Times Chronicle & Public Spirit
Historic ordinance proposed
Curtis eall was crowded Sept. OM as residents from Cheltenham qownship gathered to learn about a proposed ordinance to create a eistoric Resource lverlay aistrict in the township.
Although the township has two historic districtsI the LaMott and Wyncote sections of the townshipI the proposed ordinance permits the township to regulate the demolition of scattered historic sites or local landmarks outside of these districtsI said Acting qownship Manager Bryan eavir.
Certain properties in East CheltenhamI WyncoteI Elkins Park and Glenside on LaurelI eighlandI corest and Elkins avenuesI Washington and Pardee lanesI Mill and Jenkintown roadsI among many othersI are prohibited from being demolished under the proposed ordinance.
According to the ordinanceI if a resident in one of the designated historic districts wanted to demolish their homeI they would have to apply for a demolition permit with the Cheltenham qownship aepartment of EngineeringI woning and fnspections and submit several documents such as deed to the propertyI a scaled drawling showing all the proposed changesI photographs of the property and other documentation that would be reviewed by the planning commission during a public meeting.
After the application is reviewed by the planning commissionI it moves to the public works committee and then it’s reviewed by the board of commissioners who decide if the property can be demolished.
eavir said there is a clause in the ordinance that addresses property relocation. ff there is a way that a historical property can be moved to another part of the townshipI the board would take that into consideration.
,n WKH SDVW, VLJnLfiFDnW KLVWRULFDO EuLOGLnJV have been torn down and the township wants to prevent that from occurringI eavir said.
“f have been working for the township for about N5 years and over those N5 years xthe WRZnVKLS@ KDV [ORVW@ DW OHDVW VL[ [VLJnLfiFDnW@ buildings to demolitionI” he said. “A property owner can come in and pull a building permitI and if they meet all the criteria and pay the feeI the building can be demolished.”
qhe properties were demolishedI because the township had no provisions in placeI such as records or an ordinanceI to prevent them from being destroyedI he said.
eoweverI NM years ago the township began working with the state eistorical Museum Commission recording historic buildings in the areaI eavir said.
rnder the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code and eistoric aistricts Act mu- nicipalities in the commonwealth have the right and responsibility to preserve their historic resourcesI said architectural historian Christine CruiessI a representative from Cultural eeritage Resource Services fnc.
By working with consultants and the Cheltenham eistorical CommissionI the township developed a list of OMP properties that it felt ZHUH VLJnLfiFDnW DnG VKRuOG EH NHSW IURP GHmolitionI eavir said.
“We have another list of about NMM properties … to survey and add to the listI” he said.
Cruiess said that in OMM8 CeRS surveyed historic buildingsI mostly homesI in the township and documented the nameI addressI parcel number of the propertyI historic functionI modern day functionI the property features and history of the property.
Prior to thisI a survey was conducted in NVV8 of 8N properties in the townshipI eavir said.
DuULnJ WKDW VuUYHy WKH WRZnVKLS nRWLfiHG property owners about the surveyI welcomed their feedback and gave them documentation of WKH KLVWRULF VLJnLfiFDnFH RI WKHLU SURSHUWy. TKH same process was done during the OMM8 surveyI eavir said.
auring the meetingI residents had the opportunity to voice their opinion about the ordinance.
Some residents were concerned about the GHfinLWLRn RI GHPROLWLRn, ZKLFK ZDV GHfinHG in the ordinance as “the razing or destructionI whether entirely or in partI of a site or structureI impairing its structuralI historicI andLor architectural integrity.”
lne man wanted to know if he renovated his driveway would he be penalized based on the GHfinLWLRn RI GHPROLWLRn.
eavir said the township does not care about GULYHZDyV DnG WKDW WKH GHfinLWLRn RI GHPROLWLRn will be revised.
Chairman of the Cheltenham qownship eistorical Commission aave earrower said that the demolition does not refer to changing the roof tilesI shutters or paint color of the homeI but refers to the actual removal of the historic building.
“f moved hereI and not to a gated communityI because f wanted the freedom to do with my SURSHUWy ZKDW , VDZ fiW, nRW WR KDYH VRPHRnH EH my parent and tell me what f could and could not do with my propertyI” said resident qamara Avallone. “qhat is my concern.”
Resident aarlene Melton who said she lives in the historical district of LaMott said that she agreed with eavir and the ordinance’s intent to reserve what is of historical value in the township.
“f’m not happy about historical properties being knocked downI” said resident Kathy Clark. “We all need to work together and meet an objective xwe can agree on].”
“lur goal of the contest is to get students engaged in talking about the many types of issues that affect their livesI” Miller said.
lther honorees included the families of Joseph M. Nejman and John R. aonahoe who were given the Posthumous Resolution honoring their life and their many years of service to the community. Student Moses aeeart was honored for rebuilding the bridge at Grove Park. AlsoI Bruce Rangnow was honored for his OM years of service in the township’s accounting department and local artist Nick a’Amico was given a resolution for painting a mural in downtown Glenside. becoming a part of the community and can join the GGCC to support the local business community.
Shops along Easton Road and Glenside Avenue will be open with special in-store and sidewalk sales from noon to 5 p.m.
Most businesses will be donating a percentage of their sales from this event to the victims of the NSMM CKuUFK 5RDG CRnGR fiUH.
cor more informationI visit www.glensidechamber. org.