Resident Hires Bus, Again, For Wendy's Hearing

It's deja vu all over again as Roxborough resident and activist John Boyce will once again hire a bus to shuttle people to Wednesday's zoning hearing about the proposed Wendy's at the corner of Ridge and Roxborough Avenues.

Boyce hired a bus for the first hearing in November.

In November Boyce said, "I’m paying for a bus out of my pocket.  To make sure we have enough people at the zoning hearing to make sure we get a fair shake.”

Boyce added, "We’re in a David versus Goliath battle.  We the people and the citizens could become marginalized by a corporation.”

Boyce echoed a familiar argument in November when he said he's not opposed to Wendy's, but that he doesn't want a drive thru.

“They can build a Wendy’s,” Boyce said.  “But a drive thru is not appropriate.  Chestnut Hill has a McDonald’s, but it doesn’t have a drive thru.”

If residents can't attend Wednesday's hearing, they can e-mail their views to be part of the record.

Any support or opposition to the Wendy's drive thru can be sent to the Zoning
Board of Adjustment, care of tanya.sunkett@phila.gov before the hearing.  Please put the appeal number, #21360, in the subject line of your email.

The hearing itself will be held on Wednesday, Jan 8 at 12 p.m. at 1515 Arch St., Philadelphia on the 18th floor.  The hearing is open to the public.

“We’re meeting in front of The Foodery at 11 a.m. on Jan. 8,” Boyce said.  “It’s symbolic.  We want individual investment in Roxborough like what happened with The Foodery.  We don’t want something corporate.”

If you are interested in riding Boyce’s bus, you can contact him at johngorgas@gmail.com.

Space is extremely limited.