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| The first phase of the Kummerer tract development. |
Township commissioners resisted a high-pressure sales pitch Monday night from the developer who wants to build 143 singe-family homes on 49 acres bounded by Pine Ford Road, Kummerer Road and Farmington Avenue.
The project is designed for those 50 and older, which means while it would generate property tax revenue, it would have few school children, thus a windfall for the Pottsgrove School District.
Developer John Benson from Artisan Development Group said a financial impact study showed that each unit would have a positive financial impact of $7,700 to the township and school district.
Benson wanted the board to grant preliminary and final site plan approval Monday, arguing that his builder, who remains unnamed but which he insists is one of the nation's top builders, is on a tight schedule.
But Pete Eisenbrown, from the township's engineering firm LTL Associates, said things are moving too quickly for a project of this size.
"It is not customary that plans this big move this fast," Eisenbrown told the commissioners.
According to the timeline outlined by Township Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr., the plan was officially submitted in early July. It had preliminary site plan approval from the planning commission bu Aug. 12. It was revised again on Sept. 18 and by Oct. 15, the planning commission had voted on final site plan approval.
Benson said he wants to start construction, which he estimated will take seven years, in 2020.
"You have to pull the trigger sooner or later and I would hope you do before the next recession rolls in because they come out of nowhere," said Benson.
He said the second phase of the plan calls for nearly doubling the first phase by purchasing
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| The master plan for the full build-out of 279 homes. |
Benson said he was given assurances the township would move quickly on the project.
Garner, in outlining the timeline, said that is exactly what has happened.
"The township has complied with everything it said it would try to do. I think this is moving at 100 miles per hour. That doesn't mean you can't approve it," Garner said.
Benson said pledged to undertake a number of public improvements, including re-paving Pine Ford Road, fixing its intersection with Chestnut Grove Road and improving Kummerer Road as well.
He stressed that his project is allowed "as of right" and that he does not need to commit to the road improvements. At first he declined the allow the township an extension for further review, which meant they had to vote Monday night.
The municipal planning code gives municipalities 90 days to review most developments, unless the developer grants extensions.
"The first time I saw this plan was two weeks ago," said Commissioner Renee Spaide. "I feel like this is being shoved down our throat. I'm not comfortable making a decision on something this big."
Garner told them there were three options. Benson could grant an extension. The township could approve a resolution he drafted with 25 conditions, some of which called for more extensive road repairs than Benson had agreed to make. "Or you can vote to reject the plan," he told the commissioners.
Benson blinked and granted the township a one-month extension.
Don't think this will be over by then folks.
In the meantime, here are the Tweets from the meeting:
Planning at '100 Miles Per Hour'
He stressed that his project is allowed "as of right" and that he does not need to commit to the road improvements. At first he declined the allow the township an extension for further review, which meant they had to vote Monday night.
The municipal planning code gives municipalities 90 days to review most developments, unless the developer grants extensions.
"The first time I saw this plan was two weeks ago," said Commissioner Renee Spaide. "I feel like this is being shoved down our throat. I'm not comfortable making a decision on something this big."
Garner told them there were three options. Benson could grant an extension. The township could approve a resolution he drafted with 25 conditions, some of which called for more extensive road repairs than Benson had agreed to make. "Or you can vote to reject the plan," he told the commissioners.
Benson blinked and granted the township a one-month extension.
Don't think this will be over by then folks.
In the meantime, here are the Tweets from the meeting:
Planning at '100 Miles Per Hour'
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