Chatham University Plans Tabled by Planning Commission

Chatham University's master plan for the Eden Hall campus went through another round of review by the Richland Planning Commission on Monday, but no decisions were made.

Before Chatham can move forward with its plans to develop the 388-acre site, a campus master plan that illustrates the long-term development concept must be approved.

The planning commission is charged with reviewing the master plan and making a recommendation to the Richland Board of Supervisors, which will vote on whether to approve it.

The plan envisions Eden Hall as the first university campus in the U.S. that integrates sustainable development, living and learning. 

Township Engineer Scott Shoup went through a list of 26 issues -- from the need for boundary clarification to the compatibility between the campus and neighboring area.

Many of those issues have been "adequately addressed," he said.

"Compatibility is something we've taken very seriously," said attorney Joel Aaronson, who represented Chatham. "Compatibility is not invisibility."

He said the university has done everything it can to screen and relocate certain features, at times exceeding the township's requirements, to "balance the needs of the campus and respect our neighbors' residential character."

He noted that plans for parking lots, which came under fire from Glasgow Road neighbors, had been changed to lessen their impact on neighboring properties.

Chatham's vice president for finance and administration, Walt Fowler, said the university has met with the neighbors along the Gloucester Road corridor to work out a number of concerns. 

The distinguishing mark of the master plan's final rendition, he said, was the removal of an access road off Glasgow Road that ran along Joanne Jamriska's property.

That leaves one access road from Glasgow into the northeast section of the campus known as Stanford Hills. The neighbors across the street from that access road, Andrew Knox and Tim Hopey, have expressed concern about lights from traffic on that road shining into their homes.

Fowler said the university proposes locating the entrance/exit to the access road in between the Knox and Hopey homes, so the lights do not shine directly into their houses. 

A proposed 216-space lot off Glasgow Road was downsized to 50 spaces and it was moved farther back from the road toward the Stanford Hills section, Chatham's representatives said. 

Road improvements to Glasgow Road and Ridge Road would be required as the campus is developed. Discussion centered on how to decide when to upgrade the roads -- including adding a bicycle/pedestrian lane on Ridge Road.

"The concern is that we don't end up with willy-nilly road improvements," said Planning Commission Chairman Tim Gaichas.

The university is also asking for speed tables [which are similar to speed bumps or humps] to be installed on Ridge Road to slow traffic. That decision rests with the Board of Supervisors.

Gaichas repeatedly advised Chatham's representatives to get specifics on the master plan to Shoup and Township Solicitor Charles Means in time for them to review them prior to coming before the planning commission.