To B&B or not to B&B

Posted by Emily Myers on September 18, 2013

The Chadds Ford Township Zoning Hearing Board heard testimony from township officials whether the Stonebridge Mansion on the corner of Webb Road and Baltimore Pike can host weddings and other events. The property is zoned R-1 residential, and the owners have applied conditional use variance as a bed and breakfast. The required modifications for that variance have not been made on the property.

The applicants, Nicola and Drew Barnabei, contend that if Chadds Ford Days can be held on a residentially zoned property, they should be able to have parties on their property. They contend Chadds Ford Days is a commercial event with the sale of goods, food and beer.

Joe Mastronardo, Chadds Ford Township Civil Engineer, testified that Chadds Ford Days was a special once a year event. Judy Lizza, Chadds Ford Township Manager, added that Chadds Ford Days is a community and family event to support the maintenance of historic buildings in the area. There is no mention of exceptions for special events in the township zoning regulations.

When asked to compare the parking at Chadds Ford Days to the parking at Stonebridge Mansion, Fire Marshal Michael Daily said that police were stationed at the entrance and exit of Chadds Ford Days making that situation safe.

Daily thought there would be a hazard if one hundred cars were blocked behind walls and fire equipment needed to get onto the property. He said the gate would have to be removed and room for pull off at a minimum. He was not sure if either of the two driveways could accommodate the turning radius required of a fire truck.

A concern was raised that when 100 people arrive at the same time, for example for a 2:00 wedding, that there would be a backup on Baltimore Pike for people lined up to turn into the property. There is no deceleration lane.

Lizza was asked to search “Stonebridge Mansion in Chadds Ford” by township solicitor Hugh Donaghue. The search resulted in a web site and Facebook page. These pages had a telephone number which she dialed from her phone during the hearing. The answering machine said “Drexelbrook Catering.”

The number and size of events was a question. Noise and traffic might pose more of a problem in a neighborhood if it were to occur weekly rather than only annually as Chadds Ford Days.

The hearing will be continued at the next meeting.

In other business, the Zoning Hearing Board approved a variance to Chunling Zhou for an increase of impervious coverage from 25% to 28.25% on the property at 26 Evergreen Place in Chadds Ford.

Kevin Buente was asked to return with more precise measurements for his application to increase impervious surface on his property at 44 Marshall Road, Glen Mills, Chadds Ford, PA. These measurements will allow the enforcement officer to confirm that the actual construction conforms to the actual variance given
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Zoning Board Chairman Robert Reardon was inclined to grant these variances because other similar variances have been granted to build decks. He wondered if and when all of these small variances would accumulate to cause water drainage problems.

The next meeting of the Zoning Hearing Board is scheduled for Wednesday October 16.

About Emily Myers

Emily Myers has lived and worked in Chadds Ford for over thirty five years. She founded the parent company of Chadds Ford Live, Decision Design Research, Inc., in 1982. ChaddsFordLive.com represents the confluence of Myers' long time, deep involvement in technology and community. Myers was a founding member of the Chadds Ford Business Association and currently serves on its board of directors. Her hobbies include bridge, golf, photography and Tai Chi. She lives with her husband, Jim Lebedda, in Chadds Ford Township.