Bar Demolition, Major Redevelopment Plan Clears Key Hurdle With Radnor Officials

RADNOR, PA — A proposal to demolish a Downtown Wayne commercial complex with a bar, rebuilt it and add two floors for mixed use cleared a key hurdle for Radnor Township officials' approval. But the plan will get some fine-tuning.

The property at 118-120 N Wayne Ave. contains 118 North — a bar and restaurant — and a vacant space that last had a dry cleaning business.

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Real estate investor Joseph Smogard, who owns the property, wants to demolish the one-floor buildings and develop a mixed-used space. The first floor will contain a retail store to be determined and a restaurant, with Smogard hoping to retain 118 North.

The second floor will have an office for Smogard's businesses, with four apartments and rooftop decks on the third floor, Patch previously reported.

The developer cleared a key step in the application process on Monday, when the Radnor Planning Commission granting preliminary approval. (The Planning Commission makes recommendations to Radnor's Board of Commissioners, which ultimately decides whether development projects move forward.)

The governing body also approved seven of the developer's eight requested waivers on aspects such as stormwater-management plans, side-alley width and rear-yard buffer.

The only waiver that didn't pass Monday was a request for the Planning Commission's final approval, giving developers an opportunity to refine a plan that could transform Downtown Wayne.

"It’s a new type of project, especially for North Wayne," said Planning Commission Chair Lane Vines. "It’s a significant project."

Smogard's attorney David Falcone expressed willingness to change design elements to better fit the neighborhood's character. The applicant also agreed to formulate detailed plans for demolition and construction.

Several residents expressed concerns Monday about the project, including construction impacts and local parking scarcity.

Currently, the complex only has street parking. A few months ago, the Zoning Board approved four rear parking spaces for the apartment residents on the condition that the office contains six or fewer employees at a time.

However, demolition and construction are expected to disrupt the commercial district.

"We have the cart before the horse," said resident Mary Packer. "We're considering something that will forever change North Wayne Avenue and probably all the surrounding streets."

Radnor Township is currently developing a new master plan for development in Downtown Wayne, expected to be completed in the next year or so. That plan, entitled "A Vision For Wayne," will provide an updated blueprint for changes to the downtown.

Planning Commission members advised residents to make their voices heard in the township's process of creating that master plan, which includes a survey.

Planning Commissioner Woo Kim said the applicant has gone "above and beyond" with willingness to work with the community, taking feedback at several public meetings in recent months.

"I think the flaw is in the process here is that we are a board designed to just review one application at a time," Kim said. "Unfortunately, we can't sort of talk about the big picture where we have a lot of support for reinvestment and renewal in Downtown Wayne and then, within that context, talk about projects like this."