*UPDATE* We are not the only ones asking questions about this -even Round Radnor is writing about it - see post called Can you "splain somethin" Lucy? what is hardship? Of course we're still waiting to find out what Radnor thinks TODAY about stormwater run off, management, etc back there....given the recent activity of Aqua and all, ok?

*Previously we wrote:

Last night, the Radnor Township Zoning Hearing Board met and heard among other things, the proposal for the public storage facility that Rosedon development has planned for North Wayne.

We've had feedback sent to us on that meeting, and as we understand it, last evening was only the first meeting. Apparently, the Radnor ZHB sensing the meeting would take a very long time, decided to wisely allocate a fixed amount of time last night and on a future date so that citizens, applicants, and the ZHB weren't getting goofy late into the night - we applaud that common sense approach to trying to meet reasonable lengths of time for public meetings.

Anyway, we were curious to discover that this plan has something to do with providing a storage facility for upscale foreign sports cars? Interesting, except it raises all sorts of questions of how to really control hours of operations, etc. And if they are talking storage for things of value like cars, doesn't that mean that little neighborhood could be subjected to really bright lights and light pollution like we all know exists at car dealerships?

And we sure hope the applicant won't claim some kind of economic hardship with regard to what could be a playground and storage facility for the well heeled? Wouldn't that be kind of silly and ironic? Kind of makes you wonder why McMansions need to have so many garage bays, huh?

And we hope that the elephant in the room of impervious surface coverage and how potential entrances would affect a small residential area is NOT ignored, right? After all, how can a property that has changed ownership and hasn't had continuous use of the original use be grandfathered? Shouldn't the residents urge Radnor to view this as a clean slate, clean plot of land?

And what of the North Wayne Protective Association? That group should not merely advocate for aesthetics and paving of an ally of sorts like it is a street, they should advocate for the neighborhood and share the benefit of their prior meeting with the developer will all the neighbors who might not be members of their group, right? Why did the developer only meet with the North Wayne Protective and not all the neighbors driectly affected and in close proximity to the site?

The proposed building as described as quite large and can it be said it's more like a warehouse style storage facility with multiple stories found in urban areas like cities with many floors? And if it is to be used for automobiles, doesn't that mean increased traffic will include trucks, flat beds, trailers, etc? Will repairs go on at that site? What will be the hours of total operation? Where will employees park? What of stormwater runoff and management? Do they deserve the variances they seek? Is this the best possible use that could make money for the site and the developers?

So many questions. This site is not in a historic district, so it won't have the automatic benefit of being in one. But it is right in the middle of residential, but it is moderately priced residential, so won't it be curious to see how the non millionaire neighborhoods of another Main Line community fares? Will they get a screwing? Or will these neighbors stand up for THEIR private property rights, and the economic hardships they might face as a result of a big ol' barn getting planted? Could this building be close to 50 feet tall if approved? What about sidewalks and green benches? People DO live around the location and walk around this location? What is in it for the community? How does the community benefit? Does anyone care?

How does this fit in with downtown Wayne, truly only a block away? Why not do a combination of sale and donation of the land to Radnor Township for landscaped public parking? Or develop the site as some kind of retail or mixed use combined with public parking? How about breaking with history and giving this part of North Wayne a break?

So many questions....