Pattye Benson

Community Matters

Chesterbrook Shopping Center & Wayne Glen projects are on Tredyffrin’s Planning Commission meeting for Monday

The new owner of the Chesterbrook Village Shopping Center has not yet shared its plans for the half-vacant retail complex. (Caroline O'Halloran/Main Line Media News)There is an update with forward movement on the Chesterbrook Shopping Center redevelopment project! The developers of the shopping center, 500 Chesterbrook Boulevard LP, will appear in front of the Planning Commission on Monday, April 27, 7 PM to review the preliminary/final subdivision application for the site. The developers plan is to redevelop the existing 13-acre site, which contains approximately 122,000 sq. ft. of commercial space, into a mixed used development. Their plan contains approximately 31,000 sq. ft. of commercial space (utilizing a portion of the existing building) and 124 residential townhouses in the newly created Town Center District.

It has been nearly 4 years since Genuardi’s in the Chesterbrook Shopping Center closed. With the departure of the 40,000 square foot grocery store, the Center saw a significant drop in foot traffic and began a downward spiral as the empty storefronts continued.

The redevelopment of the Chesterbrook Shopping Center is very overdue – this project is going to be a win-win for the neighboring residents, the corporate employees working in Chesterbrook and other township residents, who like me, drive through the area regularly.

Also in front of the Planning Commissioners on Monday is the Wayne Glen development project. Unlike the widespread community support that developers have enjoyed with the Chesterbrook redevelopment plans, the Arcadia Land Company project ‘Wayne Glen’ at the northwest corner of the intersection of Swedesford and Old Eagle Roads, has seen its share of spirited debate.

Wayne Glen

The proposed Wayne Glen project is a mixed-use development with carriage homes and townhouses plus an office-building component. The issue for the residents close to the Richter Tract is how the developer will manage the stormwater situation as much of this area, including Glenhardie, is prone to regular flooding. The Wayne Glen project is located in the Trout Creek Overlay District and the Arcadia developers believe that their plan will utilize design techniques that will alleviate the erosion along the stream banks and flooding issues and improve the poor water quality.

On Monday, the Planning Commissioners will consider Arcadia’s conditional use application to construct 104 residential units in the R-1 Residential District and approximately 240,000 sq. ft. of non-residential building area in the Professional District.

The target audience for the residential construction in both the Wayne Glen and Chesterbrook projects is the age 55 and over market – the emptynesters and those people interested in downsizing from their large single family homes. However, with a combined increase of approximately 230 new residences between the two projects, the possibility does exist for additional school age children for the T/E School District. Typically, there is representation at these Planning Commission meetings by the School Board. However, the Planning Commission meeting on Monday conflicts with the regularly monthly meeting of the School Board.

As an aside, at the last Public Information Meeting this past week, Barb Jackson, an Easttown resident and T/E parent, asked about Dr. Waters contract and whether he would be retiring when his contract ended in June 2015. After Waters confirmed that he would retire, a follow-up question was asked regarding the search committee and process to find a replacement. Although not listed on the School Board meeting agenda for Monday, Board President Kevin Buraks told those of us at the meeting that the Board would give the specific details on the superintendent search at the upcoming school board meeting on Monday.

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  1. It seems the Golf Course project in Upper Merion is under way, I think under new management. With Chesterbrook, there is going to be a lot of retail space available…

  2. I hope that the developer’s plans for Wayne Glen include something to commemorate the site of General Greene’s Headquarters which was located just west of the cemetery. The foundation of the building still remains.

    General Greene was one of Washington’s most trusted generals during the Revolution and he served as Quartermaster during the Valley Forge encampment.

    1. I too was concerned about the artifacts from Gen. Greene’s headquarters and discussed it with Joe Duckworth of Arcadia Land Company, the developer for Wayne Glen. He is aware of Greene’s connection to Valley Forge and plans to honor the history in several ways — there will be signage at the site of the headquarters with the history, which may also be the center of the development project and we discussed having benches at this location. There are plans to incorporate the short stone wall, remaining from the foundation of Greene’s headquarters, in to the walkway through the development. And there was discussion about identifying the historic connection through the street names.

      Last night we learned that the 500 Chesterbrook Boulevard LP project is moving forward. One of the things that the developers on that project are discussing — in exchange for open space requirement, they would continue the Patriot’s Path from Lee Road (at Vanguard) along Chesterbrook Boulevard to Wilson Road. Then from Wilson Road, the path continues on to Valley Forge Park. The commercial plan for the Chesterbrook redevelopment plan includes 13 retail stores remaining — Dianne’s Deli, Citizens Bank, Pizzaland, Rite Aid. The District Court will not remain in its present location under the new plan. I have no idea where the courts will move to, but it will need to be somewhere in Tredyffrin. Dianne (of Dianne’s Deli) addresses the Planning Commissioners, she is very concerned that the new plan does not allow for sufficient parking for customers. She has met with the developers and is generally very positive about the redevelopment of the shopping center, just has reservations that the parking may not be adequate.

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