower Merion board of commissioners will look at. At approximately 8 p.m., the board's Legal Affairs Committee will also look to approve a settlement agreement over the construction of riverfront apartments on Righters Ferry Road in Bala Cynwyd.
As the Main Line Times reported, this plan, if approved, would allow O'Neill Properties Group to move forward with its planned construction of 580 apartments on land that was previously an important industrial area of the township.
Residents with comments and concerns about either this agreement, or the rezoning ordinance are encouraged to e-mail Neighbors (neighborsmainline@gmail.com or jfernandez@philly.com).
Stay tuned for coverage of the board's decision on both items.