Bryn Mawr Moviegoers Gain Additional Long-Term Parking

Residents will soon see three-hour meters in Lot # 10, which is located in Bryn Mawr on the south side of Lancaster Avenue, between Central Avenue and Summit Grove Avenue.

The board voted 11-1 (with Lindner voting no) in favor of amending a township code to provide for three-hour and 12-hour meters in Lot #10, in place of the two-hour and 12-hour meters which are currently authorized.

The asked the township’s Parking Services Department to look into options for increasing the number of long-term spaces in Lot #10, because the short-term meters did not provide enough time for the daily matinees that generally run two hours in length.

Township Checkbook Register Online

The board also approved, with an 8-4 vote, placing the township checkbook online with any confidential disbursements redacted.  The register will be available in a PDF and downloadable format.

Commissioners Daniel Bernheim, Richard Churchill, Liz Rogan and Steven Lindner cast the dissenting votes.

At a June 2 Finance Committee meeting, several residents spoke in favor of putting the checkbook register online, saying that it would allow for transparency.  Only one resident spoke against it and questioned why residents needed to see what is in the checkbook.

Contract Approved for Library Security System

The board voted 9-4 in favor of authorizing the township manager to enter into an agreement with Sentry Technology Corporation to furnish and install a Library Materials Security, Asset Management and Self Check Out System for the six Lower Merion libraries, at a cost of $668,420.

Commissioner George Manos arrived at the meeting late, in time to vote on the library issue, but was not present for the board’s other votes. 

Commissioner Jane Dellheim was absent from the meeting.  Commissioners Brown, Gould, Rosenzweig and Zelov voted against the proposal.

Before the vote, Zelov proposed an amendment to the motion, which failed.

Zelov suggested that the vote on approving a vendor include a requirement that the library system staffing level be reduced to two and a half library staff equivalents (which could refer several part-time library jobs that add up to the equivalent of one staff position) once the security system has been installed in all of the libraries. 

Zelov said it could be done without layoffs by eliminating the staff equivalents from the budget.

McGuire said he thought the new library security, asset management and self-checkout system would yield “significant productivity improvements” but he disagreed with Zelov’s amendment.

“Right now we are understaffed with our library system,” McGuire said, and that is with the largest library in the township, Ludington Library, being closed for renovations.

Ardmore Fountain

In other business, the commission learned that Ardmore’s new fountain in front of the Ardmore branch of the Bryn Mawr Trust had to be turned off, four days after it was first turned on.

Township Manager Doug Cleland said the fountain (which was first turned on Friday, June 10) had to be turned off on Tuesday because the fountain has two problems.

One of the problems is that the fountain may have a leak in its base, and the other is that the fountain may not be level which results in water not flowing correctly from the fountain, Cleland said.

The township is working with contractors to resolve the issues, Cleland said.

Although the fountain cost $135,000, the township paid $900,000 for the entire revitalization project of the Lancaster and Ardmore avenue area, which was $250,000 over budget.  The township had also expected to share the cost until it learned it would not be receiving a county grant for the project.

Ardmore Transit Center

The Board of Commissioners also approved two issues concerning the Ardmore Transit Center proposal.

The board voted 9-3 to choose option 2 to for the Ardmore transit center, provided that sufficient funds are available to close the funding gap of $20 million to $23 million, and if the funding gap cannot be closed the board would make the determination upon being informed that full funding remains unavailable, to proceed with option 3.

Commissioners Brown, Gould and Rosenzweig voted no on the matter.

Option 2 for the Ardmore Transit Center is a proposal which would include a new train station, tunnel, transit improvements, retail space at the transit center and a four-level parking garage; as well as a mixed-use development and parking on Cricket Avenue.

Option 3 would defer the new train station and transit improvements until additional funding could be identified, but it would include the same parking garage at the train station and the mixed use development on Cricket Avenue.

The board also voted 10-2 to approve a 120-day extension (from June 30 to October 31, 2011) of the development agreement between Lower Merion Township and the developer for the Ardmore Transit Center, Dranoff Properties, in order to allow time for the parties to make revisions based on the proposed changes to the project and schedule.

Commissioners Gould and Brown voted against the extension.

Commissioners Grant Residents' Request for More Time on City Avenue Rezoning Proposal

Lower Merion Township commissioners delayed a vote to schedule a public hearing and take action on the City Avenue rezoning proposal for a third time on Wednesday night, but agreed to hold a public hearing in July on establishing a traffic impact fee for the City Avenue Transportation Service Area.

The City Avenue rezoning district ordinance was on the agenda for a special meeting of the Building and Planning Committee of the Board of Commissioners, but when the public arrived at the meeting they were greeted by signs informing them that action was being postponed on when to hold a hearing on the matter.

Board of Commissioners President Liz Rogan said the matter was tabled because “It was the request of the community to set up more public workshops and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Rogan was referencing requests which were made by residents and civic association members who spoke last week at a June 8 Building and Planning Committee and asked the committee to table the issue until they had gathered more public input.

The City Avenue rezoning project would establish an ordinance which proposes changes in use along City Avenue in Bala Cynwyd, in an effort to increase commercial development. 

Although the City Avenue rezoning was taken off the agenda, members of the public still spoke about it during public comment that was held as part of the Board of Commissioners meeting last night, and commissioners discussed it for nearly an hour.

Commissioner Jenny Brown said she wanted to make sure the City Avenue rezoning would not be on the agenda again until the “groundwork has been done.”

“I think we need to give some people some idea of what the plan is…Make sure you’ve brought the community along before you bring it again before the board.”

In another matter which involves City Avenue but does not require rezoning, the Board of Commissioners voted 8-4 to hold a public hearing and adopt an ordinance amendment on July 27, in order to establish a development traffic impact fee for the City Avenue Transportation Service Area.

Commissioners Brian Gordon, Lewis Gould, Philip Rosenzweig and Jenny Brown voted cast the dissenting votes.

The traffic impact fee would be charged for any new development in the Transportation Service Area that generates additional traffic during the afternoon peak hour and the money would be used for off-site roadway improvements within the district. 

Before the vote, Gould proposed tabling the vote on the traffic impact fee until the City Avenue rezoning comes before the board, but that vote failed.

Other board action

The board also approved several items by consent calendar, meaning there were not requests from any member of the board for a separate discussion on the agenda item.

As part of the consent calendar the board approved:

• Amending the existing conservation easement to permit the installation of additional signage at Idlewild Farm, at Williamson and Black Rock roads, in Gladwyne.
• Authorizing a permit to demolish the main house, stable addition and pool house at 1316 Monk Road in Gladwyne.
• A request to construct an open porch on the front elevation of 617 Williamson Road, Idlewild Farm, in Gladwyne.
• The expansion of the Clover Market in Ardmore—to include a section of Cricket Terrace between Rittenhouse Place and South Cricket Terrace on three Sundays in October and November this fall. The market will be assessed a one-time $90 fee to close a section of public roadway for the use of the market.
• The appointment of Marc Vitale to the Planning Commission to fill the unexpired term of Planning Commission member Laura Shell through February 2014.
• The appointment of Joshua Grimes as an alternate member of the Zoning Hearing Board for a three-year term to expire January 2014.