Council declines to advertise Primrose School rezoning after resident traffic and notification concerns; Myers subdivision approved

At the May 11 meeting, several residents raised concerns about recent zoning activity and a specific rezoning request for a proposed Primrose School at 391 McMurray Road.

Valerie Gaston said she had trouble getting timely information from borough staff about a neighbor’s subdivision and asked where to find zoning information; Councilmembers and staff clarified that the evening’s action was to create a new property line and that siting and building location would still require planning‑and‑zoning review. "I can give you all the names of all the people, and no one has gotten back to me," Gaston said, asking why she had not received correspondence.

Sue Means presented a map and urged council to pause the Primrose matter, arguing an intersection near the site cannot handle additional traffic. She challenged the traffic‑study conclusions cited by applicants, saying the intersection already backs up at peak times and estimating the project could introduce about 219 additional daily trip movements at peak hours ("180 students, 39 employees"). Means asked council to vote no on the public hearing.

Councilmember Oakes clarified that the motion before council would change a parcel’s zoning designation (from R‑1 to C‑3) and that advertising a hearing would open the change for formal consideration; he cautioned the public that such a zoning change is binding if later approved. After discussion, the motion to advertise and hold a public hearing for Primrose School Franchising Company LLC was put to a roll call and failed 9–0 (all councilmembers voted 'no'), meaning the council did not proceed with advertising a rezoning hearing that evening.

Separately, Councilmember Piccolino moved to approve a major subdivision application (2026‑0101) submitted by Erwin Myers Living Trust to subdivide the property at 4959 Highland Avenue into two lots, conditioned on addressing outstanding reviewing‑agency comments and recording the plan. The motion passed 8–0 with one abstention.

Why it matters: Rezoning and subdivision decisions shape neighborhood character and traffic patterns. Residents asked for clearer notice and more robust traffic review before council advances zoning changes.

Next steps: Planning & Zoning will proceed with standard reviews for siting and any future building permits; the Myers subdivision is approved subject to agency comments and recording; no further action was taken on the Primrose rezoning at this meeting.