Upper Gwynedd sends off retiring zoning officer

He’s had a hand in nearly every major project in Upper Gwynedd in recent years, and the township won’t be the same without him.

Township officials sent off longtime planning and zoning officer E. Van Rieker during their final meeting of the year, and his last before heading into retirement.

“E. Van Rieker has faithfully and diligently served the community for many years as the zoning officer and planning coordinator, contributing significantly to the development and well-being of our local area,” said commissioners President Katherine Carter.

“Through his expert knowledge of zoning laws, planning principles, and development regulations, Mr. Rieker has provided invaluable guidance to local residents, developers, and government officials, ensuring growth and change in a thoughtful, responsible and sustainable manner,” she said.

Originally hired in 2013 after previously handling certain code work as an outside consultant for a decade prior, Rieker has helped steer Upper Gwynedd through more than a decade of development projects, code updates, and plan revisions shaping the future of the township.

“Van Rieker’s tireless efforts have ensured that zoning decisions and planning processes were carried out with fairness, clarity and transparency,” Carter said, adding that he has “exemplified the highest standards of professionalism, dedication, and service in his role,” and that he has “shaped the present and future of our community’s planning and zoning landscape.”

After approving a formal proclamation, each commissioner shared stories of how Rieker has helped them over the years: board Vice President Rebecca Moodie said she’s worked with him for four years, first as a zoning hearing board alternate member, then as commissioner.

“Van always took the time to share his expertise, and explain complex zoning issues. I’m currently the liaison to the planning and zoning departments, where I’ve been able to get even more insight into Van’s impact into our community. Van is an expert in zoning matters, and has been instrumental in guiding our township,” she said.

“He’s always remained professional, with an ability to maintain fairness and impartiality, while enforcing zoning regulations. And he does it all with a smile on his face, and an ability to make everyone laugh. Van is one of a kind, and we are all lucky to have worked with him,” Moodie said.

Commissioner Liz McNaney said Rieker’s “patience and experience has been so helpful for me for the last seven years: I’ve learned a lot about paper streets, and movie lots, and I’ve learned new words and terms like ‘adjudicate.’ And I have been told that you say ‘Whitpain’ correctly,” she said, drawing laughs from the rest of the board.

“I thank you for everything that you have been doing for this township, and for us, as a board and individually. You will be missed, but since you are a resident, I hope we still see you around,” McNaney said.

Commissioner Denise Hull recalled when she arrived on the board, code terminology “was like a foreign language to me,” but he “taught me so much about how all of this works,” with countless hours spent “to explain, not even just my specific questions, but also everything surrounding it. You will be so missed.” Commissioner Greg Moll said he’s worked with Rieker “as a resident, approving my fence and other things I’d done along the way years ago, and now working with you as a commissioner and seeing the expertise you bring to the township.”

And Carter added her own thanks for his translation skills too: “I appreciate you taking the time to explain everything in regular people terms, and just your expertise has been invaluable. For me, learning the zoning, from R-2 to R-6, to the paper streets, and all of that — it’s been an experience, but I’m definitely better for it, and I appreciate it and thank you.”

Township Manager Sandra Brookley Zadell said she also appreciated Rieker’s help in learning the ins and outs of Upper Gwynedd when she arrived in 2019, and day-to-day work since.

“You always were willing to listen to my new ideas, and bring the history of Upper Gwynedd too. I really appreciate your openness, and your willingness to work with whatever I threw your way. I’m going to miss you terribly — you can tell, ’cause I already text you, and you’ve been gone for a week,” Zadell said.

Assistant Manager Megan Weaver added that she’s “forever grateful for everything that you taught me,” calling him “wonderful to work with” over the same span.

“Working beside you, you make everything lighter, but you also take zoning very, very seriously. I’m very grateful to have worked beside you, and I’m very respectful of you, so thank you for everything you taught me — and your friendship too,” she said.

Merck spokesman Greg Landis said Rieker has worked with that corporation “through some major changes” on the company’s West Point complex on Sumneytown Pike and other proprieties in the township: “Two deed consolidations of both major properties, six building demolitions, and the addition of eight buildings with over 500,000 square feet.”

“I thought I knew the code before: you taught me the code. So I appreciate that, and all the help you’ve been through the years, and your friendship as well,” Landis said.

Resident Deborah Wurstle said Rieker helped her with several property issues in the township, and “I don’t know that anybody could put up with me like he did: I just want to thank you so much for all the time that you’ve taken, the calls, the emails — I hate to see you go,” she said.

Township consultants thanked him too: engineer Nick Cross said he’s also learned much from the retiring expert.

“Every time that I have to talk with Van, it’s usually going to be a quick, 30-second phone call, turns into a 20 minute phone call, and I’ve enjoyed every second of those calls with Van. I’ve learned a lot about zoning and planning, as I got my feet wet in the municipal realm, and I really owe a lot to Van,” he said.

Township solicitor Lauren Gallagher said she felt it was “an absolute pleasure to work with you, Van: the knowledge you have of this code, and everything happening in this township, has just been phenomenal.” And David Conroy, Rieker’s successor as planning and zoning officer, added his own thanks: “Van, congratulations, that’s all I can say. I will never fill your shoes.”

Rieker replied with thanks all around, up and down the ranks of staff and across the board of commissioners.

“This is not about me, it’s about the culture of the township. It’s a team effort. And while I think I brought a lot of experience to this job, it became a dream job thanks to the top down, and left to right, support,” he said.

“From the government, the commissioners, all the assistants, all the staff that we have, the chief, finance, the engineers, we all worked together as a great team. It made my work of the last 12 years in this profession, a dream effort. I want to thank you all for helping make my job as — I wouldn’t say easy, but as productive as it has been.”

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