Narberth planning commission advances code recodification and debates 4A zoning changes amid public concerns over impervious cover and parking

The Narberth Planning Commission on March 2 reviewed a near-final recodification of the borough zoning code and debated proposed changes to the 4A zoning district that would make it easier to build townhouses and apartment buildings in areas near downtown.

Chair Adam Prav said the revisions are intended to make the code easier to navigate and to differentiate rules by housing type so the law can encourage both affordability and compatibility with existing neighborhoods. "Supply does correlate to demand," Prav said, summarizing the commission's rationale for allowing more housing types and flexibility.

Residents who spoke at the meeting urged caution. Carson Clark, a Narberth resident who serves on the Shade Tree Commission, told the panel the draft increases in lot coverage and impervious-surface limits worry longtime neighbors. He said the draft raises building coverage from the current 45% to 50% and would allow impervious cover as high as 70%, up from 60%, and asked commissioners to consider narrower or geographically targeted changes to avoid harming…