HBA Newswatch
February 18, 2008
TOWNSHIP SEEKS COUNTY GRANTS FOR WALKING TRAILS PROJECTS
By Cheryl Allison
ARDMORE - With a deadline to tap into open space funds nearing, Lower Merion commissioners last week voted to submit applications to Montgomery County for grants for three projects.Each of the projects focuses on walking trails. Two are intended to increase access to and enjoyment of existing but "neglected" park properties, and the third will provide a critical link in the Cynwyd rail-to-trail project that is rapidly gathering steam.
In total, the township is seeking $750,000, divided equally among the three projects.
One third of the money will go toward purchase of a parcel – really an old rail spur - at 222 Belmont Ave. The 6.5 acres, referred to as the Spaventa property, gained some notice a couple of years ago, when some township residents pushed it as a potential site for school bus storage.
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NO DECISION FOR BLOOMINGDALE AVE. HOUSES YET
Workshop planned to discuss Wayne special-use concept
By Rachel Perry
The Radnor Commissioners voted in favor of remanding to the HARB (Historical Architectural Review Board) the application for a “certificate of appropriateness” to demolish two Bloomingdale Avenue house and replace them with five new single-family ones.
The commissioners said that one of the main things that needs to be discussed is the financial impact of the project.
Giving the HARB more time to review the project — although it has already recommended that the certificate be denied — will “make your job much easier,” township solicitor David Blake told the commissioners.
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PLANS APPROVED DESPITE RECOMMENDATIONS
By Danielle Lynch
EAST NANTMEAL — Despite recommendations against the plan by township and county planning commissions, the majority of the Board of Supervisors approved the Philips Brothers Electrical Contractors’ zoning extension request.
Philips Brothers owns 40.6 acres at the electrical company site and made a request to extend industrial zoning of the property for an additional 8 acres into an agricultural area.
The township’s planning commission made two motions at its Nov. 8, 2007, meeting concerning the Philips Brothers’ requests. The first motion was a 5-0 recommendation that the Board of Supervisors not amend the zoning ordinance and map as proposed, based upon the comments from the commission.
The second motion stated that the proposed zoning ordinance and map were not consistent with and “are not in furtherance of implementation of the township’s 2002 Comprehensive Plan.” Four members were in favor of this motion and there was one abstention.
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BOROUGH TO ASK DEVELOPERS TO PAY FOR SEWER STUDY
THOSE WITH FIVE BIGGEST PLANS IN WEST CHESTER TO BE TAPPED
By ANNE PICKERING, Staff Writer
WEST CHESTER — The borough plans to ask five developers with the biggest projects currently in the land development and conditional use process to pay for a $25,000 sewage flow monitoring study.
While both sewage treatment plants serving the borough have plenty of capacity to handle the five new developments, questions exist about the state of the pipes carrying sewage to the plants.
“We need to verify what capacity we have in the pipes,” Borough Manager Ernie McNeely told borough public works committee members on Feb. 11.
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SUPERVISORS DENY UNPOPULAR PROPOSAL
ORDINANCE WOULD HAVE ALLOWED A HIGH-DENSITY DEVELOPMENT
By ANNE PICKERING, Staff Writer
WEST BRADFORD — A controversial ordinance that would allow a high-density, age-restricted development to move forward on the Smith/Gray tract at Broad Run and West Chester roads was rejected Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.
Residents hailed the decision after mounting a vigorous campaign against the development and the ordinance.
“We’re very pleased that the Board of Supervisors took seriously the comments made by the residents,” said Rich Coster of West Chester Road. “It’s refreshing that they took the time to evaluate this flawed ordinance and recognize it was not in the best interests of the township.”
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REGULATORS' SUBPRIME MORTGAGE CASES
The Associated Press
State regulators and cities that have filed cases or disclosed investigations targeting Wall Street firms' roles in the subprime mortgage market:
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has accused a major real estate appraisal company of colluding with Washington Mutual Inc., the nation's largest savings and loan company, to inflate the values of homes nationwide, contributing to the subprime troubles. Cuomo also has issued subpoenas to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, seeking information about potential conflicts involving loans the government-sponsored lenders bought from banks. And Cuomo and Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal are investigating whether banks properly disclosed risks of mortgages that were bundled into securities sold to investors.
Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann has accused 10 mortgage lenders and appraisal companies of pressuring appraisers to inflate home values. Dann also has sued Freddie Mac, accusing it of defrauding Ohio's public employee pension fund by investing in subprime home loans. Dann also is considering a broader case against Wall Street banks, lawyers and bond-rating agencies.
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