There has been a lot going on recently regarding the recent decision by the Planning Commission to recommend rezoning several parcels of land at the corner of Lewis Ave and Sterns Rd (commonly referred to as the Whitman land).
Much is being said about the topic at the Bedford Now Chatter site. I am actually mildly surprised at the reaction.
My feeling is that provided Mr. Whitman develops the land according to the Master Plan then he has done no wrong. The angst towards Mr. Whitman and his family for going about rezoning their land by the channels prescribed to them by the township is ludicrous to me.
A commenter on the BN Chatter, Soccerdad, put things into perspective regarding the rezoning. Soccerdad stated the following:
C-3 is not too much different than C-2; it allows all of the same uses of C-1 and C-2, plus a few extra. This is one of the BIGGEST misunderstandings out there that everyone needs to understand – a large-scale retail development (call it a “big-box” if you want) can be placed on EITHER a C-2 or C-3 zoning…it is not limited to just C-3. There are CURRENTLY 20.74 acres of C-2 zoning on the Whitman property along Lewis Avenue – a large-scale retail development can come in today, and as long as the development meets the Township’s ordinances, there would be no stopping it.
Here’s another big misunderstanding out there – the PC voted to recommend approval of 2 portions of current C-2 zoning to C-3 along Lewis Avenue (about 6.9 acres). Changing of the zoning for these 2 areas from C-2 to C-3 has virtually no affect on the ability of a large-scale retail development to be placed on the property. There are some site-design/setback differences, but nothing significant. Also, by ordinance, the limit to the size of a building under both C-2 and C-3 is exactly the same – 25% of the net parcel area. Changing of these 2 areas from C-2 to C-3 does not suddenly allow a large-scale retail development to come in – they could come in today under the current C-2 zoning.
Right now much is being made of nothing. As stated above under current zoning a large retail center could be built on the property today. The denial of the rezoning of the critical parcel largely disallows a Wal Mart type of center to come in and develop the land.
Lewis Ave is the commercial corridor of Temperance. The development of this area over the past 21 years, the time I have lived in the Bedford area, has been tremendous and it will continue to grow as the township continues to grow. Look at Secor as an example. I remember moving to Bedford in 1987 and at the corner of Secor and Sterns was a couple of banks, Foodtown, a gas station, Flick’s, and the cinema. Now both roads are four lanes through the intersection and numerous more commercial businesses and plazas have developed.
Time will tell what will happen at Lewis and Sterns but my best guess is it will include significant commercial growth in some way, shape, or form.