102 Apartments, Retail Space Proposed In Hatboro

HATBORO, PA —The developers of several vacant North York Road properties pitched plans for 102 apartments and retail space before a large crowd at the Hatboro Planning Commission Tuesday night.

In a meeting that lasted nearly three hours, the planning commission reviewed plans and heard comments from a group of 25 residents regarding conditional use and land development applications submitted by JERC Partners LXIX, LLC for the property located at 21-23 and 37 N. York Road.

It's the second developer to submit plans under the borough's new Town Center Ordinance, which allows for mixed-use residential and retail development.

Plans are also under review by the Planning Commission to develop the former CVS property. Those plans could once again come before the board at its Oct. 10 meeting.

Under the submitted plans for the N. York Road property where the old diner used to be, the project would include a three-story building featuring 102 residential units, 4,732 square feet of first-floor retail space, and 3,142 square feet of a first-floor amenity area that would only be for those living in the apartments.

The apartments will include 20 two-bedroom units with the rest being either one-bedroom or studio apartments. Representatives for the developer did not have the cost of the apartments available Tuesday night.

During the meeting, representatives unveiled the plans, unveiled renderings of the building, and discussed parking and traffic impact studies.

While many residents groaned in attendance at the first look at artist renderings of the building, most complained about Hatboro residents Tuesday night and with the CVS plans have argued that the building's façade does not match Hatboro's Heritage.

"This building doesn't represent Hatboro," resident Kelly A'Harrah said. "It doesn't look like something that belongs in our history. We want something that's not a bunch of rectangles and different colors."

Ed Murphy, the attorney representing the developer, said that the architect would work with the borough to try and find a façade that might capture the colonial and traditional look of some of the borough's buildings.

Much of the debate centered around traffic and parking.

Residents around Abbotts Lane, one of two access points for the project, said that the addition of the apartments would further burden an already stressed York Road with more gridlock and also clog up Abbotts Lane when people are leaving for work or school buses are out in the morning.

"This is not going to work," one resident of the street said. "You're going to have a major traffic jam. It's a lot of people."

Developer representatives also outlined parking, saying that only 159 parking spaces were needed, with 13 of those devoted to retail in the front of the building on North York Road.

However, commission members and residents disagreed, stating that more parking spots are needed with the addition of anywhere from 102 people to possibly double that living in the apartments.

"I don't think you have ample parking. It seems like you're falling short," Commission Member Tom Smith said. "What about parking for the retail employees? This also leaves no leeway for visitors."

Borough Planner John Kennedy, though, said the developer was following proper procedures and that the parking should be adequate. The developer is asking for a 10 percent reduction regarding parking as well, which would have had parking at 174 spaces.

Click here for a copy of the plans and renderings presented to the Planning Commission on the borough's website.

In late January, the Hatboro Borough Council approved a mixed-use ordinance for a section of York Road after a public hearing of 50 people.

The ordinance allows developers to make proposals that could see building heights go to 60 feet provided they meet certain guidelines, meaning that the downtown district could have taller buildings and apartments.

The option allows for buildings along York Road —from Byberry Road to Montgomery Avenue —to be taller than the current 35 feet allowed.

All plans need final approval by the Hatboro Borough Council.

Click here for a copy of the plans and renderings presented to the Planning Commission on the borough's website. Plans can also be reviewed at Borough Hall (temporarily located at 130 Spring Ave.) during business hours.

(Photos By Dino Ciliberti/Patch)