NARBERTH — The Narberth Planning Commission on Feb. 3 recommended that borough council approve a proposed lot‑line adjustment involving 10 Sabine Avenue and a neighboring rear parcel and a separate lot split for 425–427 Grove Place, while flagging a question about a 10‑foot right‑of‑way dedication and supporting several waiver requests.

The lot‑line adjustment hearing opened with Bill Dion of the law firm identified in the record as representing the purchasers of part of 10 Sabine Avenue. Dion said the applicants are seeking to buy “just shy of 6,000 square feet” from the adjacent rear parcel so the buyers can legally own and use what is now informal rear yard space. “There’s no intentions as we sit here to dig through anything with the property. Right now, it’s just the dog and the children and the ability to have a little bit of the backyard to play,” Dion said.

The commission reviewed written comments from the borough zoning officer/ARC East, Montgomery County Planning Commission staff, and Fanoni Associates. Review letters noted the reconfigured lots would comply with zoning as presented and flagged only minor plan cleanup items. The applicants asked for waivers including an aerial‑photography requirement (item 4e in the review letter), survey monument pinning in some corners, and a request to waive a sewage‑facilities planning module normally submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Commissioners agreed to recommend that council waive the aerial‑photography requirement and to take no exception to a DEP planning‑module waiver given that no new building is proposed. On the requested 10‑foot dedication of right of way along Wynwood/Linwood (identified in the record as the borough’s standard dedication), one commissioner objected to taking a position without the borough solicitor’s guidance. The commission voted to forward the application and its recommendations to council while asking the solicitor to advise whether dedication should be required; the commission took no formal position for council to adopt on that specific dedication.

At the meeting’s second subdivision hearing, Patrick Pascrell, identified in the record as the equity owner of 425–427 Grove Place, asked to reinstate a historical lot line so the building can be treated as two separate dwelling lots. Engineer Chris Yon (recorded as representing the applicant) said no exterior improvements are proposed and that utilities serving the building appear in place. The commission again reviewed Montgomery County Planning Commission comments and borough‑engineer notes, and discussed the same two technical waivers: right‑of‑way dedication on Rockland Avenue and the DEP sewage planning module.

Commissioners agreed to forward the Grove Place lot split to council, recommending the commission take no position on the Rockland Avenue right‑of‑way dedication (leaving that for solicitor/council decision) and taking no exception to waiving the DEP planning module because no new sewage demand is proposed. A motion to forward the recommendations carried.

The commission also handled several administrative and long‑range planning items. One commissioner volunteered to serve as the commission’s representative on the Historical and Architectural Review Board; the commission discussed procedure for formal appointment by council. Commissioners received an update on the borough’s zoning recodification work and asked that the commission allocate a full hour at the March meeting for a detailed review of draft recodification work.

Members also discussed downtown economic concerns — empty storefronts, retail stability and parking — and directed staff to continue coordinating with borough council and county planning staff on related studies. Commissioners said Montgomery Avenue corridor work (noted in the meeting as tied to a federal “Safe Streets for All” grant and the borough’s active transportation plan) will proceed jointly with neighboring Lower Merion and with the county. Commission members encouraged further outreach to council, staff, and external agencies on parking management, business retention, and potential consultant support for downtown business recruitment.

Votes at a glance

• Lot‑line adjustment (10 Sabine Avenue): Motion to forward recommendations to council, including waiver of aerial photography and recommendation that council consult the solicitor on a requested 10‑foot right‑of‑way dedication; motion carried. (Mover/second: not specified in record.)

• Lot split (425–427 Grove Place): Motion to forward recommendations to council, taking no position on Rockland Avenue right‑of‑way dedication and taking no exception to waiving the DEP sewage facilities planning module; motion carried. (Mover: Heidi [listed as commissioner in the meeting record]; second: not specified.)

Next steps: Both items will be placed on borough council’s agenda for final action; the commission requested that the borough solicitor advise council on right‑of‑way dedications noted above and that applicants comply with minor plan comments from the borough engineer if council proceeds.