Letters Looking to expand For the past several years Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting has been looking at alternatives as our needs as a religious community have begun to outgrow our building and tightly-circumscribed property on East Mermaid Lane. The land on which our meetinghouse sits was donated to us by Robert Yarnell, Friend and owner of the factory that now is home to United Cerebral Palsy. Our land extends only 10 feet or so from the footprint of the building itself. Out of our search for options, we have concluded that we should purchase land from United Cerebral Palsy, further to the west of our current property, just behind the Mermaid Inn. We have just entered into an agreement of sale with UCP. This property will allow our Meeting an option within Chestnut Hill as we look to the future. We have yet to determine when we will build on the lot or the precise nature of the meetinghouse that we will construct. In the meanwhile, our expectation is to leave the lot in essentially its current state, perhaps making modest improvements to its appearance. Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting has always sought to be a good neighbor. We, in fact, have met with our immediate neighbors on Mermaid Lane to describe our vision. As we begin to envision a new meetinghouse and determine when we can proceed, we will do so with a concern for the quality of the surrounding neighborhood high on our list of priorities. The land we are purchasing will be adequate for off-street parking and will provide ample green space as well as room for a meetinghouse that will meet our needs into the foreseeable future. We are sending this letter to the Local in order to inform the wider Chestnut Hill community of our decision and as an indication of our intent to work with appropriate committees of the community association on future plans. Warren A. Witte, Clerk Ed. Steve Sheridan, the
director of UCP of Greater Philadelphia, told
the Local on Monday that negotiations
are underway for the possible sale of the 1.9
acre site to the Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting
and the sale is contingent on due diligence Reagan threw us a lifeline Where to start on Jimmy J. Pack's opinion of Ronald Reagan? [Local, June 10] The mean tone? The economic illiteracy? The idea that perhaps I should have skipped it entirely, as I usually do when I spot his byline? I read his article on Wednesday night, right after watching the state service in the Capitol rotunda, wishing I were there. You see, Jimmy, I do not need to read a history book about Ronald Reagan, as you suggest. I lived the ideas of Ronald Reagan. I experienced the transformation that this country made from high inflation and low expectations to steady growth in the economy and a return to optimism. It was pretty disheartening to come of age in the seventies, when the country seemed to be powerless in the face of geopolitical and economic threats. Ronald Reagan threw us a lifeline, and many of us grabbed it. Yes, there are those who were left behind, and I believe that we have a duty to help those who are less fortunate. But the best way to help the poor is not with dependency, but with a growing economy, so that they can get jobs. The best way to help the sick is to free up the creativity of scientists, instead of siding with the tort bar against doctors. A few facts: the tax cuts that Reagan wanted were passed, but delayed to 1983 in a compromise. That caused businesses to delay investments, and contributed to the recession and large deficit of 1982. Once we finally got the tax cut in 1983, the economy recovered, and the deficits decreased, giving us what have been called the Seven Fat Years. The important thing about deficits is not their absolute size, but their size as a percentage of GDP, which we have always been able to handle, and even more important, whether the deficits are financing investment with a payback, or consumption without one. As far as tax cuts for the rich are concerned, I have no love for rentiers, but we each have a better chance of becoming one with low marginal tax rates in force. As my finance professor used to say, "Don't get mad, get dividends!" I've also noticed that rentiers give a lot more to charity than others do. On one point I do agree with Jimmy. The media coverage has been largely off base. The talking heads are all reminiscing on Ronald Reagan's style. They are missing the fact that that style was in service of his ideas. They were not original ideas. They were simply the truth: that the highest political value is freedom, that well-intentioned government meddling often creates the opposite of the intended effect, and that America's ideals and power are morally superior to those of the despots and dirigistes. Ronald Reagan gave a voice to those of us who believe in those ideals. That is what made him truly great. Jim Bondelid Rude behavior To respond to the Jimmy J. Pack Jr. article almost gives too much credit to his screed. But his rude behavior warrants redress. To restrain myself from the type of barracks brickbats that his rude writing deserves requires significant restraint. The lack of class demonstrated by the timing of his attack speaks for itself. His vituperation is the sign of a small mind, a sad personality and an ill will. It's not that it is Ronald Reagan Mr. Pack is demonizing. It's that it is anyone who has so recently "passed to the other side". Forgive me one harsh remark Mr. Pack. Get a life! Kevin P. Flynn Panhandle development proposal too dense Re: Preserving Open Spaces in Springfield Township, Montgomery County At two recent Springfield Township Planning Commission meetings, Mr. Fred Tecce and his representatives presented development plans that would require rezoning of a 41-acre tract in the Panhandle section of the township owned by Mr. Tecce and his sister. The tract is bounded by Northwestern Avenue and Ridge Pike, adjacent to the Andorra Nature Center of Fairmount Park. The present AA zoning and its overlay approved AAA Cluster zoning (to preserve open space) calls for approximately 42 to 45 single detached family homes for this 41-acre tract. The Tecce plan request calls for three four-story mid-rise apartment buildings (with an additional level for vehicles) containing 64 units, plus either approximately 114 townhouses or 64 detached dwellings. The requested change in zoning would increase the density 300 percent to 400 percent and would allow for the first time the construction of mid-rise apartment units in this residential single-family-detached dwelling community. The Tecce tract is located adjacent to the Fairmount Park's Andorra Nature preserve and the proposed high-density plan would greatly affect this nature area's ecology, with additional surface water runoff into the surrounding community and the Wissahickon Creek. The current homes along Northwestern Avenue are of low density within open space of two to 16 acres per home. The home values of the homeowners would be negatively impacted by changes in zoning to increase the density of homes and the construction of mid-rise apartment units. It is my contention that the requested rezoning of the Tecce tract is mainly for economic enrichment of the Tecce tract owners and its partnership developer who would reap millions of dollars of additional profit if this density increase is approved by Springfield Township. There is no economic hardship present for the Tecce family to develop the tract under current existing residential zoning requirements. The higher requested density would be at the expense of the township, its citizens, surrounding homeowners, the environment and the loss of already limited open space in the township, with a welcoming invitation for other large developers to apply for similar high-density zoning requests that would be difficult to refuse if this zoning change request is approved. Springfield Township already has the highest density among surrounding townships, as the minimum requirements for its highest residential zoning is only 6/10 per acre. The Tecce request lowers this to 1/4 acre for each residential unit. Surrounding suburban townships have minimum acreage requirements from one to two and a half acres. We suggest that interested citizens appear at the next scheduled Springfield Township Zoning Board meeting that would further review this disastrous zoning change request. Call the township at 215-836-7180 for the time and to voice your opinions and concerns. Springfield Township and Montgomery County in 2001 spent considerable time and taxpayers' funds to designate this same tract as part of its AAA Residential Open Space Cluster Zoning area to preserve its current open spaces and prevent over-development (with its high density) for the financial enrichment of developers. We hope that Springfield Township keeps its promise to its citizens and disapproves any zoning change request for the Tecce tract and the soon-to-follow similar requests by developers for the few remaining large township open tracts. "If you let the trunk of the elephant into the tent, the elephant will be sure to follow!" Any person who wants to show community support for preserving open spaces can return a copy of this letter to me with their name and address and I will present it to the commissioners of Springfield Township. Gary Bromberg Ed. note: Mr. Bromberg enclosed a copy of an alternative vision plan for the site, prepared by the Friends of Springfield Panhandle, with his letter. This alternative comprehensive plan calls for the tract to remain open and preserved as a useful township asset as a park, a nature preserve and a bike trail connecting Forbidden Drive directly to the Schuylkill River bike trail, which then connects to the Valley Forge National Park. Mike Taylor, assistant manager of Springfield Township, told the Local on Monday that the consensus of the planning commission was that the Tecce plans, as presented in concept, are too high in density. There has not been a formal presentation. The board of commissioners will schedule public hearings on the proposed zoning change after Labor Day, he said. Frank Jenkins, attorney for the Tecces, said that plans continue to be tweaked and that they would be ready to present to the township by the middle of July. The Tecces are asking for a change in zoning from AA to CRD residential, Jenkins said. He has not seen the alternative vision plan but said the property would be developed. As of right, 45 to 60 homes could be built on the property, according to Jenkins. |
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