A supersized home construction project in Marple has residents hoping the township stands up against a public official and businessman. Typical split-level homes in the neighborhood are about 1,800-square-feet, while the new house has a footprint that is 3,900 square feet, with a total square footage that would be nearly double that. After submitting plans, contractors began work on the home. As work moved along from what was originally a project to enlarge the existing home, complaints from residents brought township officials to the property weekly until Aug. 22, when the township entered a stop work order after the zoning violation issues came to a head. Following the stop work order, the owner requested variances for the side, front and rear yard, as well as exceeding the maximum impervious surface coverage. A large number of residents attended a zoning meeting to hear if the variances would be approved. The owner of the home is a school board member and local business owner. Many residents living within 1,000 yards signed up to become party to the application, giving them the right to appeal any decision. Lawyer John McBlain, representing Marple Township, said that in April the township believed the plans conformed to the zoning requirement, but as construction moved forward that was shown not to be correct.
Source: Daily Times; 10/25/2024