Save Garrett Hill

1.  What is Garrett Hill?
Answer:   GH is described as a neighborhood in the Radnor Township Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Its boundaries are Lowry’s Lane and Rockingham to the west, Lewis Lane to the south, Wentworth, Callanan and Garrett Avenues to the east, and Rte. 30 to the north.

2.  There are two (2) new houses on Garrett Avenue.  How could Steve Bajus tear down two (2) houses in a commercially-zoned district and then replace them with residences?
Answer:  Since Steve Bajus did not change the footprint (size) or the type of “business,” he only needed to obtain permits, not zoning variances. The houses constituted non-conforming usage and continue to be non-conforming usage.

3.  What are the terms for members of the Implementation Committee?
Answer:  Members were appointed to serve 5-year terms beginning in 2003.

4.  If we have to get rid of one of our auto places, can we get rid of one of the bars?  Can we re-zone for only one bar in the neighborhood? Originally, there was only one.
Answer:  The Garrett Hill Coalition (GHC) is not at all sure how this would be accomplished through an ordinance. However, the public nuisance that the Garrett Hill bars create would almost certainly be something that the community would attempt to address through the Overlay District process.

5.  Is there some way of controlling rumors?
Answer:  The Block Captains and the Media, Research and Website Committees of the GHC will work together to address rumors and post fact sheets.

6.  Will Tunnell Field no longer be a playing field and will developers build condos there?
Answer:  GHC does not understand the reason for including Tunnell Field in the Overlay District. It would appear that development is a possibility.

7.  Will high-end condos be built on the corner of Garrett Avenue and Conestoga Road?
Answer:  This is one of the recommended actions in Section 4 - Business and Economic Development - of the Radnor Township Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

8.  Is Radnor Township looking to turn all of Garrett Avenue up to the bridge into commercial development?
Answer:  That is the way it is zoned right now.

9.  What exactly does Steve Bajus own?
Answer:  GHC thought, per the Home Rule Charter, an appointment to a committee would require a disclosure of ownership of real property in the township, but Matt Baumann (Radnor Township Planning Manager) informed us that is not the case.

10.  What actually happened with “Flip & Bailey’s” and why could they make changes without the residents knowing about it?
Answer:  Since “Flip and Bailey’s” did not change the footprint (size) or the type of business, the neighbors did not have to be informed. “Flip and Bailey’s” only had to get building permits.  Zoning changes are what trigger neighborhood notification.

11.  Has the Implementation Committee met since the GHC was formed?
Answer:  We don’t know. However, “No further business will be conducted regarding the GHOD until the GH Steering Committee is formally convened.”

12.  Has the planning consultant been chosen?
Answer:  No. Five (5) proposals have been submitted to the Township. However, “No further business will be conducted regarding the GHOD until the GH Steering Committee is formally convened.”

13.  Has anyone from Garrett Hill seen the plans?
Answer:  The “plans” comprise the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, the DVRPC grant application, and the Request for Proposal (RFP). GHC has copies of the RFP and the grant application. The Comprehensive Land Use Plan is available online at http://www.radnor.com/department/division.asp?fDD=9-154.

14.  Does the consultant have to be the low bidder?
Answer:  No, GHC does not believe this to be so. The next step for the Garrett Hill Steering Committee, once formally convened, would to be to review the proposals and recommend a planner.