Developer Seeks Public Input on Redevelopment of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Property

On July 22nd the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church at 2907 Jolly Road in Plymouth Meeting held its final service. According to property records, the church had been active at that address since 1965. If you are not familiar, the church is located directly across from the Greater Plymouth Community Center on Jolly Road.

A developer, Audax Properties of Doylestown, has a plan to redevelop the property, which is 3.4 acres and falls within the “A Residential” zoning district. The developer sent letters to the surrounding property owners inviting them to an information session at the church on Saturday, December 1st at 10:00 a.m.

The developers website and social media do not contain any renderings or information about their plan.

The pink shaded area show the property in question and some adjacent ones.

So what does the zoning say is permitted at this location. The zoning code states that for “Residential A” that:

A building may be erected, altered or used, and a lot may be used or occupied, for any of the following purposes, and no other:

A. Any use permitted in Article IV, section 400, A, B and D:
B. Any of the uses permitted under article IV, section 400-C when authorized as a special exception, subject to the provisions of article XXI, section 2101 herein:
C. Community center, when authorized as a special exception, subject to provisions of article XXI, section 2101 herein.

The uses mentioned as “A, B and D” are single-family detached dwellings, agriculture or municipal use, and accessory uses (like a shed or garage that are secondary to the main use).

The uses outlined under “C” are educational, religious (excluding correctional or penal institutions), golf course and golf house (excluding driving range and miniature golf courses) cemetery (provided that the parcel devoted to this use shall contain not less than five acres), and recreational use under municipal direction.

What do you don’t see allowed within this zoning district is townhomes. Since that is the current favorite development plan in the area, it will be interesting to see if the developer seeks zoning relief to allow townhomes or has a plan to meet the fit within the zoning code.

On its website, the developer shows a plan for a different project that looks like it would fit this property. There is a horseshoe with four single family homes along it.

More to come.