Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Officials approve plan by Toll Brothers to build 42 homes
EAST MARLBOROUGH >> A long-controversial proposed development has finally come in for a soft landing in East Marlborough Township.
The Toll Brothers’ proposed development of 42 homes clustered on the western part of a 62-acre tract divided by Route 82 just south of Route 926 was first unveiled as a sketch plan in August of 2017. The entrance of the proposed development would be across from the present office of the nursery on Route 82. A connecting road may be added to allow access to Chalfont Road. The homes would be built on the north edge of the Village Blackshire development.
From the beginning, neighbors came out to the meetings of the East Marlborough board of supervisors whenever the proposal was on the agenda to express their concerns about increased traffic in the often-congested area and the way the new development could impinge on the views of already established neighborhoods to the south.
But after many months of talking with neighbors and local officials and revising the plan accordingly, representatives of the developer last night thanked the supervisors as the last questions were resolved and the vote came to approve the plan.
The last few questions included minor decisions on the design of the crosswalk that will lead from the homes on the western side of the development to the walking trails on the 26-acre eastern side, which will remain open space. The roadway will be slightly widened to accommodate an island where pedestrians can wait safely
after crossing the lane of traffic on the near side. Flashing beacon lights set off by a button on the roadside and by thermal imaging sensors will warn motorists a pedestrian is trying to cross the road.
Lighting and signage will also make pedestrians more visible and warn motorists to watch for them. The lanes in the area were deliberately kept relatively narrow to encourage motorists to keep their speed low.
The supervisors took note of the developers’ proposal to lower the speed limit to 35 mph from the current 40 mph limit. The lowered limit stretch would extend from Route 926 south to West Locust Lane.
Some supervisors suggested continuing the lowered limit to Route 1. But Cuyler Walker, chair of the planning commission, said PennDOT had to sign off on such changes, even if Route 82 was a township road in the area.
The developers had done a required traffic study to West Locust Lane, but to extend the lowered limit further south the township would have to do another traffic study for the southern section. The supervisors said they would consider taking further action in the future.
The other final questions included discussions of landscaping options. The developers agreed to replace certain stretches of trees with arborvitae if the neighbors preferred, and to create a berm several feet high along a stretch to the south where one neighbor had a house located near the property line of the new development.
Demolition of 1720 house
In other business, the supervisors weighed the advantages of allowing potential buyers to demolish a house built in 1720 on a 240-acre tract on Mill Road. With the demolition, the buyers could build a new modern house at a reasonable cost and keep the land mostly undeveloped.
If they were not permitted to do that, the land might go to a developer who would create up to eight new building lots in the area. The historic commission, hoping to keep the land together without further development, had said in a letter it supported the demolition.
The supervisors discussed what possible options might permit the house to be preserved, but there were none that made sense for the buyers. Because they agreed to a restrictive covenant to preserve the remaining historic buildings on the site, which included a schoolhouse and lime kilns, the supervisors voted to permit the demolition and keep the original farm acreage intact. Robert McKinstry, who had argued most strongly to preserve the house, abstained.
No tax hike
The supervisors voted unanimously to approve their $2.9 million 2019 budget. Introduced as a draft last month, the balanced budget includes no new taxes but does anticipate possible increased revenue from cell tower licenses.