Property Proposal raises concerns
by Meredith Sonderskov
An appeal for use variance for the property at 8528 Germantown Avenue
as a restaurant/
night club, enlivened the Land Use Planning and Zoning committee meeting
on Thursday, March 2, at the Hiram Lodge. Sanjiv Jain owns the property
and excused himself as a member of the committee in order to be a petitioner.
The building was formerly occupied by Yankee Candle.
Jain pointed out that the Urban Partners study for the business district
recommended a restaurant for that block to bring in more pedestrian activity
at night. He asked the committee to support approval for use of the building
as a restaurant with a liquor license, food and live entertainment and
with hours of operation from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week. Jain
stated that there are six parking lots within half a block of the property.
Committee members immediately raised concerns, such as:
• Although there are several parking lots nearby, take-out customers
tend to double park on Germantown Avenue, put on flashers and run in to
pick up orders. This ties up traffic on the Avenue.
• This use as a restaurant would bring more people to hang out
in the parking lot next to the Wawa on Highland Avenue. Neighbors on Evergreen
and Highland Avenues already have complaints about late night noise and
under-age drinking.
• Live music can get loud for the neighbors. The Mermaid Inn was
cited as an example.
• The proposed restaurant would be right next door to Color Me
Mine, which has frequent children’s birthday parties in the evening.
• There is no need for such lengthy hours. Other local restaurants
don’t have them and are doing well.
After further discussion and suggested modifications, the committee approved
a resolution to pass on to the Development Review committee. The resolution
included: no take-out alcohol option, live music should be OK, limited
food take out (doggie bags), 11 p.m. closing Sundays through Thursdays
and open until 1 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and six other times a year.
The other appeal for a variance came from P.K. and Kana Mitra who want
to build a one-story addition to their house at 7646 Ardleigh Street.
The addition would be just three feet from the SEPTA viaduct wall at the
rear of their property and therefore does not meet set-back requirements.
Mitra pointed out that the house itself was built on the property line
and he has letters from the adjoining neighbors giving their okay to the
proposed addition. After some discussion the committee moved to support
the Mitra’s request to the DRC.
At the end of the meeting there was a question raised about the legality
of the proceedings because no notice of the meeting or its agenda was
given in the Local, as required in the bylaws.
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