Comprehensive Planning

It is my position that Newtown Township should revise the Comprehensive Plan prior to considering the revising of zoning ordinances. The proposed CR Commercial Residential Zoning District is a prime example.

Newtown Township’s position is to change portions of the township zoning, in order to prevent owners from going to court to challenge the current zoning. Some residents also believe that residential housing is not a viable option for properties fronting West Chester Pike.

For those who are in agreement with this position, I ask them to drive east on West Chester Pike to Broomall and Havertown. Broomall east of Rt. 320, has a nice residential community opposite the Pike from existing commercial properties. Further down the Pike in Havertown, the residential community of West Gate Hills exists opposite the Manoa Shopping center.

The entirety of West Chester Pike does not have to be commercialized. If that is the thought process of the Township, then Florida Park residents opposite the proposed Marville development would not be immune from future zoning changes. Where do you draw a line in the sand?

I believe that the residents of Newtown Heights and Rhoades Avenue should be heard, and areas currently residential should be left residential. Those areas currently zoned commercial that are being used as office and/or apartments should be rezoned to reflect their current use. Based on the mixed use of the aforementioned neighboring townships, I believe that the township could put up a viable challenge to any possible court intervention.  If elected I would seek to maintain the residential character of these neighborhoods and would be willing to challenge any attempts to rezone in a way that would be negative to those neighborhoods.

Questions or comments can be addressed to raymondlopez2013@yahoo.com .