Narberth planning member outlines tight timeline for zoning recodification
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Summary
Planning commission member Todd Bressey told the Finance & Administration Committee the borough aims to advertise the recodified zoning ordinance in January and seek adoption in February, focusing on text changes to clarify rules for the '5a' district without triggering a map amendment.
Planning commission member Todd Bressey told the Narberth Borough Finance & Administration Committee on Dec. 18 that the borough is advancing a recodification of the zoning ordinance with an accelerated timetable: staff aims to have a final draft for the planning commission to review in January, advertise the ordinance in January and seek council adoption in February.
Bressey said the recodification is intended to reorganize and clarify the existing rules rather than introduce major policy changes. “The borough office has asked that there be a final draft of the recodification for the planning commission to consider in January and to make a recommendation to council,” he said. He identified the organization of rules for the so-called "5a" district as the principal technical challenge; staff prefer to address block-specific rule consolidation through a text amendment rather than a zoning map amendment to avoid the more complex process of remapping.
Bressey said consultant Adam Chansar with MCPC will review definitions, cross-references and nonconformity provisions, while Bressey and staff will reconcile about 100 editorial/transfer questions. “We plan to touch base … and actually, frequently during the break, when I personally will have a little more time to work on it,” he said, noting a day set aside between Christmas and New Year’s to work through final items.
Manager Maggie Dobbs and committee members emphasized the desire to be careful rather than hurried. One council member observed the January advertising goal is “highly ambitious,” and Bressey acknowledged the timetable is tight but feasible if the draft remains policy-neutral. The committee did not take action beyond receiving the presentation; staff will prepare a presentation packet for full council when the advertising item is ready.
What happens next: staff and consultants will continue editing the draft over the winter break; planning commission review is expected in January and council consideration to advertise is targeted for the same month, with adoption possible in February.