Planning commission approves lot-line change so Lawrence Park Partnership can add employee parking

The Marple Township Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval on May 28 of a lot-line change that will let Lawrence Park Partnership add parking to a Satellite 5 industrial lot.

Mark Dimick, an attorney for the applicant, told the commission the proposal is “a really simple application” to transfer a 40-foot strip of county-owned land to enlarge the parcel and provide additional parking for tenants who use larger vans and box trucks. Dave Damon, the project civil engineer, said the strip totals about 14,210 square feet and will enlarge a Satellite 5 lot that is currently nonconforming for impervious coverage; the added land would bring the lot’s impervious coverage to about 63.1%, which staff said would put the lot into compliance with zoning requirements.

The presentation identified required follow-up steps. Damon and the applicant said they will supply legal descriptions for recording, show steep- and very-steep slopes on revised plans, provide contours and lighting plans, and include engineering calculations for any retaining walls four feet or higher. The plan also anticipates stormwater management and any required grading permits.

Township staff raised steep-slope disturbance limits and advised how those rules might affect whether the project needs a conditional-use application. Bridget Gillen, speaking for township staff, noted maximum permissible disturbance of 5% for very steep slopes and 15% for steep slopes; the applicant said they have evaluated the parcels together and expect the disturbance question to be solvable and, at worst, handled by a conditional-use filing and a subsequent public hearing before the board of commissioners.

The commission discussed site layout and parking counts. Damon said the work will create eight regular spaces and six oversized spaces — 14 total — to accommodate existing tenants’ needs. Chair moved to approve the lot-line change for folio 25457505; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

Next steps include providing revised plans and legal descriptions for recording, securing any required grading and stormwater permits, and obtaining any necessary waivers or approvals from the Delaware County Planning Department and, if needed, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for sewer or grading-related waivers. The applicant indicated they will return with any conditional-use application if required.

The commission did not identify any outstanding objections at the meeting and the recommendation will move to the next step in the township’s land-development and recording process.