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Record of Proceedings

Radnor Township Design Review Board Meeting - October 8, 2025

Board of Commissioners & Boards — Wednesday, October 8, 2025
BodyRadnor Township, Pennsylvania
SessionBoard of Commissioners & Boards
DateWednesday, October 8, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:53:53

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Here tonight around our township design review board meeting before we get started.

0:04

We're gonna ask Jane to please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:06

Please stand.

0:08

I put allegiance to the flag.

0:19

Thank you.

0:27

Okay, before we get started with the applications tonight, I just like to ask the board members here if you have a chance to review the minutes from last meeting.

0:37

Greg.

0:38

I make a motion to approve the minutes of the design board review board meeting of September 10th, 2025.

0:44

Okay, do we hear a second?

0:45

I second it.

0:46

Okay, thank you.

0:48

Okay, so we have uh six applications under old business tonight, and we've got five under new business.

0:56

So let's get started with our first application tonight, which is DRB 2025-39, the application of Villanova University at Cabrini Campus, 610, King of Prussia Road for a signage.

1:12

Hello there.

1:14

Hi.

1:14

Hi.

1:16

And please let everybody know who you are and the business you represent, and please talk loudly into the mic so the viewers are at home can hear everything.

1:25

So Kara McManiels, senior project manager for Villanova.

1:31

Great.

1:32

Um we're back here for the sign.

1:34

We were in front of this board uh for this sign a couple months ago and got approved.

1:39

Um, but it was determined that um we didn't meet the allowable square footage for zoning.

1:45

So we basically this is the sign that's gonna sit behind the pond there at King of Prussia and Eagle Road.

1:54

So the main signal can you speak in the mic a little bit?

1:57

Okay, handheld mic if that's easier for you.

2:01

Right here, there you go.

2:03

Oh that way you have to be all right.

2:09

Just flip it up.

2:11

Yeah, there you go.

2:13

Is that good?

2:14

There you go.

2:15

Better okay.

2:18

Um so this is a sign that's gonna sit behind the pond on uh Eagle Road and King of Pressure Road.

2:25

Um it's basically the same thing that presented before, it's just that the precast, this is the precast that went all the way down to the ground before, and we just shortened it to in order to comply with the square footage allowable square footage.

2:40

That's the only thing that's really changed with this.

2:42

So what what is a square footage you're showing there?

2:45

So uh the allowable square footage is 75 uh square feet.

2:49

So this dashed line shows the 75 square feet.

2:53

So it starts at the bottom of the precast and goes to the uh top of the precast.

2:58

Okay, so the previous one that was over 75.

3:01

Right, because the precast went down to the ground and they took it down to the ground.

3:06

Yeah.

3:06

All right.

3:07

Um other changes.

3:09

There's no other changes, the same lighting, but which is an uplighting uh in front of the sign.

3:14

That was the only change.

3:15

Okay.

3:16

You guys good at that?

3:17

Yeah, so it's gonna be open underneath the top part.

3:21

No, this is all stone.

3:22

Oh, okay.

3:25

Very nice.

3:25

Yeah.

3:26

That's great.

3:27

Yep, I'll take it.

3:30

Okay, in a matter of application number DRB 2025 39.

3:36

Villanova University, uh 610, King of Prussia Road, to a resubmission of one sign at the entrance to the Villanova University Cabrini campus.

3:49

Make a motion to approve.

3:50

Okay, here a second.

3:52

I second.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Signage Regulation█████████████████████████████████████████████75%
Landscaping██████10%
Procedural██4%
Zoning Variance██4%
Transportation Safety█2%
Engineering And Infrastructure█2%
Lighting Regulations█2%
Parking Management█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Radnor Township Design Review Board Meeting - October 8, 2025

The Radnor Township Design Review Board (DRB) met on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Radnorshire Room. The board reviewed eleven applications, including old business items and new applications for signage, facade renovations, and exterior alterations. Key discussions centered on sign illumination, fence height, brick painting, and a controversial reinterpretation of sign square footage calculations. Several items were approved, some with conditions, and others were continued to the November 12, 2025 meeting.

Consent Calendar

  • DRB 2025-39 (Villanova University/Cabrini Campus) – Resubmission for one entrance sign at 610 King of Prussia Road. The board approved the reduced precast base to comply with 75 square foot zoning limit. Motion carried unanimously.
  • DRB 2025-23 (Radnor Crossing Apartments) – Change railing color from white to black vinyl at 284 Iven Ave. Approved unanimously.
  • DRB 2025-60 (Moore's Landscaping / Brewed & Distilled) – Two wall signs at 192-196 Landover Road. Approved after verifying business name registration with Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
  • DRB 2025-63 (National Veterinary Association) – Wall sign and facade renovation at 635 Conestoga Road. Approved, including illuminated channel letters and new sconces/pendant light.
  • DRB 2025-64 (Co-Surgery) – One wall sign at 789 E Lancaster Ave. Approved, with reminder that monument sign panel changes require a separate application.

Discussion Items

  • DRB 2025-53 (57 West Avenue – RMS) – Proposed 8-foot tall wood fence to screen an AT&T utility lot. The board expressed concern about the height exceeding the 6-foot code limit. After discussion, the board approved the design but recommended the fence not exceed 6 feet. The applicant may still seek a variance from the Zoning Hearing Board for 8 feet.
  • DRB 2025-61 (Rita's Water Ice) – Exterior alterations including a new ADA ramp and two wall signs at 230 W Wayne Ave. The board debated internal illumination: only the business name "Rita's" may be backlit per code. The sign on the roof was moved to a wall location. Approval was granted contingent on illumination limited to the name; the applicant was advised to consider external lighting and return if changes are made. Temporary banner allowed.
  • DRB 2025-62 (Nudy's Cafe) – Facade renovation at 600 W Lancaster Ave. The applicant proposed painting the brick black. Board members opposed painting brick, citing maintenance and visual concerns. The board approved the replacement of ATM and drive-thru infill, new door, and new lighting fixtures, but continued the color scheme decision to November 12, requiring a revised rendering showing brick unpainted and black trim.
  • DRB 2025-65 (Johnny's Pizza) – Wall sign and window decal at 369 W Lancaster Ave. The wall sign (channel letters) was approved. The window decal application was continued to next month because measurements and placement were not provided. Temporary banner allowed for grand opening.
  • DRB 2025-66 (Caliber Collision) – Ground sign and wall sign at 392 W Lancaster Ave. The board found the proposed wall sign (38.4 sq ft, 16-inch letters) too large for the location and recommended a reduction of 20-25%. The application was continued to November 12, requiring revised plans with height from grade, sign dimensions, and distance from road for the pole sign.
  • DRB 2025-58 (Philadelphia Print Shop) – Relocation of existing sign to 122 W Lancaster Ave. A significant discussion arose regarding a recent reinterpretation of the sign square footage calculation. The board expressed disagreement with the new interpretation, noting it would severely limit signage for merchants. The board voted to approve the sign design contingent upon further review by township officials, with the expectation of meeting to clarify the calculation method.

Key Outcomes

  • Approvals (unanimous): DRB 2025-39, DRB 2025-23, DRB 2025-60, DRB 2025-63, DRB 2025-64.
  • Approved with conditions: DRB 2025-53 (design approved but fence not to exceed 6 feet); DRB 2025-61 (sign illumination limited to business name); DRB 2025-58 (contingent on township official review).
  • Continued to November 12, 2025: DRB 2025-62 (facade color scheme), DRB 2025-65 (window sign), DRB 2025-66 (wall sign size and pole sign details).
  • Next meeting: November 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM. Applications due by October 22, 2025.

Meeting Transcript

Here tonight around our township design review board meeting before we get started. We're gonna ask Jane to please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Please stand. I put allegiance to the flag. Thank you. Okay, before we get started with the applications tonight, I just like to ask the board members here if you have a chance to review the minutes from last meeting. Greg. I make a motion to approve the minutes of the design board review board meeting of September 10th, 2025. Okay, do we hear a second? I second it. Okay, thank you. Okay, so we have uh six applications under old business tonight, and we've got five under new business. So let's get started with our first application tonight, which is DRB 2025-39, the application of Villanova University at Cabrini Campus, 610, King of Prussia Road for a signage. Hello there. Hi. Hi. And please let everybody know who you are and the business you represent, and please talk loudly into the mic so the viewers are at home can hear everything. So Kara McManiels, senior project manager for Villanova. Great. Um we're back here for the sign. We were in front of this board uh for this sign a couple months ago and got approved. Um, but it was determined that um we didn't meet the allowable square footage for zoning. So we basically this is the sign that's gonna sit behind the pond there at King of Prussia and Eagle Road. So the main signal can you speak in the mic a little bit? Okay, handheld mic if that's easier for you. Right here, there you go. Oh that way you have to be all right. Just flip it up. Yeah, there you go. Is that good? There you go. Better okay. Um so this is a sign that's gonna sit behind the pond on uh Eagle Road and King of Pressure Road. Um it's basically the same thing that presented before, it's just that the precast, this is the precast that went all the way down to the ground before, and we just shortened it to in order to comply with the square footage allowable square footage. That's the only thing that's really changed with this. So what what is a square footage you're showing there? So uh the allowable square footage is 75 uh square feet. So this dashed line shows the 75 square feet. So it starts at the bottom of the precast and goes to the uh top of the precast. Okay, so the previous one that was over 75. Right, because the precast went down to the ground and they took it down to the ground. Yeah. All right. Um other changes. There's no other changes, the same lighting, but which is an uplighting uh in front of the sign. That was the only change. Okay. You guys good at that? Yeah, so it's gonna be open underneath the top part. No, this is all stone.

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