Fox Chase:
Let’s sit on the fence

By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

The new chief officer of the Fox Chase Homeowners Association brought one primary message to his first general membership meeting: Don’t always believe what you read in newspapers.
According to Matt Braden, who officially became president of the civic group this month, several publications have printed letters to the editor or editorials identifying the homeowners group as supporters of the controversial plan to expand the Fox Chase Cancer Center into Burholme Park.
But that’s just not the case, Braden said. In fact, the civic group purposely has remained non-partisan in the debate. Members voted more than two years ago to remain neutral on the issue and reaffirmed that stance during their Jan. 9 meeting, voting 29-8 in favor of neutrality.
Prior to the latest vote, Braden explained that the civic group initially chose to remain neutral to avoid causing hard feelings among members of differing opinions on the potentially divisive issue.
"It could make us divided, rather than the strong organization that we are," he said.
Nonetheless, the topic has often been a major point of contention at the group’s bimonthly meetings in recent years, even when not on the official agenda.
Such was the case at a Nov. 14 general meeting when opponents of the expansion plan attempted to force outgoing president Craig Turner to conduct a vote. Turner refused, claiming that such a vote would have to be announced in advance in accordance with the civic group’s bylaws.
At last week’s meeting, Turner admitted he was wrong about the bylaws and that the group could in fact vote at any time to back or oppose the cancer center’s expansion. He also warned that any pre-announced vote would likely attract more opponents to the project than supporters or those with no particular feeling.
"You and I know that if we advertise, the people who are against it are going to come down and pack the house," he said.
Nonetheless, Braden proposed that the group finally choose a side. To avoid potential conflict and resentment, he suggested a secret ballot.
"Are you for it or are you against it? It’s as simple as that," Braden said. "(Because) if we get into all of the particulars, it could be a knock-down, drag-out battle."
Some members concurred with the new president, while others saw no reason to modify their earlier position.
"We voted in the past to stay neutral on the issue and I think we should stay neutral," one woman said.
Ultimately, more than three-fourths of the dues-paying members on hand agreed.
In unrelated business, the civic association reviewed three local zoning cases. Turner, the zoning chairman, reported that the homeowners group had opposed an attempt by the owner of a duplex residence on the 500 block of Hoffnagle St. to legalize a basement apartment.
Bob Barrilli, aide to City Councilman Brian O’Neill, said he met with the property owner and informed him of the civic group’s "standing opposition" to new multi-family subdivisions. The property owner agreed to withdraw his zoning application, Barrilli said.
Regarding a building at 7445 Oxford Ave., the civic group voted, 29-7, not to oppose an attempt by the owner to legalize a duplex that his family has been renting out for nearly 50 years.
According to the owner, Steve Nicolo, he and his siblings inherited the duplex from their father several years ago and continued to operate it as a rental property. They had no idea it was not zoned for residential use, Nicolo said, largely because they know their father held a rental license issued by the city.
The landlord ran into problems recently when he brought eviction proceedings against a tenant and was informed that they needed a variance.
In the third zoning issue, Turner reported that a building at 7470 Oxford Ave. had a "for sale" sign identifying it as a "duplex" although the property is not listed as such in city records. No zoning application has been filed for the site, Turner said.
At the start of the meeting, Fox Chase Town Watch president Steve Phillips reviewed key accomplishments of his organization in 2007, including extensive graffiti cleanup and illegal-sign removal, a newly expanded Web site (www.foxchasetownwatch.org), a successful National Night Out celebration and helping to close a suspected house of prostitution.
The next Fox Chase Homeowners and Fox Chase Town Watch meeting will be on Wednesday, March 12, at 7:30 p.m., at Cpl. John Loudenslager American Legion Post 366, Oxford Avenue and Rhawn Street. ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com