I do not have much time, but A+++++++ to Main Line Times and Cheryl Allison for knocking it out of the ballpark today! Home run! Smoking gun!
I love it when professionals with former relationships with Lower Merion Township in essence, validate the concerns of residents....and the Doug Cleland response here is OH SO TELLING!
Once again, the esteemed Township of Lower Merion gives off eau de asshat.
Main Line Times > News
Architect has other options for parking
Published: Wednesday, June 24, 2009
By Cheryl Allison
It may not be the Eiffel Tower or the Guggenheim Museum. But to its designer, the “annex” to Lower Merion Township’s police building, as it’s called, is a fairly pleasing and functional addition to the Township Building complex.
So when David Schoenhard read in the Main Line Times recently that township officials were considering tearing the addition down after just six years, it couldn’t help but strike a professional nerve.
That wasn’t what led him to contact the newspaper, however. In a op-ed in this issue (see page 
, he said as he read about current options for new Ardmore parking, he had concerns about some of the functions of a new building. And it seemed to him that the township was being “backed into a corner” for a decision on limited alternatives.
In 2002 Schoenhard was the lead designer and associate-in-charge with Cather & Associates, the architectural firm retained to design renovations and expansion of the 1929 Township Building and what was then a separate Public Safety Building.
A master plan for the project was revised then, he said, out of a desire to better separate police and public functions in the complex. The township’s jail was moved from the east to the west end of the Public Safety Building while a new connection was created between the police building and the Township Building. Schoenhard left the firm when the project was 25 percent into construction.
When he reviewed the options recently presented by Lower Merion’s Ardmore redevelopment partner, Carl Dranoff of Dranoff Properties, Schoenhard saw that two of the five called for tearing down the PSB annex and rebuilding it within a new parking garage. Another two would keep the annex, but build parking over it.
“No matter what you do, there is a close relationship between the police and public functions” in the new garage, Schoenhard observed.
In addition, he noted that, in 2002, when the need for more parking in Ardmore had already been acknowledged, he had provided the township, pro bono, with a parking concept that included a parking garage on the Bernicker lot to the east of the Township Building. Along with that, he suggested a long sub-ground parking structure running west from the Public Safety Building to the train station. “But [designing parking] was not what we were hired to do,” he said.
On another occasion, Schoenhard, who had since gone to work with another firm, said he again offered the township a concept for parking in the context of Ardmore redevelopment....In 2005, when the Ardmore project seemed stalled by controversy over eminent-domain issues, he said he was working as a consultant in Upper Dublin Township, where Commissioner Liz Rogan is a planning consultant. “I said, ‘Liz, would you be open if I threw out a freebie idea?’”
Schoenhard said he came up with a concept for a parking garage with apartments atop, built up and over the train tracks, which he was invited to present to an ad hoc group of the board of commissioners. “That was as far as it could go because I was not under contract with the township,” he said.
...After being contacted by Schoenhard, the Main Line Times requested an opportunity to address his comments with Township Manager Douglas Cleland. Cleland responded with some e-mailed comments.
“I am disappointed and find it unprofessional that Mr. Schoenhard, a prior paid consultant, contacted the newspapers regarding decisions by the township relating to projects that he worked on or consulting engagements for which he was not selected. His comments, as reported, are self-serving and out of touch with the facts and funding options,” Cleland wrote....“Further, the public and police functions will not be mixed in the new parking garage. The sally port will be reconstructed and safely and securely utilized within any new structure,” he commented, adding, “The township has not been ‘backed into a corner.’ The township is economically accomplishing many of the long-stated goals for the revitalization of Ardmore.”
And now I sit back, satisfied. Satisfied that this is a good deal about the Township of Lower Merion and their refusal to listen to good ideas when presented to them, yes? And it is obvious they are getting good idea from professionals as well as residents who are just ordinary folk, right?
And oh Doug Cleland? How are you paying for all this again? Because when you say "we can't afford Bernicker", you also need to man up to the other thing which is you don't have all the money to pay for what you are hell bent on doing, correct?
Hmmm...maybe Radnor Township is not the only municipality that needs to do some housecleaning???
And Doug, what? People aren't allowed to have opinions different from yours, even if they once worked for the township? News flash, the real world is not an Ardmore Ad Hoc Committee Meeting or Board of Commissioners meeting, is it? And he isn't the only professional who has tried to come to you with options is he?
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First, thanks to David Schoenhard for telling it like it is while Doug Cleland shows his true colors. People have this idea that Cleland is some “nice guy”, but believe me, you don’t run this township with these commissioners without being a control freak and a master manipulator.
As a point of clarity:
The township has not been backed into any corner. Cleland and the township chose the corner they are in with a desire to manipulate the process by giving very limited “options” for citizens to consider when there really is no option.
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Brotherhood of Thieves ~ As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence.
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permalinkAside:
Maybe another downstream effect of this information is that Commissioners Liz Rogan and Jane Dellheim will feel less goody and safe if they continue to cite their wish to defer to the Township Manager's and staffs' longterm experience and knowledge to justify their--personal (un)leadership--decisions to oppose citizens' Sunshine requests.
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permalinkDoubtful. That's who they and all the commissioners work for. And silly me, I thought the commissioners were supposed to work for the citizens they represent.
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Brotherhood of Thieves ~ As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence.
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permalinkHmm. Another way in which things are not what they seem.
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mind you not ALL of this guy's ideas appeal to me, but the fact that way back when someone else saw a need for properly spaced out parking and suggested the common sense of the Bernicker Lot when it would have been less expensive to build pisses me off. Kind of like that dance they did last night at CIP where they onely had one co-chair of the Planning Commission there like Doug Cleland and Bruce Reed would think we did not notice? So what is Bruce Reed up to, anyway? Robery Gray is not a bad man, but Teri Simon is the best person on the Planning Commission. And she is an independent voice and a Democrat in the best sense of the word, not the Bruce sense of the word, isn't she? Do I know her super well? No but I respect the hell out of Teri Simon. She's HONEST. We need more of her.
And oh yes, Bruce, it's like that other rumnor that was floating around? Something about trying to get someone to run against a commissioner other than Jenny Brown because you can't control them? And how you are courting a cutie of your choosing for the Planning Commission? Well sweet Bruce, it's not all unified slate, and you are almost due for a new cartoon, aren't ya? How does this work for ya?
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L'homme est né libre, et partout il est dans les fers/Man is born free, yet he is everywhere in chains.–Jean Jacques Rosseau. The Social Contract, 1762
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permalinkAnother thing Dr. Evil is trying to influence - St. Joe's getting what it wants for Maguire field at the expense of the citizens of Merion and Lower Merion as a whole.
Bruce thinks those lighted Astroturf fields will be great for little league and other youth activities so they don't harm the fields at the new high schools.
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Brotherhood of Thieves ~ As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence.
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permalinkWow!
LM's Bruce Reed and Radnor's Brucie Rapoport have more in common than initials and first names - they both have inappropriate and insatiable love for all things Astroturf.
Poletia, I think you and I agree that the only thing worse that an Astroturf field is a LIGHTED Astroturf field (Radnor is sadly learning this expensive lesson over at the Radnor High School).
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permalinkYup, and the lights planned by St. Joe's in Merion will really harm property values for homeowners.
St. Joe's has a lighted field on the Philly side of City Line, but it lights part of a Lower Merion residential street across four lane City Line as if night is day - and these lights are on all the time.
Just the look of artificial turf will ruin the neighborhoods on Latches Lane and Berwick Road, let alone the loudspeaker/PA systems, lights and general noise.
But it appears that's what Bruce Reed wants and you have to wonder about back room deals with Ken Davis and St. Joe's.
As with Radnor, there is not much confidence in Lower Merion about transparent process.
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Brotherhood of Thieves ~ As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence.
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permalinkI know Teri Simon and she and I may not always agree but she, like Cheryl Gelber, is straight ahead, not arrogant know it all and does her best for the community. Cheryl and Teri are those that I categorize as Righteous Democrats.
It does appear that Commissioners Rogan and Reed think they know it all and know what is the best for the rest and who are we to disagree with our benevolent betters?
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Well said Bob, well said.
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L'homme est né libre, et partout il est dans les fers/Man is born free, yet he is everywhere in chains.–Jean Jacques Rosseau. The Social Contract, 1762
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permalinkPoliteia's interest in neighbors' concerns about St. Joe's extensive plans to develop 14.5 acres of now grassy athletic fields on its new gem in Merion, the James J. Maguire '58 Campus, is much appreciated.
The strong support for Teri Simon and Cheryl Gelber noted by Carla and bobguzzardi also is duly noted and reassuring. Doubtless, both Carla and BG have many reasons to justify their opinion.
Information that also is relevant and salient to some neighbors follows
Some Merion Community Coalition (MCC) members and supporters who share concerns about detrimental effects, on a now green, grassy, and quiet Merion residential neighborhood, of St. Joe's development plans might think reason exists for less than whole-hearted support for some of Vice-Chair Simon's and Commissioner Gelber's views.
Re: Teri Simon in role of Vice-Chair of LMT's Planning Commission (PC)
Some MCC members and Merion neighbors who attended a Sept 8, 2008, "Discussion Only" PC session on St. Joe's plans for the fields have vivid memories of a few of Teri's statements and actions while Chairing the session.
Maybe the vividness is partially because the session was the MCC's first night out--the first time MCC presented neighbors' concerns at a Township venue.
Also relevant from a neighbor's perspective, at least 1 week prior to the PC session a lawyer acting for MCC neighbors sent a letter to the Township Zoning Officer saying that St. Joe's didn't yet obtain required zoning approvals for many elements of the 38 pages of plans to develop Maguire Campus that St. Joe's submitted to LMT in June, 2008.
The PC already was involved in reviewing St. Joe's plans for Maguire before 9-8-08. Thus, it seemed reasonable to assume that Teri was aware that zoning concerns had been raised by neighbors as of when she presided over the Discussion Only session.
One 9-8-08 PC memory:
In her role chairing and in the midst of questions Teri was posing to St. Joe's lawyer, Fred Fromhold, about proposed bleacher seating capacity and planned intensity of use of the fields, she interjected a comment.
Before voicing it she emphasized that it was just a personal view.
Yet, making a personal remark in a public forum, while also wearing a "robe" of extra authority and related presumptive special knowledge (e.g., "a birds' eye view" of the Township's interests) necessarily gave Teri's opinion more weight than typically is accorded to an ordinary citizen's view.
Got institutional bias in Lower Merion Township working "on behalf" of LMT residential tax paying neighbors?
MCC neighbors had heard before the PC session that an institutional bias--relative to residential neighbors' concerns, property rights and natural interests--dominated LMT decision making.
Teri's comment was not the first seeming evidence for it in the session.
The session started with another now vivid memory.
St. Joe's lawyer, Mr. Fromhold, introduced Chris Leswing and asked Chris to review St. Joe's exhibits to start off the meeting. Chris Leswing, LMT Asst. Director of Planning, then presented St. Joe's exhibits in a Power Point slide show--accompanied by Chris's commentary. Chris did not appear to be reading from any pre-prepared text given to him by Mr. Fromhold.
A neighbor might reasonably wonder: Was St. Joe's Kevin Robinson, who typically presented St. Joe's plans at meetings it held for neighbors in 2008, and who also was on hand at the Zoning Hearing Board hearings back in '05-'06 when St. Joe's witnesses testified on St. Joe's intentions for the property before St. Joe's bought Episcopal, unavailable that night? And no other St. Joe's employee could fill in?
Some Merion neighbors were not sure who Chris was--neighbors being new to the experience--and were heard sincerely asking after listening for a while: "does he work for St. Joes?"
Another 9-8-08 PC memory:
Teri made a call on her cell phone during the session while presentations were going on.
Teri later explained that she called a neighbor of hers and asked him to go to Arnold Field (Lower Merion High School playing field) and count the bleachers. Answer she relayed: seating for "2500."
Teri said she provided the information during the session because it was very important for all to realize that St. Joe's bleacher seating plan was "very different from" what others must "endure" with Arnold. (Atty. Fromhold had just said that St. Joe's planns called for bleacher seating for a total of 800 spectators on three fields.)
Teri's comment could make a neighbor wonder: Maybe impacts on residential neighbors as a result of Township decisions on Arnold Field aren't so good if nearby neighbors have to endure a lot?
Anyone who has heard a Saturday afternoon football game reverberating throughout the beautiful neighborhood in which Arnold Field sits due to crowd noise, national football league level shrill "foul" whistles repeatedly blowing, and a public address system might agree that the neighbors there are enduring a lot. Is it all necessary? Could any of it have been avoided or minimized if different decisions were made by Township bodies? Plus--cars park all over the neighborhood during the games.
Maybe Teri's intention was to better educate Merion neighbors during the session.
Since other Township residents endure negative impacts related to even more bleachers, Merion neighbors should realize how relatively small our concerns are about some detrimental impacts of our own educational institutional neighbor's new plans to develop three fields for NCAA intercollegiate varsity use and to expand its intramural athletic programs for its over 7000 undergraduate student body (which St. Joe's also is working to expand)?
Maybe Teri forgot when she made the comment that St. Joe's plans included installing three new public address systems on the fields and that St. Joe's already had acknowledged to Merion neighbors that on Spring weekends St. Joe's could hold simultaneous NCAA varsity games on just two of the fields slated for pa systems--two fields that are very close to each other, and that both will send amplified and crowd noise into the neighborhood.
A third memory related to 9.8.08 PC
Teri believed, recently heard that she still does, that MCC supporters "lied" to her personally and also in MCC presentation to the PC by citing St. Joe's intention as to install new spectator seating capacity on the Maguire fields for "1100."
The "1100" figure came from an informational session that St. Joe's hosted for neighbors about its plans for Maguire on 7.29.08.
The source of the figure was explained to Teri immediately after hearing that Teri believed MCC neighbors lied to her. Evidently, the explanation carried less weight for her than what she heard from St. Joe's--that is, if it's true that as of a couple months ago, Teri still believed MCC neighbors "lied."
Relevant new information: Site Plans submitted as part of St. Joe's new application for zoning special exceptions for Maguire athletic field development reasonably can be understood to evince that St. Joe's does not want to be held to the 800 figure that its lawyer cited as the correct figure during the 9-8-08 PC session.
The Site Plan document shows: spectator bleacher seating for NCAA baseball field "400+"; NCAA softball field "200+";NCAA field hockey field "200+." To view it go to www.merion-community.org/index.html. At home page, click "Documents and Articles"; clikc on "Site Plans" under heading "SJU Special Exception Relief for an 'Expansion' "
Got Artificial Turf? Is artificial turf as "Green" as grass?
St. Joe's development plans call for converting much, if not most, of the 14.5 acres of its now grassy athletic fields into artificial turf. St. Joe's wants turf despite the fact that NCAA regulations do not require baseball, softball, or field hockey fields to have artificial turf surfaces.
Incidentally, during a 9-4-08 neighbor information session St. Joe's hosted, St. Joe's representatives acknowledged that turf was not required by NCAA regulations on all the fields and said that St. Joe's would not install it if not allowed to.
Is it green? Asking whether turf is as green as grass seems legitimate, given Chris Leswing's message to neighbors during the 9-8-08 PC session that institutions like St. Joe's can be counted on to preserve our Township's green space and are, therefore, particularly valuable constituents. (See above for Chris's message.)
Also, do birds and fireflies hang around artificial turf? If not, Merion home owners around the fields might try to be extra sure to watch the fireflies that are out right now--they might not be around next season if St. Joe's gets to install all the turf it wants.
Precedent--either good or not so good--should rule? Cheryl Gelber reportedly supports installation of artificial turf on the Maguire fields. Do not know her full rationale but she was heard to cite precedent: The Township already has allowed turf to be installed by other educational institutions.
Implications for intensity and frequency of use of 14.5 acres of athletic fields in residential area? Teri Simon gets it that installation of turf implies and allows intent to intensify use over grass.
Safe enough even if not needed by NCAA regulations? The Township Building and Planning Department staff are aware of health-related and environmental concerns about turf, which include the need to spray the plastic grass with chemicals to keep bacteria growth in check. Such information is yet to be very influential in our Township's decision-making.
Reading the SAC blog suggests the current situation among Lower Merion's deciders is a replay of concerns already raised, and still held, by some Radnor Township citizens.
Drainage and water run-off not an issue? Neighbors on the perimeter of the fields, and downhill from two of them and in an area in which the water table already is high have been told by some Township Commissioners we have no need to be concerned about water related problems associated with St. Joe's plans to install acres and acres of turf. Why?
Message to us is that Township staff-overseers will see to it that all the turf is installed just right by St. Joe's. And if isn't, no need to worry because Township staff will be sure that St. Joe's fixes all problems.
Merion neighbors also have heard that neighbors of Shipley's turf field, the first one installed Lower Merion, still have unresolved complaints about standing water.
Thanks and Disclaimers
Thank you very much to any SAC blogger who read this whole thing.
Apology. This comment inadvertently was posted before it was finished.
IMPORTANT: The above was neither authored nor reviewed by MCC.
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I am going to ask it again: is someone from the Merion Community Coalition being courted for the Planning Commission? That is a rumor around town. I have heard a name, and am not going to disclose it, but I have to ask, if a member of MCC goes on the Planning Commission, how will conflicts of interest be handled? I think before people in Merion who may or may not be part of Merion Community Coalition go on into hyper-critical mode against one of the strongest allies Merion has right now, I think you all had best look a bit inward.
You guys are so close to this and we are not. Try not to nip at the ankles of those people who are trying to help you or mediate the situation. I do not think that is your intent, but that is a bit of the perception.
Furthermore, what Teri Simon's has said is not bad, nor is it wrong. Her job on the planning commission is NOT to agree with you 100% and if you don't get that, you don't get a lot. Has she agreed with me 100% of the time when I have come before her with public comment on many issues? Nope. But I listen to what she has to say, as it helps me learn. She is one smart cookie.
And with regard to artificial turf, municipalities love them and so do a lot of people so you had better tighten up your arguments on turf and learn why people like it if you really want to fight it. Do I like artificial turf? No.
That is all I am saying on this for now.
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L'homme est né libre, et partout il est dans les fers/Man is born free, yet he is everywhere in chains.–Jean Jacques Rosseau. The Social Contract, 1762
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permalinkHi Carla,
It is understood that you are a strong supporter of Teri Simon--as you said in this thread and as I duly and accurately noted in my original comment.
It also is widely understood that you accept and endorse legitimate disagreement.
I respectfully disagree with your suggestion that anything in my prior comment reflects being "hypercritical" of anyone, importantly including Teri Simon if that's who your remark referred to.
Several elements of the 9-8-08 Planning Commission session (some of which Vice-Chair Simon contributed to and others that she did not directly contribute to), followed by her seeming intransigent belief that MCC supporters "lied" to her--even after genuine and lengthy efforts to explain and document to her that St. Joe's was the source of the information that differed from what the St. Joe's lawyer said at the PC meeting--reasonably would be expected to leave some lasting negative impressions on neighbors.
The preceding is particularly likely, given that the Merion neighborhood effort was only about 1 month old at the time.
Personally, I hope that you will separate your respect and deep support for some Township officials from a potential willingness to acknowledge the possibility that some of their actions, even if not intended to be harmful, might expectably have demoralizing or broadly invalidating impacts on neighbors' efforts and public messages.
My understanding was that SAC is a place where citizens can speak "the truth" and that that's what you, personally, use the SAC blog for.
It would be so discouraging to learn that a kind of "truth" can be very risky to speak here--such as facts that are not fully consistent with perspectives that you endorse. If so, so be it--unfortunately, a lesson learned the hard way in this case about what one must keep silent.
Very importantly, none of my post is accurately understood as intended to either justify or support the efforts of Bruce Reed or any citizen who might currently be seeking a position on the Planning Commission.
Such an inference is completely inaccurate--just like Teri Simon's inference that Merion neighbors intended to deceive her on a point of fact.
Most importantly, please all be sure to note the last statement of my post:
"IMPORTANT: The [comment]was neither authored nor reviewed by MCC."
Any impressions of the validity of the Merion Community Coalition effort should not be revised based on memories of events reported in the comment.
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Dear Merion Neighbor,
You are trying my patience.
Who said you couldn't have your opinion? I didn't. But I do not agree with what you have said, and I think you are attacking someone (Teri) for not saying what you want to hear 100% of the time. That's not her job.
Nor is it my job. And if I want to tell you that you are full of it, buck up sweet pea, because I will.
I have supported the Merion Community Coalition and residents of Merion on this issues even when no one else was. But maybe I will not any longer. Because quite frankly, your comment about "truth" borders on the neurotic. I do not have enough time in the day for that.
You say what you want, you do what you want. I have written my last comment about St. Joe's and Merion. I will no longer post on my own about St. Joe's and Merion. I will not go to any other meetings and speak out about St. Joes and Merion.
Basically, Merion Neighbor, I NEVER said don't post, I NEVER said don't post what you feel, but you seem to be unable to take the comments you get.
I told you in essence I thought you were off base on some things, including Teri Simons and you come back with this ? Grow up. I told you how I felt in that comment, and I am telling you how I feel about your most recent comment in THIS comment.
I was not put on earth to agree with everything. I think you are bordering on the neurotic here. Go for a walk Merion Neighbor, enjoy life a little.
And also, Teri is a lay person on an appointed board - not a township official per se.
Also pertinent and to the point? This post wasn't about St. Joe's. it was about Ardmore.
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L'homme est né libre, et partout il est dans les fers/Man is born free, yet he is everywhere in chains.–Jean Jacques Rosseau. The Social Contract, 1762
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permalinkI think you are getting a little defensive, Carla. It's not like you and I don't "attack" Bruce Reed because we disagree with him as a public figure. Saying things like "grow up" and "bordering on the neurotic" does not help either.
I don't know anyone from the Planning Commission well enough to have an opinion, but I believe Merion Neighbor is entitled to his/hers just as we all are.
Rather than saying Merion Neighbor is "trying your patience" (which can come across the wrong way since you are a SAC VP and the primary blogger here even though your posts are your personal opinion and not that of SAC) and coming across as someone who is taking this personally, argue the points like you otherwise did.
As everyone knows, I blast public officials all the time, but with other posters who I disagree with I disagree with the points made rather then telling them how they are personally bothering me.
Where you get into problems blogging, IMHO, is when you personalize things with/against other bloggers. Now public figures - they are fair game as they chose the stage (and yes, Simon is a public figure in her role on the Planning Commission by legal definition) and that is who we most often blog about, but I think it is best not to personalize things with other bloggers.
I also think Merion Neighbor made things too personal by assuming you would use your status to silence her.
I had no problems with how the first post Merion Neighbor wrote about Simon was written. I don’t know Simon personally or even well as a member of the Planning Commission, so I just looked at that first post that mentioned her and read the points Merion Neighbor laid out.
And now you will not mention or support MCC any more just because of what a person who said he/she is not writing as a representative of MCC says? If people disagree with you on these blogs, should they then disagree with/not support SAC?
Let’s defend or disagree with the points made or bring up new facts that make your points as opposed to personalizing things.
If Bruce Reed were to post here, I would not make it personal and I would objectively argue points with him, so I think we can all do the same.
Just my two cents.
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Brotherhood of Thieves ~ As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence.
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P-
Thanks for weighing in BUT....I am not the "primary blogger" - I am the one who writes the most right now. My position with SAC has NOTHING to do with my personal opinions. When I speak for SAC, I say so.
With all due respect, I have my limits. And I didn't get personal except where it got personal with me. And this has nothing to do with SAC or my position within SAC. I am tired of the diatribe on this topic and I think Merion Neighbor is wrong and I told them so. And I told them why because if I had not qualified it, it would have been another 10 comments and then I would have gone from irritated to pissed off.
I am entitled to my opinion, and while I respect yours. I am a woman and my style and thought process as a blogger is not the same as a man's.
Thanks
And PS? This post wasn't ever supposed to be about Merion, it was about Ardmore.
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L'homme est né libre, et partout il est dans les fers/Man is born free, yet he is everywhere in chains.–Jean Jacques Rosseau. The Social Contract, 1762
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