Civic Opposes Driveways on Lauriston Street

The Wissahickon Neighbors Civic Association voted to oppose a zoning variance that would allow a developer to build what are essentially three driveways on Lauriston Street where it intersects with Ridge Avenue.

“By right, I can make a curb cut on Ridge Avenue,” said developer Vaughan Buckley.  “But that would eliminate three parking spaces.”

Buckley added, “If I make the curb cuts on Lauriston, I eliminate no parking spaces.”

Where Buckley proposes to build the driveways on Lauriston Street is already a no parking zone on that side of the street; however, residents are concerned about safety.

One resident said that there are a lot of kids who play on that block, and that the sight lines coming out of the driveways on Lauriston would create a dangerous situation.

Buckley countered by saying that cars pulling out onto Ridge would face even more danger from pedestrian traffic and vehicle traffic.

Civic president Andrew Bantly said that he opposes to the proposed development because it doesn’t have enough onsite parking.

“As a civic, we’ve always opposed any plan that didn’t have two onsite parking spaces,” Brantly said.

Buckley’s plan has one onsite parking spot.

When Brantly asked if the plan could be changed to include two parking spots, Buckley said that it would not be economically viable.

A letter expressing the Civic’s opposition to the zoning variance will be included in a packet the goes before the city’s zoning hearing board later this summer.