Packed Hearing on St. Charles Seminary Plan Continued; Third Session June 17
By Cheryl Allison
The second of what will be at least three zoning hearings on St. Charles Borromeo Seminary’s plan to consolidate operations on a portion of its upper campus in Wynnewood drew a standing-room-only crowd to a meeting room at the Merion Fire Co. of Ardmore’s station house June 10, spilling over into a hallway for much of the 5 ?-hour session. There was a noticeable change from the first session last month before the Lower Merion Zoning Hearing Board. Balancing the turnout of Wynnewood and Merion neighbors concerned about potential development on the lower campus was a large contingent of clergy and other seminary supporters from area parishes. That led to tense moments when an individual neighbor, Anthony Gowa of Indian Creek, cross-examining a seminary witness, asked if any retired clergy or a priest associated with a pedophile case would reside on campus. The question triggered an objection by the seminary’s attorney and outcries from the audience. “You’ve shown your true colors,” one person called out. That clash aside, there was less legal jousting between attorneys, and the board was able to hear from a seminary financial consultant and its land planner before the hearing was continued. The next hearing date was set for Tuesday, June 17, at 7 p.m., again at the firehouse, 35 Greenfield Ave., Ardmore. Testimony this week focused on current and future use of the older buildings of what is referred to as the Theology Division, as the seminary seeks to bring students from its now over-sized College Division onto 30 acres of the upper campus. Much of the information about future enrollment, numbers of faculty and other personnel, and event that bring outside visitors onto campus, deferred by rector Bishop Timothy Senior at the previous hearing, came from seminary Executive Consultant Stephan Dolan. Dolan, who identified himself straightforwardly as “the finance guy,” said he was brought on board last fall to analyze operations and look at how consolidation might be achieved. Putting it in the clearest terms, Dolan said he determined the seminary is running untenable operating deficits as enrollment has declined and its historic monumental buildings must be maintained. Continued... In his strategic analysis, Dolan said the gap can be filled, while moving operations to the Theology Division would save an additional $1 million per year. That would put the seminary – the residential college seminary in the Northeast – on a footing for some growth. “The numbers allow us to stop hemorrhaging money,” he told the board. “We need to achieve this if we are going to stay in operation. If we can’t, we will have to move.” With some physical changes including opening and reconfiguring an entrance with a new security guardhouse on East Wynnewood Road and combining and adding parking lots to accommodate enrollment growth, the seminary is seeking special exception approval for an expanded use of the educational institution on its residentially-zoned land. The seminary announced more than a year ago that it is considering selling or leasing 40 acres of the lower campus fronting on City Avenue and lying between Lancaster Avenue and East Wynnewood Road. It has been a recurring message in the hearings that no subdivision or plan for future development is before the board. Senior, completing his testimony, answered repeatedly that “no decisions have been made” on future plans, though the seminary has been open in saying that it has sought development proposals and now narrowed a list for consideration. Despite the narrow scope of the current application, neighbors, many of whom have joined in the group calling itself the Coalition for Neighborhood Character and Quality, are closely watching the upper campus plan as it might impact development on the lower campus. This week, zoning board Chairman Robert Fox said the group had submitted a requested list of members and addresses to determine party status. He declined CNCQ attorney Kenneth Aaron’s request to put the list under seal. In connection with the application, the zoning board had asked the seminary for detailed information on current and projected enrollment and events on campus. The special exception decision “will be limited to what they put on” in testimony, Fox said. Among the figures Dolan presented was enrollment as of spring 2014. He said there were a total 258 students in various programs, served by 104 faculty and staff. Of these, 137 were resident students in the four-year college and post-college theology programs. While the number of seminarians is down drastically from the more than 400 in the peak years of the 1960s, Dolan said St. Charles sees possibilities to build enrollment in the next two to three years to 165, and over the next decade to 250. With other programs, the total enrollment in 10 years could be 415, with six added faculty and staff. Continued... Pressed on the question whether it is “abandoning” the lower campus buildings, Senior and Dolan both said historic St. Martin’s Chapel – currently the largest place of assembly for zoning purposes at 600 – and a gymnasium in the College Building would continue to be used, “until we no longer can,” as Senior put it. Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput also will retain a residence in the building. At some future point, Dolan’s data indicated, the largest place of assembly would shift to an auditorium in the Theology Building that can accommodate 225. As for physical changes on the upper campus, Dolan said parts of the Theology Building that have not been used for 30 to 40 years need major renovation to again house students. Asked why a new main entrance on East Wynnewood Road is proposed, land planner Dennis Glacken said it will be more convenient to the Theology Division buildings than either the current entrance closer to City Avenue or a non-functioning access on Lancaster Avenue. In response to comments from recent community meetings, Glacken said however, the seminary has prepared an alternate plan for the new entrance that would allow for a longer “stacking” area for vehicles coming to the guardhouse, to better prevent backups on East Wynnewood. Glacken also described new landscaping to buffer the upper campus parking from the Indian Creek neighborhood. The seminary is requesting relief to not provide a buffer in some other areas where no changes are proposed and where, the planner maintained, it would serve no additional purpose of screening. Issues of traffic and parking will get more attention at the June 17 hearing, when the seminary is expected to present its final witnesses, its traffic engineer and head of security. Aaron, representing the neighbors’ coalition, said he will also call several witnesses.
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