Consider for recommendation to the Board of Commissioners approval of the release of funds held in escrow as Improvement Guarantees in accordance with Section 135-5 of the Township Code for the following: 

600 Righters Ferry Road

The Royal Athena

Escrow Release no. 23                         $52,030.00

Escrow Release no. 1                          $35,719.00

843, 847 & 859 Old Lancaster Road

Danley

Escrow Release no. 7                          $34,558.00

715 Conshohocken State Road

Two-lot subdivision

Escrow Release no. 2                          $34,679.00

Consider for recommendation to the Board of Commissioners a Preliminary Open Space Subdivision Plan prepared by Commonwealth Engineers, Inc. dated June 17, 2016, last revised May 18, 2017 showing the subdivision of a 5.4-acre lot into two new lots and the construction of two single family detached dwellings accessed from a common driveway extending from Old Gulph Road. The plan also contains a 3.8-acre preservation area. The applicant shall comply with all of the conditions of approval. The plan includes the following requested relief that has been recommended by the Planning Commission: 

• Subdivision & Land Development Code Section 135-28a, to defer the installation of sidewalks along Old Gulph Road.

Consider for recommendation to the Board of Commissioners a Preliminary Land Development Plan prepared by Site Engineering Concepts, LLC dated March 16, 2016, last revised June 22, 2017, showing the consolidation of two properties, demolition of two existing warehouse/manufacturing buildings with a portion of the steel structure of the warehouse closest to the existing office building to remain as a canopy over the motor court and Pencoyd Square, a potion of an existing pump house to be repurposed, and the construction of two hotels, one with 124 rooms and one with 138 rooms. The conditions shall be complied with prior to recording the Final Plan by means of plan revision, completion or financial guarantee, unless specifically exempted. The plan includes the following requested relief that has been recommended by the Planning Commission: 

a)  Natural Features Code Section 101-9, to substitute deciduous trees for a portion of the evergreen tree requirement.

b)  Natural Features Code Section 101-5B(2), to disturb soil in an environmentally sensitive area.

c)  Stormwater Management & Erosion Control Code Section 121-4A(1), to permit disturbance of over 25% of the total area of the property at any one time.

d)  Stormwater Management & Erosion Control Code Section 121-10, to grade within 3’ of the property line.

e.  Stormwater Management & Erosion Control Code Section 121-4.A.23, to not provide a buffer along the perennial stream (Schuylkill River) in order to facilitate the recreational trail. 

Consider for recommendation to the Board of Commissioners a request for a waiver from the Open Container requirements in Code Section 111-4.2 to permit the service and consumption of alcohol on Township property for a beer garden in Schauffele Plaza associated with the Ardmore Bike Race on August 20, 2017.

Consider for recommendation to the Board of Commissioners authorizing the Township Secretary to advertise notice of intent to hold a public hearing and adopt an ordinance amendment on September 19, 2017 to amend the Code of the Township of Lower Merion, Chapter 155, entitled Zoning, to amend Article XXV, General Regulations, §155 -130, Regulations of Fences and Walls by adding a new Section §155-130 E, and to Amend Article XXVII, Floodplain District, §155 -154.1 by amending §155 -154.1 F to preserve the scenic corridor along the Schuylkill River, and to amend Article XXVII, Floodplain District, §155 -157, permitted uses by amending §155-157 G and adding a new Section §155-157 M to allow accessory fencing for residential properties in the floodway fringe. 

Attached are two separate proposed ordinances (Option A and Option B) for the Committee's consideration. 

Consider for recommendation to the Board of Commissioners authorizing the Township Secretary to advertise notice of intent to hold a public hearing and adopt an ordinance amendment on September 19, 2017 to amend the Code of the Township of Lower Merion, Chapter 155, entitled Zoning, Article XXXV, City Avenue District, §155-219, City Avenue District: Bala Village, §155-219B Use Regulations to require active ground floor uses in buildings fronting on Bala Avenue, City Avenue, and Cynwyd Road, and to allow galleries and museums, and to establish a 300 feet separation requirement for less active uses, and to remove a multiple-use development and adult or child daycare as a permitted use, and to Amend §155-219C(1) to  limit the 10% building area increase to mixed-use buildings, and to amend §155-219C(5) to limit the 10% impervious surface increase to mixed-use buildings, and to amend §155-219C(9) to require a buffer for any development abutting a residential district, and to allow a reduction in the buffer requirements by conditional use when a development abuts a railroad right-of-way; and to amend §155-219.D. parking & loading requirements to reduce the number of off-site public parking spaces that may be counted towards required parking calculations for existing buildings and to no longer allow new buildings to count off-site public parking spaces toward their required parking; and to amend §155-219E to limit floor area ratio density increases to mixed-use buildings only, and to remove the incentives for residential single-use buildings, and to amend the incentive for underground and/or wrapped parking structures, and to increase the historic preservation incentive from 0.1 to 0.2, and to remove the incentives for off-site traffic improvements.

Consider for recommendation to the Board of Commissioners appointing the following individuals to four year terms on the Planning Commission such term to expire July 2021:

• Scott France

• Sean Whalen

Consider for recommendation to the Board of Commissioners new signs at the front and rear entrances of the former Party Land store in the Rittenhouse Arcade building. Signs will consist of internally illuminated channel letters and logo mounted to an existing raceway.

Consider for recommendation a proposal for a new hanging sign facing Youngsford Road to replace a sign of nearly identical size and design. Also, a new PVC fence is proposed to replace a deteriorated wood fence at the rear of the property, facing Righters Mill Road and the rear property line. The fence will be gray in color and will have a galvanized metal framing, 5 ft. high with posts every 8 ft.

Consider for recommendation to the Board of Commissioners a proposal to replace a sign face in an existing freestanding sign with a new acrylic sign with vinyl lettering.

Consider for recommendation to the Board of Commissioners a proposal to install a diesel generator on a new 10’ x 10’ concrete pad adjacent to an existing building and 180 ft.-high cell tower in Gladwyne Park. The generator would be enclosed by an 8 ft. high chain link fence with green privacy slat inserts and a locked gate. The HARB recommendation will be provided on the Final Agenda. HARB's recommendation will be subject to the Board of Commissioner's decision to approve the generator to be located in Gladwyne Park. 

Consider for recommendation to the Board of Commissioners changes to the elevations including a large vent on the rear (Trolley Way) ground level façade. Other changes include adjusted window and material configurations. A previous concept of this five-story residential/retail building was approved by the HARB in July, 2016.

Consider for recommendation to the Board of Commissioners a 2.5-story rear addition to this Dutch Colonial home. The addition would continue the front-facing gambrel roof to significantly increase the home’s footprint.

Consider for recommendation to the Board of Commissioners authorizing the Township Solicitor to prepare an ordinance to add the historic object as a Class 2 resource on the Historic Resource Inventory.