Neighbors Oppose Subdivision, Council Approves Ballot Box

The house currently on the property at 686 N. Chester Road. Photo: Rachel Pastan

At the Swarthmore Borough Council meeting on September 8, five neighbors from surrounding houses expressed their concerns over Cavalier Homes’ plan to subdivide the lot at 686 N. Chester Road. 

Cristina Bicchieri said she worried that the developers would eliminate a considerable number of trees from the property, increasing the neighborhood’s susceptibility to pollution from Baltimore Pike. 

Catherine Chappelka said that Cavalier had not given enough consideration to restoring the house currently on the property. Cavalier intends to raze the 100-plus-year-old house for new construction. “My understanding is that this is an architecturally and historically significant property, and I would argue that it could be restored,” Chappelka said. 

Chappelka cited another local property that had been called “the racoon palace” because of its decrepit condition. It had been lovingly restored, then sold for close to $900,000, she said, although “The person who originally listed it had said it was a tear-down and nothing could be done.”

Chappelka went on to express misgivings about the developer’s intentions. “It smacks of people coming into the neighborhood and really trying to maximize a buck,” she said. “That’s really not what this community is about.”

Charles Miller of Cavalier Homes and project engineer Jack Robinson attended the Zoom meeting. They explained how they were adapting their original plans in response to feedback from residents at an August meeting of the Swarthmore Planning Commission. For example, they agreed to set the house on Chester Road back 35 feet, rather than the required 25 feet. 

Robinson, who grew up in Delaware County, said he recognizes that “Swarthmore is different.” He said the project architect has driven around Swarthmore to get a feel for homes in the neighborhood, which will influence his design. 

Legislating Aesthetics?

Borough Manager Jane Billings stated that “it is a little unusual for the aesthetics of a house to be a part of a subdivision or even a building permit discussion.” She asked Assistant Borough Solicitor Carl Ewald to speak to how aesthetics could play into zoning or subdivision approval. Ewald replied that only issues directly covered by borough ordinance could legally be considered. 

Resident Steven Schloeder brought up Title VI of the Planning and Zoning Code, which states that new developments must integrate harmoniously into the borough. 

“Typically, ordinances need to be more concrete in order to be enforceable,” Ewald explained. 

Planning and Zoning Committee chair Betsy Larsen said the decision before the council is whether the proposed subdivision meets all of the criteria of the code. “We can’t make design requirements or specify design elements,” she said. “What we can do is decide if the proposed land use is in the best interest of the borough and the community.” 

Council president Walk clarified that this decision will be made at the council’s upcoming legislative session. 

Ballot Box Installation

Delaware County ballot drop box

Walk announced that council has received a request from the county election bureau to install a ballot box at Borough Hall. She explained that a decision needed to be made that evening so that Delaware County Council could be notified by their deadline of the following morning. 

The county council has asked each of the county’s 49 municipalities to install a ballot box 5 feet high and 2 feet wide in a place that is ADA accessible, well-lit, and subject to 24/7 video surveillance. The box will be emptied by county election bureau employees, and will remain in place for five years. The county will supply the surveillance equipment. 

Walk explained that the borough was not being asked to manage the box, but simply to approve its installation. “It is something we are being asked to do to make sure that our residents, the voters, are able to vote easily during the pandemic if they’re unable to vote in person,” said Walk. 

Given that Borough Hall is still closed to the public, the council discussed placing the box outside. Council member Larsen said she liked the idea of having the box installed near the police station to “minimize any bad behavior.” But council members Sarah Graden and Jill Gaieski expressed concern that placing the box there might intimidate some voters. 

Council voted to install the ballot box, agreeing that they would determine placement after consulting with the county solicitor. 

View this or any other Swarthmore Borough Council meeting.

The next council meeting is Monday, September 21, at 7:30 p.m., on Zoom. Details about attending the meeting will be available on the borough’s website.