Here is the letter that was read and delivered to those addressed. To support
your neighbors
EMAIL lel@abingtoncitizens.com
and say ADD ME or ADD US
int he Subject line and tell me your
name and your town
( ie Meadowbrook or Rydal or Willow Grove or
Roslyn or...)
To:
Members of the Montgomery County Planning Commission
Members of the Abington Township Planning Commission
Members of the Abington Township Zoning Hearing Board
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are growing in number and in resistance to the BET
“text amendment,” which we view more as a significant redraft of the fledgling
Code that our Township Zoning Board approved and enacted just one year ago (we
also believe that it would constitute illegal spot zoning, if approved).
We have attended meetings -- and will continue to attend meetings – to voice our
disapproval of this proposal that threatens to drastically and detrimentally
change the face of our Township; not just through this proposed project, but
also because approval of this proposal will open the door to other developers
who will view our Zoning Code as a suggestion rather than an ordinance.
While our resolve only grows, we wonder for how long -- and how many times -- we
will be called on to explain that this proposal is not what we want for our
neighborhoods or our Town Centers or similar districts.
The tactic of submitting an absurd proposal, and then
scaling it back, is childishly transparent. The latest proposal remains
egregiously violative of our new Code – at 250% of maximum allowable densities,
and in the heart of our Town Center, it is a slap in the face to the work that
you
– our Township Representatives
-- all completed just last year.
Moreover, it defies logic that you should be asked to implement such a drastic
zoning change to any area within our Township, particularly because the
entire zoning code was re-written just one year ago after an exhaustive and
comprehensive study.
We have
taken to heart the words of Commissioner Spiegelman during
our January 10 Zoning Hearing, who said: “A responsible development for
me anyway starts from the street level perspective of the neighbors and the
neighborhood…” And he added: “….ultimately it is the neighbors,
the residents and not commercial property owners or developers who send us here
and who we represent first and foremost.” Those words apply to all of
us as citizens of Abington Township, and to all of you as our representatives.
To be clear, we do not take issue with any individual
or company seeking to make a profit in our Township. But we are absolutely
opposed to anyone who seeks to profit while we suffer a commensurate loss.
This proposal, if approved in any form, is abhorrent to the character and
culture of Abington Township, and it does away with the protections that our
Zoning Code is intended to afford. Moreover, if approved, it will open the
gates for others to more easily benefit from “text amendments” that will result
in greater losses to all of your constituents – as well as the deterioration of
Abington Township. Please bear in mind that our Zoning Code was enacted
for the purpose of maintaining the beauty and integrity of our Township: it was
certainly not enacted to cater to the vision of any developer, especially when
that vision clashes with the interests of the people who live, work, and pay
taxes here.
As citizens of our wonderful Township,
we have the absolute right to the quiet enjoyment of our lives in our lovely
homes and neighborhoods. You are charged with the responsibility of
protecting and safeguarding that right. Neither BET, Messrs. Toll
and Markman, nor any other applicant seeking such a grievous change to our Code,
is entitled to any gift from you, especially at our expense. Hear our
voices now. Put an end to this ongoing string of meetings. Please
fulfill your duties to all of us who elected you to serve on our behalf, and do
what is necessary to deny this proposal without any further delay.
Respectfully Submitted,
It was signed by 4 Huntingdon Road Neighbors and offered with a
list of others who had signed on.
and delivered to the Planners at the 8-28-18 meeting
with the long list of supporting signatures.
It was emailed & delivered via the Township to
all the addressees as well.