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| Media: Anti-Business |
During this whole process President Hall has shown confusion, lack of direction and a total disregard for a company that is not only local to the area, but would bring tax revenue, contractor fees and jobs to an area of Media that continues to be a problem for the borough.
The appearance was the 13th appearance before four separate borough entities since January 2012, according to Linn’s chronology. It has been seen by the Community Development Committee, Media Business Authority, Planning Commission and council; but it was the first submission as a preliminary plan.
“We have a healthy review process,” Hall explained. “This is the first time the application has come before this council. It is one of several rungs of the ladder.
“There will be a separate review of zoning issues,” Hall added, “and the matter of land ownership having to do with Baker Street. Council will first be considering whether the application meets the borough’s subdivision/land development ordinances.”
Delcotimes Sept 9, 2013Media, the above comments are what bureaucracy and "Anti-Business" governing look like. Wawa has presented 13 times over the last 19 months and Brian Hall makes a comment, " We have a healthy review process" He acts as though he's hearing this all for the first time. That's embarrassing.
Here's the the story-behind-the-story: Brian Hall and the majority on borough council have no desire to bring a Wawa to Media. They'll shift blame on to the applicant for leaving when they get fed up for trying to navigate an intentionally lengthy process. Just like they've done with the Third Street Bridge and the Hotel Media has been waiting for for the last seven years. In addition, the candidates in May's primary, who Hall campaigned for never even raised the issue of this Wawa with the community, which was also intentionally left out in order to not draw attention to a popular matter that they don't want.
An important aspect of leadership is clarity. Media Borough at the hands of this council has neither.
Tedman
there are two sides to every story, and sometimes more. my biggest concern is the cost to the borough of all those reviews of this project when no formal application has been submitted. how much do you think we have spent in legal and engineering fees so far? and, if this is development is approved, we may pay more in legal fees defending a suit against the borough for delaying the process unnecessarily, even though it is clear that that's what this Borough Council wants to do.
ReplyDeleteSure - let's add to that the enormous legal fees the borough is paying to outside council for the Third St. debacle. So, why have a solicitor if there is no confidence in said solicitor to handle these municipal issues unilaterally? Is he someone's nephew?
DeleteActually a formal application has been submitted for Land development. preliminary approval was granted by the planning commission (4-1) pending approval by the zoning hearing board and council, Planning also recommended council not oppose the application for zoning as well as realignment of baker street. its purely in the hands of council to approve or deny. preliminarily of course, the next step would be zoning and then final Land development approvals.
DeleteFirst, I'm assuming you meant the PC recommended preliminary approval, and not "granted" preliminary approval. If that and everything else in this comment is accurate, then it seems TM and others are making an undue fuss. You see, the Borough probably should have rejected the application until the "ownership" of Baker Street was resolved. For how can an entity apply to develop land without the owner's permission? Either way, this is a serious blunder. The borough could have avoided this nightmare for all of us by rejecting the application until and unless this issue was resolved. Pretty simple way to avoid a silly dog & pony show.
DeleteHmmm. Let's look at the present council: Absent Stein, Checked Out Simpson, the 3 left Stooges - Hall, Robinson, Davidson with extreme agendas all, and 2 level headed females who are in the minority as the only representatives who aren't bowing to the whims of a small but loud faction in Media. Don't let them fool you - they know EXACTLY what's going on but are going to d-r-a-g this thing out so no decisions would be made before the November election. Let's see in my crystal ball on Nov 6th if this isn't true....we've passed planning, does anyone have an idea where zoning stands on this issue? If zoning grants relief the decision lies squarely at the foot of council, where it will be interesting to see if anyone has the cohones to take a stand.
ReplyDeleteIt's time for the New Delco Dems!
ReplyDeleteAgain, the borough has nothing to do with the Hampton delay. The ball is in Hampton's court. They have the legal right to start building.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the Wawa, seems like the borough has a back bone. If they had just kowtowed to Wawa originally then the borough would have never received the much improved architectural rendering when they came back. If they had been a jellyfish or a lap dog to big business then they would have never won that improvement for the town.
Even if the borough is deliberately making things uncomfortable for Wawa so that they walk away, it makes me chuckle. They're merely employing the same old tactic that many companies use when they want an employee gone. The pro business community should be flattered that the borough is using one of their techniques.
Just because you chuckle doesn't mean they won't file an appeal and waste more taxpayer dollars on legal bills defending it. How shortsighted.
DeleteI would also bring up the issue of the empty lot at Baltimore Pike and Radnor street....exactly HOW LONG has it been sitting like that? Borough Council tells us they want the "gateway to Media" to be something to be proud of...well, having TWO empty lots really shows THAT, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteTalk to Media Real Estate. They own it.
DeletePlease tell me how Borough Council can build a gateway on property they don't own. Have they prevented the owner from filing an application for a use/development that is permitted by right?
DeleteWawa reps were given another chance to present their plan and still haven't fully explained how traffic will get in and out of parking lot. They claim they will only serve customers who happen to be driving by, but will likely price their gas to attract additional traffic from all directions. Maybe Wawa was relieved not to have public comment.
ReplyDeleteTheir proposed traffic flow seems logical just based on the curb cuts and layouts. And how can pricing their gas to increase the number of people coming to media be a bad thing?
DeletePersonally I think most of the traffic problem in that area is caused by the hideous light timing that practically BEGS people coming from 476 to either block Beatty Road, or aggressively cut-in from the clearly marked right turn only lane.
It kind of makes you think there is some group personally invested in keeping the Providence Road and Baltimore Pike intersection snarled-up. Media just re-timed all the lights along Baltimore Pike, but somehow the one real problem child is just as bad as ever...
Are the proposed curb cuts located where traffic is already backed up? Are left turns across traffic allowed? Route 252 is backed up every morning from Rose Tree Road with Wawa's front parking lot adding to the craziness. People run in for coffee and then plow their car across two lanes of traffic to get on by-pass. Don't want to see that at 252 and Baltimore Pike.
DeleteThe latest plans I saw have only 3 curb cuts; one each on State, Baltimore Pike and Providence. The one on Providence does not allow left turns. It should be easier for people to come out right on Providence then left on Baltimore Pike at the light than it would be to make a direct left out of the Baltimore Pike entrance, but I'm sure people will try. Note that Wawa's plan actually REDUCES the number of curb cuts.
DeleteThe issues with the Wawa and with 252 at the bypass are a completely unrelated legion of problems. It's been almost 10 years since they moved the Inn to make way for that work; but at least there's light at the end of THAT tunnel.
Unrelated except, by Wawa reasoning, they would claim they don't add to Route 252 congestion because those cars would be driving by anyway. Isn't the most responsible plan to keep cars moving through and not turning in and out of already overwhelmed intersections?
ReplyDeletethe starbucks corner is a total cluster, they have so few parking spaces. i cant imagine this could be worse
ReplyDeleteFor crap sake - why doesn/t WaWa just find out who they have to pay off, do it and get it over with - their building plan is beautiful - but most would rather have the Raven as the gateway to the borough!!!!
ReplyDeleteLet's see...vulgarity, unsupported characterization of Wawa Corporation and Borough elected officials' ethical conduct and illogical reasoning regarding preference for Media's gateway. Somehow, I don't trust Anon 12:09's judgment on actual plan.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, the baked in store rolls are actually pretty good.
ReplyDelete