City Ave. Issue Tabled; Traffic Light Change for Linwood & Athens in Ardmore

At Wednesday evening’s special Lower Merion Board of Commissioners meeting, an ordinance to amend the Township’s development code to include impact fees related to the creation of a “City Avenue Transportation Service Area” was tabled until September.

The hearing for the ordinance has been stayed until the next Building and Planning meeting Sept. 14. Building and Planning Director Robert Duncan asked the board to re-advertise the ordinance with new and approved amendments, including amending the impact fee to a flat rate of $1,544 instead of a range of $1,400 to $1,800.

The impact fee of $1,000 for any land development or subdivision applications submitted 18 months prior to the adoption date of the ordinance will stand, unchanged.

There was no public comment about the ordinance. Resident Barry Polis had requested to speak, but reportedly left after hearing the issue would be tabled.

No Turn on Red in Ardmore

The Commissioners also moved to adopt an ordinance that imposes a “no turn on red” regulation at the intersection of Athens and Linwood Avenues in Ardmore. This regulation would be for all four approaches to the traffic signal.

Police Superintendent Michael McGrath said that the measure would aid traffic flow and provide drivers with a “sufficient turn radius” onto the narrowed portion of Athens Avenue. McGrath added the regulation would improve the safety of pedestrians coming from .

The board also voted unanimously in favor of an ordinance to place a stop sign on Woodleave Road at the intersection with Pennstone Road North in Bryn Mawr.

Both ordinances will move to be adopted at the next Board meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 3.

Houlihan's replacement OK'ed

The board also voted unanimously Wednesday night to approve the installation of Joe’s Crab Shack at 555 E. City Ave. in Bala Cynwyd, replacing .

Ignite Restaurant Group plans to designate a 630-square-foot outdoor dining area, add a 183-foot glass vestibule to the front entrance, and renovate the exterior of the building, including adding trees along City Avenue and Presidential Boulevard.

The Planning Commission recommended to the board approval of ten waivers, including not providing a tentative sketch plan, a preliminary land development plan, a final plan, a key map, or a traffic impact study and parking analysis documenting existing conditions and projections subsequent to the proposed development, among others.

Ignite had also requested a waiver to not provide details about the trees to be planted, but a representative for Ignite said they will work with the commissioners to meet requirements of number and placement.

All waivers were unanimously approved by the board. There was no mention of when construction would begin or end.

The hearing for the ordinance that would create a City Avenue Transportation Service Area and implement impact fees has been stayed until the next Building and Planning meeting Sept. 14.

Building and Planning Director Robert Duncan asked the board to re-advertise the ordinance with new and approved amendments, including amending the impact fee to a flat rate of $1,544 instead of a range of $1,400 to $1,800.

The impact fee of $1,000 for any land development or subdivision applications submitted 18 months prior to the adoption date of the ordinance will stand unchanged.

There was no public comment about the ordinance. Resident Barry Polis had requested to speak but reportedly left after hearing the issue would be tabled.

A temporary noise ordinance waiver request was granted for Main Line Health through Sept. 16. Construction at is now permitted to start at 6 a.m., two hours earlier than the typical earliest allowable time of 8 a.m.