Leigh Anne Smith, Ward 10 - Bryn Mawr/Haverford

A. I do not agree with the finding, nor do I observe any condition in Ardmore that justifies such a designation. The decisions by the Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners and the Montgomery County Planning Commissioners to declare Historic Ardmore blighted were based on an antiquated sixty-year-old law that was not intended to be applied to communities like Ardmore. While some of the buildings in Historic Ardmore are old, they are not in a condition of deterioration and decay that justify a blight designation. I am also concerned about the precedent this interpretation of blight sets for the remainder of the Township, and believe that such a designation must be based on an appropriate, widely-accepted and commonsense definition of "blight."

2. In what circumstances and situations should eminent domain be exercised by Lower Merion Township?

A. The power of eminent domain should rarely be exercised by the Township, or any other governing authority, and only under specifically described circumstances such as: a) when it is needed to create a public good, such as a park, a school, a bridge or a public utility: and b) when it is needed to remedy a genuinely and chronically abandoned or unsafe and dilapidated property that poses a serious threat to neighboring properties. Eminent domain should not be used for the purpose of merely creating greater tax revenues for a municipality, nor should it be used to transfer private property from one owner to another private owner, no matter how convenient for the governing authority.

3. What is your position on the proposed Ardmore Redevelopment Plan and what will you do regarding its implementation if elected?

A. I am committed to revitalizing Ardmore in a way that protects the legitimate rights of existing property owners. I have listened carefully to the arguments of the proponents of Plan B, which authorizes the use of eminent domain, and although that plan was overwhelmingly supported by our Commissioners (the vote was ten to three), to date, I have not read or heard any argument, nor seen any document that persuades me that Plan B is justified or an appropriate responde to Ardmore's need to revitalize. If elected to the Board, I will immediately seek to re-visit the decisions that resulted in the approval of Plan B, and will work to reverse those decisions in favor of an alternative (continued)

Original Responses