On October 14, The Lower Merion Township Zoning Hearing Board will hear appeals from several Villanova residents who are objecting to Lower Merion School District’s plan to create playing fields for the new middle school that’s currently under construction at 1860 Montgomery Avenue, which is adjacent to the proposed playing fields. If the district gets approval to go ahead with their plan, more than 500 trees will be knocked down at 1800 Montgomery Avenue.
The neightbors are asking that the Board determine that in order to develop the property the following is required:
1) a variance from the Historic Preservation Overlay.
2) a variance requiring the Township Arborist approval of the planting plan.
LMSD contends that the Wooded Lots provisions do not give the Township Arborist authority to deny the Preliminary Plan based on the Township Arborist’s opinion that there is insufficient space for the trees to grow and mature.
In addition, the School District contends that the Preliminary Landscape Plan meets all of the applicable requirements of the Wooded Lots provisions and neither a waiver nor variance is required.