Meades Automotive Ardmore

I’d love your attention for a few minutes so I can explain the importance of being informed about not just this Target/apartments project linked in the MLT ar...ticle, but more that’s coming and what we can do. It will affect us all. I admit to just becoming involved because I realized what was happening due to this project being so close to home. But here we are, and I want to share with others. In addition to the current building behind Party land on cricket adding 110 apartments and the 14 new townhouses on cricket and spring going up in my neighborhood, we now also have a 32,000 sq ft Target and 35 apartments on top being built at the corner of Lancaster and Ardmore. 5 stories and far inadequate on-site parking because of a grandfathered code under MUST. AND there are at least 7 other projects in various stages. What you need to know is that this all will add housing in the PW/BC zone specifically and a couple adding to PV/WV. It’s hard not to be overwhelmed and turn away, feeling powerless. Please don’t! Read the attached MLT article highlighting where things have gotten currently despite our efforts. Its because legally, the developers are within the law to build the way they are, and our township, IS VERY MUCH FOR IT. Commissioners are divided, but majority rules and the ones who have the loudest pro-development/urbanization voices tend to influence the rest in making laws easier for developers. So we need as many people to engage NOW because LMT is changing zoning LAW right now over the next weeks and months, which will effect EVERYONE living in the township and sending kids to this district. The majority of our townships commissioners continue to vote in favor of more and higher residential development. Our township’s building and planning committee IS going to change zoning laws and they are working with a team (DPZ), in my opinion (I’ve learned a lot recently and could share more as requested) to LOOSEN the laws even more in developers favor. I know many are focused on the school board - and they need our input too, but our civics are extensions of the township so it’s here and outside community organizing that we can work on influencing ALL commissioners to put more restrictions and limitations on development. We can’t just listen to what THEY TELL US about hands being tied. Enough. We need to send the message, that we residents do not want to become denser and rely on all this development theory of urbanization being ‘better’. Because that IS the townships comprehensive plan. No secrets about it. I know we are all busy but this overdevelopment WILL keep happening unless way more people engage with changing zoning laws. And as we can see here at PWES- where is everyone (students particularly) going to go???? The intergovernmental meetings have continuously not proven effective and after going to so many meetings just over the last couple months, I am convinced that while we elected a few new great commissioners and have others who sympathize with residents, generally the BOC feels strongly that these developments do not have ANY impact on our schools and don’t feel it’s their problem to solve if they do. Superintendent Copeland provided evidence in numbers of the effect on the SD but we need to chime in. Theories are great, and development isn’t ‘bad’ if it’s smart and controlled, but our streets and schools are obviously not able to handle MORE right now. They need to slow down while they actually prioritize addressing some of the negative effects on everyone’s quality of life here FIRST. Can they equally value that? We’re asking for the brakes. It’s getting realer than real folks. Email ALL commissioners about what you want for our township in terms of development. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]