RADNOR — The township Planning Commission this week reviewed
a sketch plan from Villanova University for plans to tear down the Butler Annex
Building and replace it with a larger edifice.
Unlike the other Villanova plan to build dormitories, a
performing arts center, retail space and a garage on the 13-acre parking lot on
the south side of Lancaster Avenue, this plan has met with no community
resistance.
Christopher Kovolski, an assistant to the university
president, said an anonymous donor would like to help fund the Butler Annex
project, which is now being called the West End Zone Building.
“We’re excited,” he said outside of the meeting. “It’s going
to be a good project.”
The area to be redeveloped lies between the stadium and the
Jake Nevin Field House with the natatorium remaining at the rear.
Civil Engineer Karen McManuels told the Planning Commission
that the new building will be in compliance with the township zoning code,
although it will be 5,000 square feet larger than the Butler Annex, which is
9,600 square feet. The West End Zone Building will remain set back 99 feet from
the Lancaster Avenue and be two stories tall on that side. However, a rear
portion of the building will reach three stories in height, said Robert Morro,
head of facilities.
The new space will house a varsity weight room, space for
training and for team meals. It will also free some space under the stadium for
other sports teams’ use.
University officials have already met with neighbors and
gained their approval, Morro said.
The project will not bring more students or staff to
Villanova, he said.
“All varsity sports – with the exception of men’s and
women’s basketball, which are housed in the Davis Center for Athletics and
Fitness-- will use the weight room, training room and academic support space in
the new building,” said Kovoski. The new equipment will “service all sports,”
he said. The football program offices and locker rooms will be located in the
new building and areas of the Villanova Stadium currently used by the football
program and varsity weight room will be used “to house locker rooms for men’s
and women’s track & field, men’s and women’s lacrosse, field hockey and
softball,” said Kovoski.
McManuels said the three-story section of the building will
remain within the township’s 38-foot height allowance. They are proposing a
“new infiltration bed” to help with stormwater, along with green roofs and a
couple of rain gardens to manage the 3,800 feet of additional impervious
surface the project calls for.
The building would remain an existing nonconforming use
under the zoning code.
“Right now there are some significant trees in front of the
building so you don’t really see the building,” said McManuels. “It will be
very similar to what it is right now.” She noted that some athletes do not have
any lockers now.
“I think it’s a great plan,” said Julia Hurle, Planning
Commission chairwoman. “It won’t be a detriment to the township in any way.”
The Planning Commission also voted 5-0, with members Steve
Cooper, Skip Kunda and John Lord absent, to table a proposal to subdivide 2.3
acres at 205 Strafford Avenue in Wayne. Developer Bo Erixxon plans to keep the
original house and subdivide the property to add three lots on the Eagle Road
side for single family houses. Those houses would be served by a common
driveway on Strafford Avenue.
Resident Leslie Morgan said that she walks in the area
frequently with her dog and would like to see sidewalks added.
“It’s very hard on that stretch,” said Morgan. “It’s very
dangerous for pedestrians.” She would also like to see the trees that would be
removed replanted in Ward 1, where “we’ve lost a lot of trees.”
“We’ve lost too much and we deserve some extreme replanting
in our ward,” said Morgan.
A West Avenue resident had several concerns about the
project.
He noted that Eagle Road residents have asked the Board of
Commissioners for traffic calming measures on that street to combat speeding
drivers. He was also worried that the plans would add to the area’s stormwater
woes and also increase housing density. Eleven new townhomes are now being
built [by Erixxon] at 115 Strafford Avenue, he said. There is also a school bus
stop at Eagle Road and West Avenue.
Charles Dobson, an engineer for the site, said that
stormwater management systems will be installed to keep water from running off
the property.
The Planning Commission asked Erixxon to bring the plan back
showing sidewalks or an asphalt path and upgrades to street lights. George
Broseman, a lawyer for the developer, said the builder has offered to help pay
for traffic calming measures on Eagle Road.
For another project, the Planning Commission voted to recommend
that the Zoning Hearing Board allow a special exception or waivers as needed to
allow four townhouses to be built at 227-229 Plant Avenue in Wayne, replacing
an existing house.
“You may know this as the Halloween house,” said Nicholas
Caniglia, an attorney for the developer. That old house always had a lot of
decorations for Halloween but “it has not been in good condition for a number
of years,” he said.
Planning Commissioner Susan Stern said that some neighbors
told her that they were pleased with the plans for the site and happy that it
calls for off-street parking since the townhomes would have garages.
In a routine matter, the Planning Commission also approved a
sewer planning module for the Ardrossan Farms development at Newtown and
Darby-Paoli roads.
Source: Mainline
Times
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