E. Torresdale residents speak out
on proposed businesses

By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

The East Torresdale Civic Association doesn’t think that a new auto repair shop or an outdoor drinking establishment belong in residential sections of the community.
During a general meeting of the ETCA on April 14, residents voted unanimously to oppose a zoning variance sought by an auto mechanic for a new repair shop on State Road, and they voted unanimously to oppose the granting of an outdoor liquor license to a North Delaware Avenue bar/restaurant.
The civic group agreed to send letters to the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board expressing its stance on each issue.
James Connor, an ASE certified mechanic, attended the civic meeting hoping to win the community’s backing to open his own shop at 9220 State Road inside an existing garage on residentially zoned land.
Though zoned R-5, the property has a variance allowing its use as a storage and parking facility for commercial construction contractors. The double-bay garage is 3,400 square feet and is among a row of other commercial businesses but across the street from a row of homes.
Connor and his zoning attorney, Shawn D. Ward, described the proposed business as a general auto repair facility with no auto body or painting operations on site. Connor would lease the site.
They claimed that all employee, customer and delivery parking would occur inside the property and not curbside. Connor hoped to operate the business seven days a week, including a half-day on Sundays.
In discussion of the proposal, neighbors posed numerous potential criticisms, including the Sunday hours, noise from air compressors and other machines, a potential shortage in parking and disruption of State Road traffic and vehicle emissions.
Residents noted that there are several other auto repair shops within blocks of the site and argued that the proposed use would be more disruptive to the community than the existing permitted commercial use.
The civic group also took up the issue of Maggie’s Riverfront Café, at Delaware Avenue and Arendel Street.
No official representative for the business addressed the civic group, but individual neighbors raised the issue of recent outdoor renovations to the bar, particularly a series of heavy posts installed in front the property along the public street.
An ETCA board member reported that the business, which already holds an indoor liquor license, had applied for a license to serve alcoholic beverages outdoors. Area residents were strongly opposed to that thought, even without hearing any further details.
The east-facing business is bordered by residential properties to the rear, north and south.
"You have children that live in this neighborhood. You have parents that put their kids to bed early," one woman said.
According to an ETCA board member, neighbors in the immediate area of the business had already compiled a petition against granting an outdoor liquor license that they were to send to the Liquor Control Board.
Local residents also debated the merits and drawbacks of a rumored proposal by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to erect a sound wall along Interstate 95.
Folks living along the southbound side of the highway claim that they’ve been assured for years that a wall would be built to shield them from the constant din of passing cars and trucks.
Yet, residents of the southbound side are against the wall if the state agency doesn’t also erect a companion wall along the south side. They fear that a single wall will deflect highway sounds toward their properties and worsen their noise problem.
"If people on the east side want a sound barrier (too), OK, but don’t take away ours that’s already been appropriated," one northbound side homeowner said.
A homeowner from the southbound side disagreed: "Do it for both sides or nothing at all. That’s the only fair way."
Bernie Reidenberg, first vice president of the ETCA, reported that state government officials have informed him that there is no timetable for either version of the project as no funding has been made available.
"They’ve been talking about it for ten years and still don’t have the money," Reidenberg said.
In a local traffic issue, the civic association agreed to ask the city’s Department of Streets and City Council, if necessary, for additional stop signs along Linden Avenue and Arendel Street between State Road and Delaware Avenue.
Residents of the Pleasant Hill section believe that more stop signs will help slow down speeders on both streets. Also, residents suggested that the group ask for a restriction on trucks in the section, which has no outlets for through traffic.
The next ETCA meeting will be on Monday, May 12, at 7 p.m. at Liberty Evangelical Free Church, Linden Avenue and Milnor Street. ••