Despite the opposition of members of the Greater Bustleton Civic League last to a proposal to house a dental laboratory in a Haldeman Avenue residence, the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment gave a temporary OK to the plan.
Jack O’Hara, the league’s president, said the zoners last week approved a three-year temporary variance.
“It’s so blatantly wrong,” he said in a phone interview Monday.
League members unanimously refused to back Flore Andresi’s plan for 9997 Haldeman Ave. during their monthly meeting Oct. 24 at the American Heritage Federal Credit Union on Red Lion Road.
The property is zoned residential; the block is all residential. In its monthly newsletter, the league stated the business would require pickups and deliveries at an already busy intersection.
The league is contemplating appealing the zoners’ decision, he said.
“It’s like the zoning doesn’t matter,” O’Hara said. “It’s like a slap in the face to us. It’s clearly manufacturing in a residential neighborhood.”
Members were unanimous, too, in support of a Politz Hebrew Academy plan to erect a new boys school on its 3.5-acre campus at 9225 Old Bustleton Ave.
Politz is on the site of what has been known as the Fayette School and the Jacob School. Since 1854, there has been a school on the property. A wood structure went up that year. In 1915, a brick building was added.
Most of the 1854 wooden building will be torn down, but 10 percent will remain and will be part of the new building. That part of the building has a historic marker. A new boys school will be built next to the 1915 red brick building.
Politz sought league backing for a variance needed for its parking lot.
Also on Oct. 24, Lt. Bettina Baldere of the 7th district’s Police Service Area 2, told members how to keep themselves and their properties safe, especially during the upcoming holiday shopping season.
Shoppers who put their purchases in their cars and then return to the stores run the risk of finding their cars broken into and their goods stolen, Baldere said.
Thieves are on the lookout for such opportunities, she said.
In PSA2, one of three divisions of the 7th district, thefts from autos are up, she said. Be aware of your surroundings, she told league members, and don’t leave valuables in your cars.
Baldere said her best advice for keeping burglars at bay is to install a burglar alarm.
The league’s next meeting will be on Wednesday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m., at the credit union. ••
Reporter John Loftus can be reached at 215–354–3110 or jloftus@bsmphilly.com
