ROHO, like MUST, was designed to favor developers, correct? ROHO was for O'Neill, correct? So is Rockhill Road a victim of the current economic landslide? Sure seems that way given this article to follow, doesn't it? So in the future who should special overlays and ordinances in zoning be in favor of? (Just askin')

Posted on Tue, Oct 21, 2008 Rock Hill Road project in danger due to funding
By Cheryl Allison

It's been a dream in Lower Merion for at least a decade: to transform the old industrial and quarry area on the Rock Hill Road/Belmont Avenue corridor in Belmont Hills into a vital new gateway to the township.The township developed a plan for major road improvements and adopted special zoning to encourage development combining residences and retail shops along a newly pedestrian-friendly streetscape.

Now the bedrock of that dream - road widening, intersection improvements and new bridges to clear traffic congestion through the corridor is seriously in question.

The issue cropped up at a board of commissioners workshop on a new capital projects plan last week. But it also intersects with another matter under board discussion: Montgomery County's idea to create a transportation funding program of its own to get road projects done that otherwise might not be funded.

"It's really a dilemma," township manager Doug Cleland told commissioners. While the township has to decide on an approach to additional planning for the Rock Hill improvements in 2009, it has also learned that the state highway funding it had been counting on for construction may not be there....If development begins, the impact fees could be one source of funding. O'Neill, however, has asked the township to waive its fees.

Hmmm...makes you wonder about other funding, doesn't it? And should Brian O'Neill get his fees waived? Maybe that is not such a good idea and sets a precedence that could be problematic?