The Lower Merion Board of Commissioners on Wednesday night voted 8-5 to authorize its intention to hold a public hearing—and a motion to adopt an ordinance—to rezone City Avenue for new development on Dec. 14.

Commissioners Brian Gordon, Cheryl Gelber, Jenny Brown, Lew Gould and Scott Zelov voted against holding both the hearing and against the motion to adopt the ordinance next month.

In a motion that failed, Gelber proposed scheduling the public hearing for next month, but delaying a vote on the ordinance. Board president Liz Rogan said if they held a hearing but no vote, “we would only be doing what we’ve been doing for the past year.”

The commissioners have already held one public hearing on the proposal, but the board tabled the measure after the June 9 public hearing, when several civic association members and residents asked the board to delay its vote until it had gathered more public input.

The board then held several public workshops during the past summer and this fall to discuss the ordinance, and gave the Lower Merion Planning Commission the opportunity to provide input on the proposal.

“What’s before us tonight is out of sequence. The concept of an official map is the one thing that remains...” —L.M. Commissioner Scott Zelov

On Wednesday night, seven residents asked the board to not to hold the public hearing next month, while six people (including developers, real estate professionals, a retailer and residents) urged the board or move forward.

Roger Moog, a board member and past president of the Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd, said the civic association was opposed to moving forward with the ordinance because while many of the group’s concerns had been addressed by township staff and the public workshops, the group still has some concerns. Not all of the funding for City Avenue traffic improvements is secured yet, Moog said, and the ordinance does not account for the highest level of traffic that could occur with new development.

After hearing from Moog, Gelber said she could not support moving forward. “Without the Neighborhood Club’s support, or any other civic association’s support, I don’t think we are there yet in terms of an ordinance,” Gelber said.

Gelber also said the ordinance was not ready for a public hearing or motion to adopt because the board was presented with some 20 changes to the ordinance on Wednesday night.

Changes

The changes that township Building and Planning Director Bob Duncan presented were in response to recommendations from the Lower Merion Planning Commission and in response to public input.

On Nov. 10, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the City Avenue District ordinance, provided that an official map is created that shows the locations of future roadways, open spaces and trails in the district, Duncan said. The Commission recommended that a provision be added mandating that new development conform to the map in order to attain incentives for density increases, he added.

Zelov said while he supports the rezoning of City Avenue, he could not support holding the public hearing and vote until the official map was completed.

“What’s before us tonight is out of sequence,” Zelov said. “The concept of an official map is the one thing that remains… It will be the one thing that we can visually see.”

Commissioner George Manos urged moving ahead. “I think it’s important to get this out so we can have an open debate amongst the commissioners as well as hear what the public has to say,” Manos said.

Though many residents over the past several months have said they are opposed to the City Avenue rezoning because new development would increase traffic, one resident offered a different view.

Bill White, who lives in Bala Cynwyd about a half mile from City Avenue, said, “I can put up with the traffic because there will be more amenities.”