News
Also see the newsletters.
Top Stories (date updated)
- City Avenue Special Services District Zoning Ordinance (08/14/2010)
- Zoning Hearing for St. Joseph University "Maguire Campus" (8/14/2010)
- Lower Merion Comprehensive Plan (8/20/2010)
- Lower Merion Police report burglaries (8/14/2010)
- Barnes seeking Alumni to attend Alumni weekend (event 10/8/2010)
- LM Libraries (7/16/2010)
- Historic Homes and Gardens Walking Tour 2010 (event 5/23/2010)
- Philadelphia prohibits hand-held cell usage while driving (11/16/2009)
- Lower Merion Trash Service (8/6/2010)
- Stern Hebrew High School Development
- Old Lancaster Assisted Living Facility
- Merion Post Office at risk to be closed (7/31/2010)
- Merion Civic Association website updates (8/23/2010)
| • City Avenue Special Services District Zoning Ordinance. The Board of Commissioners on August 4 accepted the Traffic Report (which recommends performing a Traffic Study) and Land Use Assumptions Report. The Building & Planning Committee Aug 4 agenda links to the Roadway Sufficiency Recommendation and Land Use Assumptions Report. August 4 B&P (Special) Agenda. The next hearing on this topic is September 20, 2010. The commissioners have said that this may be the single most important zoning decision they will make as commissioners. This will have profound effects on the local and township communities for years to come. They particularly ask that residents read the materials provided, express their concerns, and suggest alternatives. Concerned residents are encouraged to participate in the decision process. To receive Lower Merion notifications, sign up for E-Subscription by providing your E-mail address and checking City Ave Spec Srvcs Dist in the News section of that page. See Drafts of Proposed Ordinances to download "City Avenue Special Services District Amendment." See City Avenue Special Services District website. See LM Township: City Avenue Special Services District This page has links to multiple PDF files, dating back to 6/10/2008 about the proposed zoning. The "Land Use Assumption Report" is in a PDF file of 27.93MB. From City Avenue Corridor Zoning Recommendations (PDF 6.5MB): Some items within the plan for the new Regional Center: Maximum building height 120' (10-12 stories) Exceptions:
08/14/2010 Board OKs RFPs for City Ave. traffic study. 08/11/2010 Don't pull Bala Cynwyd into City Avenue plans. 07/28/2010 San Jose's Santana Row could be model for Bala's Upper Regional Center. 07/20/2010 Public's input invited on City Avenue discussions. 07/17/2010 Traffic impact major piece in City Ave redevelopment puzzle. 06/30/2010 Traffic impacts on City Avenue to be studied. 06/30/2010 Public's input invited on City Avenue discussions. 06/09/2010 Vision for City Avenue topic of LM Workshops. 06/03/2010 City Avenue zoning .... 06/02/2010 on Brian Gordon's letter 05/26/2010 Brian Gordon Letter on City Ave Development 04/28/2010 Discussion planned May 12 for City Avenue corridor revitalization 04/14/2010 Public Hearing on City Avenue Corridor 03/04/2010 Neighborhood Club reacts to Bala Cynwyd Shopping proposals | Top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • Zoning Hearing for St. Joseph University "Maguire Campus" The hearings have been completed. The Zoning Hearing Board has told interested parties that they may prepare "Findings of Fact", which refer to the testimony given in these hearings, to help them review important testimony. These should be submitted by 09/08/2010, and the Board hopes to announce a ruling at the Zoning Hearing of 10/14/2010. See SJU A-56 Offer of conditions to approval (PDF 27 KB) SJU New Baseball Field Plan (PDF 1625 KB BIG) SJU A-33: Usage of Playing Fields at Maguire Campus (PDF 133 KB) See Main Lines Times: (newest first) 08/14/2010 Attorney: Zoners violated Sunshine Act in LM 08/06/2010 St. Joe's hearing takes another twist; TV dispute delays meeting 07/23/2010 St. Joe's hearing wrap-up revs up again 06/16/2010 Is end in sight for St. Joseph's zoning dispute?, 04/28/2010 St. Joe's wants to step up zoning sessions 03/24/2010 St. Joe's creating temporary walkway 02/03/2010 St. Joe's and Merion neighbors clash again 01/16/2010 St. Joe's hearings resume 12/03/2009 Religion touchy topic of St. Joe's hearing 11/12/2009 Sounding off over St. Joseph's acoustics 10/30/2009 LM resumes St. Joseph's hearings; traffic discussed 10/22/2009 UPDATE: Judge denies St. Joe's appeal 09/15/2009 Despite holiday, dozens attend St. Joseph's meeting 07/24/2009 St. Joes continues its plea 04/23/2009 St. Joe's to appeal LM zoning The Zoning Hearing Board Apr 22nd Agenda lists the original application items. The last Main Line Times article (of 7/23/2010) lists the changes proposed by St. Joseph's University.Related Zoning Hearing Board decisions of 3/26/2009: St. Joseph Appeal MCC Appeal. | Top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • Lower Merion Comprehensive Plan. Report on Issues Relating to the Preparation of a Comprehensive Preservation, Infill and Redevelopment Plan for Lower Merion Township The LM Building and Planning Department has announced the plan is now available for public review. This is referenced as the "Issues Report" on the LM website. Special Planning Commission meetings have been scheduled for a public review of the Issues Report as follows: • Tuesday, September 21st • Monday, October 18th • Monday, November 22nd • Monday, December 13th Lower Merion Township website: 08/20/2010 News: Issues Report 1 page. 08/20/2010 Reports and Archives 1 page.
08/20/2010 New LM report lays out roadmap to future. | Top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • Lower Merion Police report burglaries. Since October 2009 through June 2010, there have been daytime residential burglaries. Residents are reminded to secure their homes and to report suspicious persons, vehicles or activity to Police by calling 9-1-1. At a public meeting on June 29, 2010, police recommended the following: 1. Keep your home and car secured (lock the doors). Do not leave valuables visible within cars. 2. Do NOT keep valuables in the master bedroom, since that is the first place burglars will look. 3. Report suspicious persons to the police, using 9-1-1. 4. If you think your house has been entered, call 9-1-1 and wait for the police to check the premises. See the LM Police Crime Prevention Unit for more tips. Sign up for police bulletins on Nixle. Do NOT use "Merion" or 19066. Specify "Lower Merion, Pennsylvania". You can also sign up to receive text messages or Email from Nixle. Consider Lower Merion Community Watch. Main Line Times: (newest first) 08/14/2010 LM Police urges residents to report suspicious activity. 08/06/2010 LM Police issues alert after increase of thefts. 03/23/2010 Residents meet to discuss recent burglaries. | Top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • Seeking Barnes Foundation Alumni.
Seeking former students of the art and/or arboretum programs. The Barnes Foundation plans to launch an Alumni Association. They plan to host an Alumni weekend on October 8, 2010 at 4-7pm. Please email or call 215-640-0171 ext 10. See Barnes Alumni registration form. | Top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • Luddington Library closing for 12-14 months during renovations.
After ground-breaking on Jan 22nd, the main building will be closed from Jan 24, 2010 until Spring 2011. A small temporary branch (Ludington "Lite") will be available in the current Ludington parking lot. Also, the Bala Cynwyd Library will be open seven more hours per week. See Main Line Times 07/16/2010 LM libraries facing lean times in 2011 03/17/2010 Reader's Response: Resident wonders why LM Township has so many libraries 03/10/2010 Debates continue with B.C. Library project 01/10/2010 Ludington Library groundbreaking Jan. 22 See LM Library Renovation Projects. Meetings Next LM Library System Board of Directors meetings. | Top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • Historic Homes and Gardens Walking Tour Lower Merion Conservancy and Merion Civic Association On Sunday, May 23, 2010, from 1-4pm, the tour was a great success. See Flyer (PDF 1.1MB) for more information. See Historic Preservation Lecture Series for details. See Main Line Times preview article (05/20/2010). See Historic Homes & Gardens Tour - Sneak Peek. | Top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • Philadelphia prohibits hand-held cell usage while driving.
Effective November 1, 2009, the new law imposes a fine of $75. See Main Line Times 11/16/2009 No driving while-cell phone chatting in Philly. | Top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • Lower Merion Trash Service.
Beginning in January 2010, Lower Merion will implement a new fee schedule and collection options for trash disposal. See 2010 Solid Waste Fees Flyer for details. Also see Solid Waste Collection Options for more information. Submit questions to Solid Waste Questions. Main Line Times: (newest first) 08/06/2010 LM commissioners vote to replace trash trucks & parking meters 08/04/2010 Pay now, save later: LM weighs costly purchases 07/31/2010 Trash talk continues in LM 05/12/2010 Rear-yard pickup worth cost to residents | Top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • Stern Hebrew High School Development. The LM Zoning Hearing Board has granted a special exception for the construction of a sanctuary addition and additional parking spaces. at 223 N Highland Avenue, Merion Station (former Akiba site). The LM Board of Commissioners will present for adoption an ordinance regarding this development on June 16, 2010, 8:00 pm. See Building & Planning Committee, item 4. | Top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • Old Lancaster Assisted Living Facility. The LM Board of Commissioners and its committees rule on the Development of an Assisted Living Facility at 27-33 Old Lancaster Road, Bala Cynwyd. The preliminary plan involves the demolition of two existing residential buildings and construction of a three-story assisted living facility with a 15,948 square foot print, 50 units and an underground parking garage with 50 spaces and six surface parking spaces to be held in reserve. Main Line Times: 09/29/2009 Neighbors appeal OK of assisted living facility | Top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • Merion Post Office at risk to be closed The USPS is considering closing smaller post offices. Patronize your post office. Use it or lose it. See Could your post office be closing? January 2010: the Wynnewood Post Office has merged with the Upper Darby/Havertown Post Office. May 2010: the Merion Station Post Office no longer has a postmaster and that bulk mail will be handled at the Upper Darby/Havertown post office. | Top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • Merion Civic Association Website The Merion Civic Association Website has been updated Recent updates: News add entry for Lower Merion Comprehensive Plan; Photos 2010 Flag Day. Please let us know what you think. Contact Webmaster. | Top |