Members of the Greater Bustleton Civic League last week let a developer know they didn’t care for his plans to build 16 twin homes on the 1800 block of Gregg Street.
There was no vote after attorney and developer Arsen Kashkashian outlined his ideas for an old horse farm property between Old Bustleton Avenue and Old Newtown Road. Jack O’Hara, league president, said Kashkashian just wanted to learn members’ reaction to his idea.
Most of what the lawyer heard at the well-attended Jan. 28 session at the American Heritage Federal Credit Union was negative.
Kashkashian said he would need zoning variances if he were to go through with the development because rear yards would be smaller than allowed by the city’s code.
One neighboring property owner was so against the plan that she said, “We’re going to fight you!”
Members said they thought his idea to put so many homes on a cul-de-sac was the problem. “Sixteen is nuts,” one member said. “Come back with four.”
Kashkashian, who does not yet own the property, said he wanted to erect three-story, 2,100-square foot-houses that would sell for about $300,000 each.
MORE PROPERTY ISSUES
Also not making a formal presentation was Dr. David Bresler, who wanted members’ opinions of his plan to put a dental practice at 211 Geiger Road. Members warmly received the doctor’s plan, O’Hara said.
A vote was taken on a variance application to allow two open-air parking spaces at 8917 Turton Drive. Members unanimously opposed the variance, O’Hara said.
City Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.) told members that “single-family zoning is under attack” and that they had to be watchful of what is proposed for their neighborhood.
He pointed to a measure he introduced that would greatly limit home occupations in single-family homes as well as twins and duplexes. The councilman said the city’s Planning Commission had opposed his bill, telling him he was stopping entrepreneurship. But home occupations are one thing, he said, but they shouldn’t be home businesses with employees and customers coming into residential neighborhoods.
O’Neill also said that a couple developers who recently had wanted to divide parcels that had been merged decades ago so they can build more homes on the resplit properties have had some success, only to see the city’s Law Department step in and tell them they had to request zoning variances to go through with their plans.
Another example, the councilman pointed to, was outside Bustleton, but indicated the kind of vigilance civic associations need to practice.
He said two Huntingdon Valley residents tried to establish a residential program for recovering drug addicts in a Somerton house without getting a city variance. He said the owners, whom he didn’t name, told the city they were entitled to “a reasonable accommodation” rather than a variance. The city’s Law Department investigated and told the owners to apply for a zoning variance.
LOCAL CRIME
Capt. Frank Bachmayer, the 7th Police District’s commander, said major crimes decreased in 2014 when compared to 2013 statistics.
There were no homicides last year, he said. There had been four in 2013.
Robberies with guns were down 22 percent, he said. Other robberies dropped 14 percent. Aggravated assaults with guns decreased 7 percent, and other aggravated assaults plunged 48 percent.
Residential burglaries dipped 3 percent, the captain said. Burglary arrests rose, he said, with 38 burglary arrests in 2014 compared to 20 in 2013.
One league member said a not-too-smart burglar left his cell phone in her house.
The captain stressed that citizen 911 calls help police catch up to burglars. One resident saw some suspicious activity and reported that to police, along with a license plate number.
Bachmayer, who had been commander of Northeast Detectives and, before that, the 15th District before coming to the 7th, said he had been promoted to inspector and would be leaving this month. He said he didn’t yet know what his new assignment would be or who would replace him.
OTHER BUSINESS
Councilman David Oh (R-at large) and the family of “Wild Bill” Guarnere, whose World War II exploits were portrayed in the cable TV show, Band of Brothers, are sponsoring a beef and beer from 7 to 11 p.m. on Feb. 6 at Cannstatter’s, 9130 Academy Road, to raise funds for a memorial statue. Tickets are $50 each. Call 215–686–3452.
The Bustleton Bengals, who have been raising funds for their first gym, have also reached their financing goals, O’Hara. They are funding engraved bricks to bring in the final sums they need. Visit www.bricksrus.com for more information.
The civic league’s next session will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the Carriage House of American Heritage Federal Credit Union, 2060 Red Lion Road. ••
