Radnor Township Board of Commissioners Organization and Regular Meeting - January 5, 2026

The Radnor Township Board of Commissioners held an organization meeting followed by a regular meeting on Monday, January 5, 2026, beginning at 7:30 PM in the Radnorshire Room. The board administered oaths, elected officers, approved appointments, and then conducted a regular agenda including public testimony, a consent calendar, land-use actions, and several ordinance introductions. Most votes were voice votes with no audible opposition.

Organization Meeting

• Oaths of office were administered to Maggy Myers (2nd Ward), Jim Riley (4th Ward), and Howard Childs (6th Ward).
• Jim Riley was elected President and Maggy Myers Vice President, both unanimously.
• The board appointed John Rice of Grim, Biehn & Thatcher as Township Solicitor; Joseph C. Rudolph of Clark Hill as Labor Attorney; Bill White as Township Secretary; Peggy Hagen as Assistant Secretary; and Janie Lau as Vacancy Board Chairperson.
• Liaison assignments and slates of reappointments and appointments to boards and commissions were approved, including Resolution 2026-01 appointing Richard Weitzman to the Zoning Hearing Board for a second term ending December 31, 2030.
• The organization meeting was adjourned and the regular meeting was called to order.

Agenda Amendments and Notices

• The board approved a motion to amend the agenda: items 3J through 3N were pulled from the business agenda, and a new item was added authorizing the Township Solicitor to attend the Zoning Hearing Board meeting on the Wawa application.
• Notice was given of an executive session before the meeting on legal and real estate issues.
• The board acknowledged the recent deaths of Sam Horsey and Cheryl Timoley, describing their longtime contributions to Garrett Hill and Radnor Township.

Consent Calendar

The following consent items were approved with no items pulled:

• Approval of the minutes of the November 24, 2025 and December 8, 2025 Board of Commissioners meetings.
• Resolution 2026-02 authorizing the Township Manager to bind workers compensation insurance coverage in the amount of $523,619 for January 1 through December 31, 2026, funded from the General Fund and Sewer Fund.
• Resolution 2026-03 authorizing a grant application to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's 2026 Trees for Watersheds Grant Program for The Willows Riparian Repair Project in the amount of $15,750, with the remaining $19,251.20 funded from the Commemorative Shade Tree Fund.
• Resolution 2026-08 ending the emergency disaster declaration related to anticipated EMS and social services impacts from the two Delaware County hospital closures.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sarah Pilling, a Garrett Avenue resident, remembered Sam Horsey as the last of the African American patriarchs in Garrett Hill, citing his Army Reserve service, postal career, and Town Watch involvement. During the fee-waiver ordinance discussion, she also warned that past school-district fee waivers led to a lawsuit and urged the board to remain transparent.
• David Mackey, a small business owner, described a sign-permit dispute that he said forced him to the Zoning Hearing Board despite Design Review Board approval, resulting in about $6,000 in legal bills and $900 in architectural costs. He criticized the timing of a zoning official's memorandum and praised Commissioner Myers for responsiveness. He was stopped after his five-minute limit when he tried to raise another topic.
• Brian Unoviac of Science Studios, a local sign company, supported the proposed sign-code clarification, said he had operated under the prior interpretation since 1992, and said he was not consulted about the earlier memorandum. He named several Wayne businesses that would not have conforming signs under the new interpretation.
• Neighbors of the 3 Meadowcrest Road proposal, including Kelly Goldenberg and John Tolucci, disputed the applicant's description of plan revisions. Goldenberg said the plan posted on the township website was about 500 square feet larger than the applicant stated.
• Robert Deig, a construction accident lawyer, supported the responsible contractor ordinance and the amended fee-waiver ordinance. He cited safety concerns involving the school district's geothermal construction project and said the responsible contractor ordinance can reduce change orders and long-term costs.

Discussion Items

• 3A - 270 S. Bryn Mawr Avenue (Lumais Project): The presentation for the proposed wellness facility was tabled to the January 26, 2026 meeting because the applicant was not present.
• 3B - Resolution 2026-07: The board approved engaging Gilmore & Associates for planning review and ordinance analysis related to the proposed wellness facility at 270 S. Bryn Mawr Avenue, in an amount not to exceed $10,000, to be reimbursed by the developer.
• 3C/3D - 3 Meadowcrest Road subdivision and sewer module: The board tabled both the minor subdivision/land development approval and the sewage facilities planning module approval to the January 26, 2026 meeting. The applicant's attorney said the latest revision increased the setback between proposed lots to 30 feet, double the 15-foot zoning requirement, and reduced the building area of each proposed home by approximately 100 square feet. Neighbors disputed the accuracy of those statements.
• 3E - Resolution 2026-06: The board approved the minor subdivision plan for 216-220 Radnor Chester Road, a lot-line change transferring 10,048 square feet, including a barn, from 220 Radnor Chester Road to 216 Radnor Chester Road. The applicant said no changes had been made since the caucus and all parties were in agreement.
• 3F - Valley Forge Military Academy eminent domain motion: The board approved a motion authorizing the Township Solicitor to prepare legislation and legal work for the potential selection and appropriation by eminent domain of approximately 14+/- acres owned by Valley Forge Military Academy, to be placed on the January 24, 2026 board agenda. A commissioner spoke in favor, citing open-space preservation, recent development pressure in the area, and the desire to continue negotiating with the property owner.
• 3G - Ordinance 2026-02 (Contractors; school district; waiver of fees): The board introduced this ordinance as amended. The original draft added Section 14, a blanket fee-waiver provision tied to the Radnor Township School District, and Section 15, making fee waivers subject to the responsible contractor ordinance. After discussion, the board amended the ordinance to delete Section 14 so any future fee-waiver applicant, not just the school district, would have to comply with the responsible contractor ordinance. The introduction then passed as amended.
• 3H - Ordinance 2026-03 (Signs): The board introduced an ordinance amending Zoning Code Section 280-122 to restore the long-standing interpretation of wall-sign area: two square feet of sign area per linear foot for the first 15 linear feet of building width, resulting in 30 square feet for that portion. This item addressed the sign dispute raised during public comment.
• 3I - Ordinance 2026-04 (2026 Fee Schedule): The board introduced the consolidated township fee schedule for 2026. Staff highlighted changes to developer escrow requirements on page 9 and rear-yard trash collection fees on pages 19-20, including a reduced fee for connected units.
• Items 3J-3N: These items, covering administrative department consolidation, air pollution, fire code, fire investigator, and fire control management ordinances, were pulled from the business agenda by the approved amendment and were not taken up at this meeting.
• New Business - Wawa Zoning Hearing Board: The board approved a motion to send the Township Solicitor to the January 15, 2026 Zoning Hearing Board meeting regarding Wawa Appeal #3252. A commissioner cited concerns including an 18-foot sign.
• Old Business - New Economic Development Manager: Township Manager Bill White introduced Sam Thomas as the new Economic Development Manager, starting January 5, 2026. Thomas was selected after screening roughly 30 candidates and interviewing 8 to 10; he will work in the Engineering and Community Development Department.

Key Outcomes

• Jim Riley elected President and Maggy Myers elected Vice President.
• All organizational appointments, including the Township Solicitor, Labor Attorney, Township Secretary, Assistant Secretary, and board/commission appointments, were approved.
• The consent agenda was approved.
• The 270 S. Bryn Mawr Avenue presentation and the 3 Meadowcrest Road subdivision and sewer module items were tabled to January 26, 2026.
• The board approved the Gilmore & Associates engagement, the 216-220 Radnor Chester Road lot-line change, the Valley Forge Military Academy eminent domain motion, and the motion regarding the Wawa Zoning Hearing Board appearance.
• Ordinance 2026-02 was introduced as amended, and Ordinances 2026-03 and 2026-04 were introduced.
• The Township Solicitor was directed to prepare eminent domain legislation for the January 24, 2026 board agenda and to attend the January 15, 2026 Zoning Hearing Board meeting on Wawa Appeal #3252.