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Health & Fitness

Newtown Township Zoning Hearing - Important Meeting on Feb. 20th

The Newtown Township Zoning Hearing Board meeting will take place on February 20, 2014 at 7:30 PM at the Newtown Township Building.  The first item on the agenda is the rescheduled hearing for a zoning use variance for 3810 West Chester Pike.  The owner is asking for a use variance "to permit single or mixed use for the following uses:  retail store, personal services, bank and/or other similar institution, restaurant, residential, office, and accessory uses thereto". The second item on the agenda is for a property at 314 Summit Avenue.  "The applicants are requesting a Special Exception under section 172-141, side yard setback, to build an addition to permit expansion of the house."    

According to the Newtown Township Code Book posted on-line at Newtowntownship.org :

"A variance is a deviation from the use permitted in a zoning district or the dimensional requirements in a zoning district for the uses permitted therein."

This means that the owner of 3810 is asking to use the property in a way that it is not currently zoned to be used. This property was previously one of the many properties that the Township had proposed including as part of the properties to be rezoned Commercial-Residential.  The Supervisors voted no to that zoning amendment. It is my understanding that the property currently allows residential use as well as a specific office use.

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This request for a use variance is confusing to me.  If there is a particular use other than the current residential zoning use that the Owner is considering, I can imagine hearing about a variance for that particular use.  This request cites many different uses. This concerns me because if this broad use variance is approved, those other properties that had previously been proposed for C-R rezoning, could make the same request.  If this request is approved, a restaurant would be permitted in an area zoned residential.  It seems to me that approval of this request could open the door for many other similar requests.   

The 314 Summit Avenue applicant is requesting a special exception related to side yard setbacks to build an addition for expansion of the house. Information about Special Exceptions can also be found on-line at Newtowntownship.org under the section on Codes & Permits in the Code Book at Section 172-13: "Where an application for a special exception is made, the applicant shall have the burden of showing that the proposed use is appropriate and in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this chapter."

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Zoning changes are important to all residents of Newtown Township. I urge all residents to attend the Newtown Township Zoning Hearing Board meeting on February 20, 2014 at the Township Building at 7:30 PM.  


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