Commissioners Reject Homeowners' Request To Build

Havertown residents Alan and Joanne Cimorelli will not be able to build a second home on their property.

Haverford Township Board of Commissioners voted four to two Tuesday night against the request to build on their second lot, despite assertions from township engineer Chuck Faulkner and Assistant Township Manager Lori Hanlon-Widdop that the property met township regulations.

"Apparently, they have violated our civil rights. … This is a travesty of justice,” an upset Alan Cimorelli told the Haverford-Havertown Patch after the commissioners voted against his proposal to put a 700-square-foot building on the second lot of his property.

Cimorelli and his wife said they decided to build a smaller home on their property at 70 E. Clearfield Rd so they could downsize, but remain in the neighborhood they like.

Neighbors Opposed Construction

However, some of their neighbors hired a lawyer to stop the proposed structure from being built. Neighbors were concerned about potential problems with:

• Water runoff
• Sewerage issues
• Property value

Joanne Cimorelli, a Realtor, told the commissioners that property value would not decrease.

“If they would, “ she said. “I wouldn’t pursue building on my lot.”

"They (property values) didn’t go down when over 20 of my neighbors did the same thing, including the neighbor, who is a builder, built across the street (from me),” she continued.

Majority Votes to Reject Building

Four commissioners voted against the request to build the home, while two voted for it. Three commissioners did not vote on the issue

• Vice President and 1st Ward Commissioner Steve D'Emilio: Voted To Reject Request
• 2nd Ward Commissioner Mario Oliva: Not in Attendance
• 3rd Ward Commissioner Robert E. Trumbull: Voted To Approve Request
• 4th Ward Commissioner Daniel J. Siegel: Withdrew For “Professional Conflict”
• 6th Ward Commissioner Larry Holmes: Not in Attendance
• 5th Ward Commissioner Jeff Heilmann: Voted To Reject Request
• 7th Ward Commissioner James E. McGarrity: Voted To Reject Request
• 8th Ward Commissioner Chris Connell, Sr.: Voted To Reject Request
• President and 9th Ward Commissioner Bill Wechsler: Voted To Approve Request

Commissioners Explain Vote

“Here's my concern with these type of developments. Six months from now, a year from now, who protects the residents when we find out, even though (the house) met the requirements, now we have an issue? Now the residents have damage. How do we protect them from that?" D'Emilio asked with a few supportive claps from the audience.

"They felt and listened to what the citizens had to say and how it impacted their neighborhoods,” Wechsler said of the vote after the meeting.

Wechsler conceeded that the Cimorellis did meet the requirements needed to build the second home.

Couple Reacts to Rejection

"I would not have gone here if I was told the politics were such that you were never going to get this. My attorney and my engineer, who the township recommended that I use, said, ‘This is a slam dunk.  They can't stop this.' You saw they just did," Alan Cimorelli said.

Cimorelli, an astrophysicist with the Environmental Protection Agency, said that he spent an estimated $50,000 to get the approvals he needed to start building on the lot, which is 6,739.3 square feet, according to the commissioner’s agenda.

Alan Cimorelli said he and his wife wanted to stay in Haverford Township, but now they are not sure what their next step will be, but he will be speaking further with his attorney and engineer. 

 “They (the commissioners) have not heard the last of us,” he said as he walked away.