May 13, 2026 Committee Meetings

The Lower Merion Township held committee meetings on May 13, 2026, including the Grants and Community Development Committee and the Building and Planning Committee. The Grants Committee focused on the 2026-2027 HUD fiscal year Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, discussing the allocation of approximately $970,000 in federal funds plus $31,000 in program income. The budget supports owner-occupied home rehabilitation, public services such as senior transportation and meal delivery programs, administration, and planning. Several local organizations received funding allocations, including the Ardmore Avenue Community Center, Meals on Wheels, and the Kaiserman JCC. Public comments emphasized affordable housing needs for families and the importance of food security programs. The Building and Planning Committee addressed several procurement and contract-related matters, including the approval of escrow fund releases totaling $563,593 for improvement guarantees, conditional use approvals for historic property modifications, and certificates of appropriateness for historic preservation projects. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the presentation and receipt of a comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan, which outlines current preservation efforts, proposes code updates, and recommends evaluating class 2 historic resources for potential upgrades to class 1 status. The plan aims to balance preservation with development and includes public engagement for future code changes. Votes were taken to approve escrow releases, conditional use applications, certificates of appropriateness, and to receive the historic preservation plan, with most motions passing unanimously or with minimal abstentions. The meeting also included discussions on policy and procedural aspects of historic preservation and community development funding.