Transit zone talks being revived

NORTH WALES >> Talks about a transit-oriented development district in the borough are being revived after a previous move to expand the current district was voted down five years ago.

Councilman Mark Tarlecki gave an update on recent activity by the borough planning commission, of which he is a member, including a resumption of talks on a possible transitoriented development district update.

“The TOD is a special district that’s located in and around the North Wales train station, as well as along Walnut Street,” Tarlecki said.

“We’ve had an original TOD implemented back in 2009, and the planning commission, at this point, is actually going to update that, and we wanted to address some things that are particular to North Wales itself,”

“I don’t know if you’re ready to poke that hornet’s nest or not, but the problem is not educating council. I believe council was well educated on it last time; the problem we had was, the public was not educated.” — Council President Jim Sando

he said.

Council held extensive talks about updating that zoning map in 2014, but a change that would have expanded that TOD area was ultimately voted down after heavy opposition from local residents.

Throughout 2019 the planning commission has

been working on ways to implement recommendations from the North Wales 2040 comprehensive plan, which was drafted and finalized over several prior years with help from the Montgomery County Planning Commission.

“Everything that we worked on over the last 12 months is going to be presented to council later this winter,” Tarlecki said.

MCPC representatives will likely lead the presentation on proposed changes to the TOD, and how it could help that area of the town take shape.

“By doing so, we believe it’s going to help us do some development within the area along Walnut Street, as well as around the train station,” Tarlecki said.

Council President Jim Sando said he hoped the planning commission was ready to host a series of public meetings to outline their proposals, and suggested the boroughowned church, classroom and office building at 125 N. Main Street could host such meetings.

“I don’t know if you’re ready to poke that hornet’s nest or not, but the problem is not educating council. I believe council was well educated on it last time; the problem we had was, the public was not educated,” Sando said.

Resident Andrew Berenson suggested a series of such meetings or presentations could be held at different times and/ or places, to be as accessible to the public as possible, and Sando and Tarlecki said details would be announced as they were finalized.