Manager On Villanova Zoning Plan: Hold On

Radnor Township Manager Bob Zienkowski is not opposed to Villanova University's plan to build a parking garage, three dorms, retail stores and a performance space.

However, he is opposing that a proposed zoning amendment from the school be moved through the township process until some items are "resolved."

Radnor still has concerns about Villanova's expansion, Philly.com reported last week.

The unresolved items that Zienkowski mentions include adding a pedestrian walkway, bridge or overpass for Lancaster Avenue and addressing any of the 19 pages of comments and suggestions the township sent the school in April.

According to Zienkowski, there are a lot of long-term, high-impact issues that the school needs to address, including traffic.

The zoning proposal submitted by the school, which would cover its campus, is "problematic" in that it lacks some important details, he said.

"Infrastructure is the biggest concern for us," he said, mentioning stormwater management and sanitary sewer capacity.

As mentioned at the top of the article, Zienkowski believes that there are many positive aspects to Villanova's proposed project, including revenue for the township from construction, an enhanced image of Villanova and the Route 30 corridor in the area of the campus, and the fact that many students living in neighborhoods will move back to campus.

Zienkowski also feels that the university has not communicated adequately. (He said there was not a word of response to the 19 pages of township and community commets the township sent to them on April 4.)

(Villanova's attorney Nick Caniglia told Philly.com that the zoning filing was "just the start of the process," and that the university would address concerns as it went through the township process.)