Haverford Township's entire zoning code is one vote away from a comprehensive overhaul after commissioners approved the first reading of a complete rewrite 7-2 on Sept. 14.

Commissioners Brian Gondek and Michael McCollum cast the two dissenting votes on Ordinance No. P15-2026, which replaces Chapter 182 of the township code. Commissioner Gerard Hart moved to adopt the first reading, and Commissioner Holmes seconded.

Commissioners Forste-Grupp, Cavender, Holmes, Quinn, Hart, McCloskey and Board President Judy Trombetta voted yes, according to the meeting minutes.

The rewrite touches every property owner in the township. An executive summary prepared for the project states that the reorganization "improves how the rules are presented and expressed, but it does not change what those rules permit." The update consolidates 180 legacy land-use entries into 97 updated terms across residential, office, commercial, light industrial and institutional districts.

Township officials have framed the effort as Phase I, focused on reorganization. A second phase would tackle substantive policy changes.

The township received roughly 30 public comment submissions on the draft, according to a planning commission comment summary prepared by IMEG Consulting Corp. Residents raised concerns about data centers, short-term rentals, the definition of "family," density, apartments and impacts on residential neighborhoods.

The consulting memo noted that data centers are defined in the draft but "are not proposed as a permitted use in any zoning district at this stage." Questions about short-term rentals centered on whether a new definition could signal a new use with potential impacts on traffic, parking, noise and neighborhood character.

A public hearing on the ordinance was held Sept. 8 at the Commissioners Meeting Room on Darby Road, according to a public notice. The full text of the proposed ordinance is available at www.haverfordzoning.com.

Resident Mike Lee spoke about the zoning rewrite process during both Citizens' Forum sessions at the Sept. 14 meeting.

$372,500 creek repair contract

The board also unanimously awarded a $372,500 emergency contract for Naylor's Run channel repairs to JMC Contractors, the lowest responsible bidder. The vote was 9-0.

Commissioner Forste-Grupp pulled the contract from the consent agenda for separate discussion. At least three residents spoke about the project: a Ward 2 resident, Allison Young Bronkey of Ward 2 and John DeSanto of Ward 2. Bronkey spoke during both Citizens' Forum sessions.

Forste-Grupp moved to approve the contract, and Commissioner Quinn seconded.

In other business, the board adopted the second reading of Ordinance No. P14-2026, installing a special-purpose parking zone at 528 Washington Avenue. Commissioners also certified the 2027 Minimum Municipal Obligation (MMO) at $4,475,796 for the police pension plan, $2,003,016 for the non-uniform defined benefit pension plan and $253,550 for the non-uniform defined contribution pension plan.

A second reading of the zoning rewrite will be required before it becomes law.