K. Hovanian Homes’ plans for a townhouse development in Chadds Ford Township took a shot to the bow, but the developer is not giving up the ship.
Members of the township Planning Commission voted April 9 to deny recommendations for Hovnanian’s request for a zoning change and text amendment so it could move closer to building 114 townhouses in an area currently zoned for a planned business community.
While the vote was unanimous to deny both requests, Hovnanian’s attorney John Jaros said he would still go to the Board of Supervisors to seek direction.
Planning commissions are recommending bodies only. Supervisors may accept the recommendation or not at their own discretion. Jaros said he plans to go to the board in May.
At issue was a request to change the zoning of a 20-acre parcel along Brandywine Drive from PBC to RM, or multi-family residential. The other request was for a text change to modify the RM district.
Other business
The commission tabled a decision on a request for an outdoor seating area requested by the owners of Not Your Average Joes. The hamburger restaurant is moving into Glen Eagle Square at the site of the former Outback.
Many residents from Springhill Farm were in attendance expressing apprehension over the patio dining area. Residents said parking was bad enough when the restaurant was the Outback, but that it would be even worse with the additional seating. The owner plans for 80 seats outside.
Light spill from headlights already intrudes into the abutting streets, they said, and they’re also concerned that the outdoor seating would generate more noise.
Engineer Chuck Olivo said the outdoor area — along the south side of the restaurant — would be slightly more than 1,500 square feet in area, but that also include an already existing 560 square feet of sidewalk. It would be open to the sky so it could not be used if it rained.
The area would also be fenced in so that patrons could only enter or leave through the main restaurant.
In response to resident concerns over noise, a sound-dampening wall can be added to the rear portion of the patio while a fence or trees can be added to the buffer to cut down on excess lights from cars, the applicant said.
Commission Chairman Craig Huffman told the applicant to come back in May with an updated plan showing the fence.
The May meeting is May 14, the second Wednesday of the month.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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