Est. 2026 Wayne · St. David's · Radnor Township Price: Free to Residents

The Radnor Gazette

All the News That Fits the Township

Vol. I, No. 16 Sunday, July 5, 2026 Weekly Edition

Five Things to Watch This Week

  1. Planning Commission Monday: Oak Hill amended plan and Chapter 280 rewrite in the same room. Two of the year's most consequential land-use items land in the same 6:30 p.m. meeting.
  2. PECO's four-month underground cable project starts Friday. South Bryn Mawr, Wyntre Lea, and Barbra Lane get new primary cable through mid-fall.
  3. Design Review Board Wednesday: two applications at 150 E. Lancaster, one at 523. Wayne's east end is getting its second façade-review-heavy week in a month.
  4. Wild Yeast Bakehouse opens July 18 at Eagle Village. The subscription-sourdough business gets its first storefront.
  5. Zoning Hearing Board July 16: four appeals on the docket, agenda just posted. Appeals 3266 through 3269 lined up for a single evening.

Oak Hill Amended Land Development Plan Returns to Planning Commission Monday

Rockwell's senior-living community on the VFMA-adjacent parcel gets its April 30 amended plan set reviewed alongside township consultants' post-construction stormwater comments. Chapter 280 rewrite is on the same agenda.
By The Gazette · Filed from Radnor · July 5, 2026

The amended land development plan for Oak Hill at St. David's is back on the Planning Commission agenda for Monday, July 6, at 6:30 p.m. The revised plan set is dated April 30, 2026, with the post-construction stormwater management (PCSM) plan revised May 6. Township-consultant review letters from GFT (May 27) and Gilmore (June 16) are attached to the agenda packet.

Oak Hill at St. David's is Rockwell Development Group's luxury senior-living community on the Valley Forge Military Academy-adjacent parcel at 1001 Eagle Road. The land is the same sentinel parcel the Board of Commissioners has been considering acquiring 14 additional acres of, via right of first refusal or eminent domain, for a township gym and park, a thread the Gazette has been tracking since Vol. I, No. 9. Rockwell paid roughly $500,000 per acre for the Oak Hill parcel, according to a local real-estate market analysis.

The item on Monday is an amended plan, not a new one. Planning Commission reviews at this stage focus on whether the amended plan set addresses previously identified issues in the consultants' review letters. Because this is a Planning Commission recommendation, not a Board of Commissioners vote, the Monday meeting is where the technical debate happens; the political vote comes later at a BoC meeting.

Residents watching the VFMA thread should watch which conditions the Commission attaches to any recommendation. Stormwater, sight-line, and landscape screening conditions imposed at this stage shape how the finished community sits in the topography for the next forty years. Meeting materials are linked from the Granicus agenda.

"Chapter 280 governs how properties whose uses no longer conform to current zoning are treated when they change hands, expand, are damaged, or sit unused. Every neighborhood in Radnor has some legally nonconforming structure or use." See Development & Real Estate, below

Township Action Items  ·  Development & Real Estate

Chapter 280 Nonconforming Uses Rewrite Back to Planning Commission with Edits

The proposed rewrite of Chapter 280 on nonconforming uses also returns to the Planning Commission on Monday, July 6, with edits marked "Planning Commission edits" on a June 1 draft. The rewrite is the same ordinance the Board of Commissioners heard on first reading in June, and it is the second-most-tracked land-use item of the summer after Oak Hill.

Chapter 280 governs how properties whose uses no longer conform to current zoning are treated when they change hands, expand, are damaged, or sit unused. The rewrite is not academic. Every neighborhood in Radnor has some legally nonconforming structure or use, and how the code defines "abandonment," "expansion," and "reconstruction after casualty" determines whether an owner can rebuild after a fire, add to a garage, or reopen after a long vacancy.

The Planning Commission first took the rewrite up in May, and this Monday's session gives the Commission a chance to fold in comments from the BoC first reading before recommending the ordinance forward for a second reading and adoption.

Prior Gazette coverage: Vol. I, No. 12 covered the Planning Commission's initial hearing; Vol. I, No. 14 covered the BoC first reading. Residents with a nonconforming use on their block should watch this one.

PECO Four-Month Underground Electric Project Starts Friday

PECO Energy begins upgrading primary underground electric cables Friday, July 10, affecting three residential stretches: South Bryn Mawr Avenue near Country View Drive, Wyntre Lea Drive, and Barbra Lane. The contractor is Riggs and Distler. The township announced the project on June 30 and estimates four months to complete.

All the work is in grassy areas, per the township's notice, so PECO expects little to no traffic impact. Residents on the affected blocks should still expect construction noise during standard work hours and periodic access to yards for equipment staging. Anyone with adjacent private utilities (irrigation, invisible fencing, low-voltage landscape lighting) should confirm PA One Call marks before work begins.

Design Review Board July 8: Two Applications at 150 E. Lancaster

The Design Review Board meeting Wednesday hears three items:

  • DRB 2026-32: 523 E. Lancaster Avenue
  • DRB 2026-33: 150 E. Lancaster Avenue
  • DRB 2026-34: 150 E. Lancaster Avenue (second application on the same parcel)

Two applications on 150 E. Lancaster in a single meeting suggests either a phased façade change or two distinct components (a sign package paired with an exterior modification is a common pairing). The board renders advisory recommendations; residents interested in Wayne's east end should watch for follow-through at Building Permit issuance.

Zoning Hearing Board July 16: Four Appeals in One Evening

The Zoning Hearing Board agenda for July 16 lists four appeals on a single evening: Appeals 3266, 3267, 3268, and 3269. The agenda cover page does not name the applicants or list the parcels in text form; each appeal is a linked packet. Full detail will be in next week's issue after the Gazette can pull the individual case files.

Four appeals in one meeting is on the higher end for Radnor's ZHB; the typical monthly slate runs two to three. The agenda was published June 30.

Schools (RTSD)  ·  Safety & Police Beat

Coming Up at RTSD

There are no board or committee meetings on the RTSD-TV YouTube channel uploaded in the last seven days that match the school-board, committee, or business-meeting filter. The channel's most recent qualifying upload is the April 14, 2026 Facilities Committee Meeting.

RTSD's summer schedule means no committee or board meetings this coming week. The next scheduled full-board Business Meeting typically falls in the third or fourth week of August as the district prepares for the new school year opening; watch BoardDocs for the exact August meeting date and agenda.

Last Committee Meeting on the Record

The last committee meeting available on RTSD-TV is the April 14, 2026 Facilities Committee Meeting. April work centered on Ithan Elementary rebuild coordination and routine district capital planning. Readers wanting a chronological catch-up on Ithan rebuild milestones should watch that recording.

RTSD Policy Watch

  • AI-in-academic-integrity policy: No public draft yet.
  • AI / cyberbullying policy: No public draft yet; district's technology-use policy remains the operative framework.
  • Ithan Elementary rebuild: In construction planning phase; no public milestone this week.
  • Technology-use policy: No changes this week.

RTSD Board of School Directors

The board's roster, publicly listed on the RTSD website, is: Liz Duffy (Board President), Susan Stern (Vice President), Sarah Dunn, Esq., Clare Girton, Jannie Lau, Esq., Thomas Le, Lon Rosenblum, Lydia T. Solomon, and DJ Thornton. Nine directors, four-year terms, elections in odd-numbered years.

Overnight Criminal Trespass at the Willows Mansion

Radnor Police reported that someone entered the Willows Mansion at 490 Darby Paoli Road through a kitchen window on Saturday, June 27, at approximately 1:30 a.m. Alarm activation prompted the intruder to flee. Per the department's alert, video showed a white male with a sleeve tattoo. The Willows is a historic township-owned property used for events and township programs.

Residents in the Darby Paoli / North Wayne corridor should ensure exterior lighting and camera systems on adjacent properties are operational and review overnight Friday-into-Saturday footage. Anyone with information is asked to contact Radnor Police via 911.

Criminal Mischief on the 700 Block of Woodlea Road

A house on the 700 block of Woodlea Road was egged on June 23 at approximately 10:21 p.m. Video shows approximately six high-school-aged individuals. This is a lower-severity incident but is noted here because Radnor PD released the alert Monday morning; the department typically does so when it believes residents can identify the group from imagery.

Community & Lifestyle  ·  Upcoming Events  ·  Worth Your Time Elsewhere

Wild Yeast Bakehouse Opens July 18 at Eagle Village

The subscription-sourdough business Wild Yeast Bakehouse opens its first storefront July 18 at the Eagle Village Shops (503 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne). Founder John Goncher left a nearly 30-year finance career (a change he began in 2019) and launched the business in 2021, building it on weekly-subscription loaves delivered around the Main Line.

The bakery has earned Philadelphia Magazine Best of Philly honors and Main Line Today Critic's Choice recognition in the Micro Bakery category. The grand opening date was updated from July 11 to July 18 late last week.

America250 Fireworks Delivered Thursday

The township's free America250 fireworks display Thursday, July 2 drew a large audience at Radnor High School, the first township-hosted display in almost a decade. Alongside the 77th Annual Garrett Hill 4th of July Parade Saturday morning. Both events are complete.

June Restaurant Inspections: LCFM and Countryview Log Repeat Violations

Delaware County restaurant inspections for June 2026 show most Wayne and Bryn Mawr establishments cleared. Notable: Margaret Kuo's at the Lancaster County Farmers Market logged six violations, three repeat findings; Countryview Barbecue logged five violations, two repeats. Inspection reports are snapshots; violations are frequently corrected on site.

Also inspected in June with clean or minor results: The Vanilla Bean, Gryphon Cafe, Delice et Chocolate, Heebner Meats, Good Harvest Farm, LCFM itself, and Sun Valley Pizza (Bryn Mawr).

$3.1M Estate Sold in Wayne

The most recently reported sold homes in Radnor include a $3.1 million estate sale in Wayne. Readers tracking specific sentinel parcels can subscribe to the Delaware County Recorder of Deeds Property Alert.

Upcoming Events

DateEvent
Mon Jul 6, 6:30 p.m.Planning Commission: Oak Hill amended plan + Chapter 280
Mon Jul 6Township-wide roadside vegetation clearing
Tue Jul 7CPR training available
Wed Jul 8, 6:00 p.m.Design Review Board: 3 items on E. Lancaster
Thu Jul 9, 6:30 p.m.Parks and Recreation Board
Fri Jul 10PECO underground electric work begins
Wed Jul 15, 6:00 p.m.Environmental Advisory Council
Thu Jul 16, 7:00 p.m.Zoning Hearing Board: Appeals 3266 to 3269
Sat Jul 18Wild Yeast Bakehouse grand opening, Eagle Village

Ithan Avenue Closure Completed

Ithan Avenue was closed Monday, June 29 as previously announced. Traffic patterns have since returned to normal.

2026 July 4 Fireworks Guide

Patch published its comprehensive 2026 July 4 Fireworks Guide covering displays throughout southeastern PA and southern NJ. Most have run; check for weekend follow-ons.

Worth Your Time Elsewhere

Spotlight PA on the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program: the PTRR expansion delivers up to $1,000 to eligible older adults and disabled Pennsylvanians. Radnor relevance: many Radnor seniors qualify under current PTRR income thresholds; the filing window is open, and Delaware County's spring county-tax bill is the anchor tax number for a Radnor filing.

Fox43 / PA General Assembly on the cyber-charter reform bill and Act 47 debate: the 2025-26 state budget included cyber-charter tuition adjustments reducing district payments. Radnor relevance: RTSD's per-pupil cyber-charter obligation is a meaningful budget line; further reform this term shows up in the district's 2027-28 mill-rate math.

SAVVY Main Line on Merrick's Tavern debuting at the Brandywine in Radnor: Caroline O'Halloran's review captures how the hotel opening has shifted the King of Prussia Road corridor's dining draw. Radnor relevance: this is the sentinel-parcel hotel the Gazette has tracked since Vol. I, No. 6.

SAVVY Main Line on Oakwell joining Stoneleigh Public Garden in Villanova: the two-year Natural Lands acquisition finally closed. Radnor relevance: Villanova's public-garden footprint just grew by ten acres, all within a fifteen-minute drive from most Radnor addresses.

· · ·

One Meeting, Two Land-Use Decisions Worth Watching

Two of the year's biggest Radnor land-use questions land in the same Planning Commission room on Monday night. That is unusual; it is also revealing.

The Oak Hill amended plan returns to the Planning Commission with the project's broad shape set by earlier rounds of review: a luxury senior-living community proposed for the sentinel Valley Forge Military Academy-adjacent parcel. Monday's meeting centers on the conditions the township attaches.

Stormwater, sight-line, and landscape screening conditions imposed here shape how the finished community sits in the topography for the next forty years. The consultants' letters are where the technical fight is; residents watching should read the Gilmore and GFT review letters as much as the plan set itself.

The Chapter 280 nonconforming-uses rewrite is the opposite kind of decision: a policy layer over every property in the township, not a decision about one parcel. What counts as "abandonment." How much expansion is allowed before nonconforming status is lost. What happens after a fire.

These questions do not touch most residents in a given year, but they define what happens the day something changes. The rewrite is in its second round of Planning Commission review with edits folded in from the Board of Commissioners' first reading, which is why it shares Monday's agenda with a marquee sentinel-parcel item: joint placement may help draw residents who are primarily following Oak Hill.

The two items in one meeting are a reminder that Radnor's land-use policy is made by two very different machines running in parallel: parcel-by-parcel plans that residents can see from their front porches, and code rewrites that are invisible until the day they matter. Both machines are working Monday; residents who want to see either one can attend or watch the session.

Prior Gazette threads carrying into Monday: Vol. I, No. 9 on VFMA acquisition; Vol. I, No. 12 on Chapter 280's Planning Commission first pass; Vol. I, No. 14 on the BoC first reading of Chapter 280 and the 118-120 N. Wayne demolition project running in parallel. If you have followed any of those, Monday is where the next chapter is drafted.

If You Can Do One Thing This Week

This week: Attend the Monday Planning Commission meeting.

Oak Hill's amended plan and the Chapter 280 rewrite are on the same agenda. The room is where the conditions get set.

Monday, July 6, 6:30 p.m., Radnor Township Building. Agenda materials. Can't make it in person? Watch on RadnorTV or catch the archived Granicus recording.

· · ·