<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3e9lCm_0wDT7NV800" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3e9lCm_0wDT7NV800" width="1287" height="558" ><figcaption>An image showing the parking lot along Station Road that Radnor is considering using eminent domain to acquire. The image was submitted by Radnor as part of the record for the introduction of the ordinance. (Radnor Township photo)</figcaption></figure>RADNOR — Although the township has been exercising eminent domain for decades, Radnor is considering it to take ownership of a church parking lot in Wayne that will soon be seeing an an end to a 70-year agreement.The lot is owned by and sits behind Wayne Presbyterian Church, 125 E. Wayne Ave.Since Nov. 22, 1955, the township and the church have had a lease agreement allowing Radnor to use the site as a municipal parking lot.John Rice, solicitor for Radnor, said the township originally constructed the lot by putting in the parking meters, putting the stone down, and paving the lot. There was some reimbursement from the church at the time.Under the lease agreement, Radnor is responsible for insurance, maintenance and repair obligations for the parking lot. The money collected for parking fees is then shared between the church and the township.The lease has been automatically renewed each year without any changes.Over the last 15 months, church and township officials have been negotiating a new lease, but no new agreement has been reached.In August, the township was notified by the church that they were exercising the 90-day termination notice to end the lease, unless the township agreed to new lease terms that were acceptable to the Wayne Presbyterian.With the notice the church provided, Rice said, the lease would be terminated Nov. 22.During a recent meeting of the board of commissioners, they voted 4 to 1 to schedule a hearing on an ordinance that would allow the township to use eminent domain to acquire the property. The ordinance is expected to be discussed on Oct. 28.If the board approves the ordinance, the next step would be for Radnor to file a declaration of eminent domain through the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas.The lot is nearly 28,000 square feet. When and if the township were to take possession of the lot, Rice said it would allow the church to continue using it as they have been.So, under the timeline based on the approval of Monday night’s ordinance introduction, it would be advertised for the hearing on Oct. 28. Once an ordinance is enacted, it can’t go into effect for 30 days.That would mean any court actions couldn’t occur for about a month after the ordinance’s passing. The church has the right to object to the township’s eminent domain declaration in court. During that time, the church and the township could continue to negotiate for an amicable agreement.The church’s sideDoug Bruhns, chairman of the church’s committee that has taken over the parking lot issue, said when reached later there appears to be some confusion over the church’s August letter by the commissioners.One point he made was that they have no intention of putting a fence around the lot, blocking the township’s use of the lot, as some commissioners said could happen.“It’s been 18 months. Our goal has always been to update the almost 70-year-old lease with the township to a new mutually agreeable lease, and that was what was presented,” Bruhns said. “We wanted to continue negotiations. We understand that parking is critical to the future of Wayne Presbyterian Church and also the community, the local businesses and the church.”Bruhns said they were obligated to initiate discussions 18 months ago to update this lease.“It’s an old lease. I don’t know how many 70-year-old leases are in the township, and it’s been 18 months that we’ve been trying to negotiate with the township. Since engaging with the township, we have not been able to move the negotiations along,” he said.</div></body>

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Radnor considers eminent domain to take church parking lot

RADNOR — Although the township has been exercising eminent domain for decades, Radnor is considering it to take ownership of a church parking lot in Wayne that will soon be seeing an an end to a 70-year agreement. The lot is owned by and sits behind Wayne Presbyterian Church,...