HAVERFORD — Rugby Road neighbors are gearing up for Thursday’s planning commission meeting, at 7:30 p.m., when revised plans for a subdivision on their street will be considered.

Rugby Road spans one long block, from Haverford Road to Railroad Avenue in Bryn Mawr.

“We’re going to the meeting because there are elements of the plan we don’t like and that we don’t think are good for the neighborhood or the environment,” said Nancy Wagman, whose home faces the proposed development.

Rugby Road Partners, a subsidiary of Farley Homes, purchased four contiguous lots on the southern side of Rugby from McClatchy Avondale Corp., former owner of Bryn Mawr Terrace. The properties occupy about two acres.

McClatchy used the homes as rentals for years and arranged the $2.45 million sale without giving public notice, neighbors say.

Rugby Partners hopes to consolidate and subdivide the lots into eight new residential properties, featuring “elegant English-style carriage homes,” to sell for just under $1 million. Four existing houses, including a stone colonial and stucco tudor dating to the 1920s, would be demolished. The plan includes a 14,700-square-foot open space lot to satisfy code requirements.

Residents like Wagman have taken up arms against the proposal.

“We’d like respect for the character of the neighborhood. He’s planning on building eight identical homes. … Stucco boxes are not what we have on this street,” said Wagman.

Diane Drentlaw, a Realtor, agreed the homes slated for demolition “reflect the unique character of our street.” Rugby Partners has said renovation is not a feasible option.

Drentlaw had additional concerns about loss of “overarching” trees, including a copper beech, sycamore and Kentucky coffee bean.

“My view will go from leafy, green trees to double garages,” said Wagman.

The Brynford Civic Association has gone on record opposing the subdivision, citing “problematic stormwater and sewer management, increased density, increased traffic, changes in the character of the neighborhood and increased pressure on schools.”

As a result of the controversy, commissioners approved a zoning change Aug. 13, rezoning the properties in question from R-4 to R-3 residential, consistent with zoning on the northern side of Rugby. The Delaware County Planning Commission approved the change, which increases minimum lot size to 8,125 square feet.

While the new requirements will apply to future owners and proposals, it won’t affect Rugby Partners’ plans, submitted in May.

Upon inspection, however, Township Engineer Dave Pennoni found problems and omissions that required clarification prior to approval, Codes Director Lori Hanlon-Widdop said.

The township planning commission raised a number of concerns at its June meeting as well, such as the need to widen Rugby Road, placement of garages, seepage beds and the fact that all but two of the lots are “maxed out” for impervious coverage.

But “stormwater was biggest problem to overcome,” said Hanlon-Widdop. “They weren’t compliant with stormwater management and will have to meet our stormwater regulations to get approval.”

The planning commission instructed Rugby Partners to make revisions and resubmit plans. Rugby Partners requested an extension to August.

Hanlon-Widdop said one “obvious remedy” would be to reduce the number of lots to six, with one of the existing homes left standing.

“We’re calling on the township to enforce rules they have,” said Wagman. “Our best hope is the township will enforce every code it has, and minimize the number of houses and amount of space they can build on, because of environmental issues these changes will wreak on our neighborhood … It’s a big issue. We’re getting overbuilt very fast.”

A representative of Rugby Road Partners would not consent to an interview, but said, “We’re going about our business, just trying to get something done. The township and neighbors keep coming up with roadblocks.

“We just go about our business every day, trying to do what we do. We don’t wish to be in the middle of anything. We’re not used to that.”