Upper Moreland to Vote on Miller’s Ale House

Upper Moreland Township’s Community Development Committee recommended drafting a resolution for construction of Miller’s Ale House. The Board of Commissioners will vote on the resolution at the Sept. 12 meeting.

“I believe we can recommend this project to the full board,” Chairman Joseph Lavalle said. “I’m comfortable with how each individual item was addressed and with the positive dialogue.” 

If the board approves the resolution, Develcom Real Estate and SR3 Engineers representatives said they would like to begin immediately construction of Miller’s Ale House, a family restaurant and bar.

“Our objective would be to have the building closed off before bad weather arrives,” Charles Gallub of Develcom said.

The proposed Miller’s Ale House will occupy one of two vacant sites on Home Depot Drive in Upper Moreland.

At the July 25 meeting, Gallub anticipated construction to last 140 days.

Paul Purtell, director of code enforcement, said that Miller’s Ale House addressed all of the issues from that last meeting. The restaurant still asked for approximately 20 waivers on minor details ranging from rain gardens to buffers, to shrubbery. The committee addressed each waiver separately.

The first issue addressed the issue of a double row of trees to separate the parking lot from residential areas. After speaking with community members, Miller’s Ale House and the board agreed to one row of trees and a 6-foot fence. 

One resident brought her concerns about replacing trees on the site. Jeremy Mazairz, project manager of SR3, said Miller’s Ale House agreed to plant a total of 26 new trees on the lot. 

Additionally, the board and Miller’s Ale House straightened out issues regarding the gateway landscaping. Miller’s Ale House agreed to the terms of landscaping or would pay “a fee in lieu” at a cost of $22,050.

Another resident vented about security issues. In response, Lavalle said Public Works did go through the plan with police and emergency services to address those issues.

Lavalle concluded the meeting by praising the project’s use of rain gardens, a green depression area that allows rainwater runoff from impervious surfaces to be absorbed. Lavalle said that Home Depot’s water basin was designed to absorb stormwater for all three sites. However, he acknowledged the extra rain gardens would provide extra support to filter that water.

“The rain gardens are innovative, and our ordinance has not caught up to them yet,” Lavalle said. “Rain gardens also are more attractive.”