Radnor OKs final change to old Wyeth Lab property plans
RADNOR >> The redevelopment of the site of the old Wyeth Labs on King of Prussia Road received final approval from the Board of Commissioners on Oct. 7.
The long process, which included various zoning changes, will permit Brandywine Real Estate Trust operating as BDN Radnor Hospitality and BDN Radnor Property I, to build an office, hotel and parking garage on the property just to the west of the Penn Medicine development. The BOC approved a financial subdivision for the two sites as
145 and 155 King of Prussia Road.
The rezoning process to allow mixed uses at the 26acre site was contentious in the township, with numerous public meetings, but the final approval went off quickly and quietly. The Penn Medicine portion of the development includes a medical building and parking garage.
The BOC also agreed to send the Planning Commission a proposal from Aberdeen Associates LLC to amend the zoning code to permit residential uses in the C-3 commercial zoning. This would permit residential development of a former swimming pool supply store at 210 North Aberdeen Avenue.
Kristy Flynn, senior vice president with Rockwell Custom builders and lawyer Nicholas Caniglia spoke to the BOC about the possible change.
“What we’re proposing is mixed use,” said Flynn.
Commissioner Jack Larkin said that area, known as Little Chicago, is “at least 50 percent residential.”
The change would reduce the impervious coverage from 65 percent to 60 percent, Caniglia noted.
“It will provide for a greater greenscape than is actually permitted in that district,” he said. It would be another option that the current business owners in the C-3 district would have would have that would “only increase the value of their property.”
The current C-3 zoning references proximity to a highway, which the Aberdeen Avenue property lacks, said Flynn, who lives in that neighborhood. This property is not connected to a highway because a too-low railroad bridge prevents large trucks from reaching it from Lancaster Avenue.
“If you put your planning hat on it makes a lot of sense to change uses,” said Flynn.
Commissioner Sean Farhy asked if she had spoken to small business owners. “We did have a public meeting. The point of this is not to take away any other business uses,” said Flynn.
“There is residential (property) throughout this area,” she said.
“I would like to hear from actual residents,” said Farhy, who suggested it be tabled.
Larkin told Farhy that he held a town hall meeting with “a group that didn’t quite fill up this room. We had a decent turnout. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive.”
There only a few sites in the C-3 zoning district that would qualify for the change he said.
Commissioner Richard Booker asked whether it was a public meeting because he had not heard about it and Larkin said that it was “a public town hall meeting.”
However, prior to that meeting, when asked if the town hall would be videotaped, Larkin told The Main Line Times & Suburban via email, “This will not be a public meeting and will not be televised.”
Booker said the change to residential use would add value to the properties. He was also concerned that that area is “prone to flooding” and has already been “over developed.” However, a positive attribute would be that new residential development would not increase traffic, he said.
“There can be change in this neighborhood with or without this amendment,” said Flynn. The property now is a “big gravel trash pit” and will be developed eventually. Other uses could increase traffic, she said.
Caniglia noted that a housing developer would be required under code to provide on-site parking.
“If this was converted into four condos they would have to provide eight onsite parking spots,” Caniglia said.
Farhy was also concerned about new problems being created by the change.
In other business, the board discussed a proposal by Commissioner Jake Abel to partner with Villanova University to give $2,500 toward a $5,000 scholarship to a student who would serve as a volunteer firefighter. Another ordinance to give a 20 percent real estate tax discount to volunteer firefighters will be put on the agenda for an upcoming BOC meeting.
Robert Zienkowski, township manager, said that anything that the BOC can do to encourage people to volunteer as firefighters would benefit the township. A full-time firefighter with salary and benefits likely costs “an excess of $100,000,” said Zienkowski. There is a shortage of volunteer firefighters statewide he said, and neighboring townships are already paying for full-time firefighting employees.
“Any incentive that can be offered is huge,” said Zienkowski.