Limerick OKs Traffic Circle for Swamp Pike

The approval of the first phase of the proposed Limerick Town Center includes the 308-unit senior housing complex, shown above in gray, and the road improvements which include re-routing Swamp Pike through a traffic circle to align with Lewis Road at the intersection with West Ridge Pike.

For residents of Limerick Center Road, what was most significant about last night's Limerick Supervisors meeting is what didn't happen.

An opponent of the TP Trailers project
was on hand Tuesday with this flyer.

A controversial proposal for a trailer and shipping container facility at 181 Limerick Center was pulled from the night's agenda "due to a scheduling conflict with the developer," according to a posting on the township web site.

Instead, the project, which has won a recommendation for approval from the planning commission, will be on the agenda for the Dec. 18 meeting.

But that doesn't mean that news didn't happen.

It was just a little under the radar.

With no comment or discussion, the Limerick Township Board of Supervisors granted final site plan approval to the first phase of a 30-acre project that will eventually bring more than 450 new residences and a traffic circle to the intersection of Ridge and Swamp pikes.

With Supervisors Chairman Elaine DeWan absent, the plan for phase one of Limerick Town Center was approved by a 3-1 vote. 

Supervisor Patrick Morroney voted no.

The first phase includes Arcadia at Limerick Pointe, the 308-unit senior units — comprised of a mixture of independent living, assisted living and “memory care” units —  that is at the center of the project. 

But the aspect of the project that will affect the most people is that the first phase approval also includes the re-alignment of Swamp Pike, through a traffic circle, to align with Lewis Road at the intersection with West Ridge Pike.

Limerick Supervisors will hold
a special meeting Monday.

Despite vehemently opposing the traffic circle since it was first insisted upon by Montgomery County and PennDOT road planners, Vice Chairman Ken Sperring, without comment, provided the crucial third vote needed for passage.

Back in September, Sperring said he refuses "on principle," to vote for anything involving the circle.

However, with Morroney also voting no and Supervisor Ken Neafcy also absent at the September meeting, Sperring was convinced to vote to apply for three new traffic light permits from PennDOT that the project needed to move forward, after being re-assured there would be other opportunities to raise concerns about the traffic circle.

Tuesday night was one of those opportunities, but Sperring did not take it.

In addition to the the Arcadia building, the project also proposed about 160 townhomes and three retail buildings that have 32,000 square feet of space on the first floor, with apartments above.

The developers, Ridge Swamp Associates LLP, must still obtain permits from the Montgomery County highway officials, as well as PennDOT, but have already obtained crucial permits from the Montgomery County Conservation District, according to Township Manager Dan Kerr and Township Engineer Khaled Hassan.

In fact Hassan said the developers may begin doing some earth moving for the senior building quite soon.

As for the townhouses and commercial buildings, although they have been the subject of extensive discussions with township supervisors, no formal plans have been submitted to the township for either of those project phases, said Hassan.

And now, here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Limerick Traffic Circle Approved