Developer presents new plans for Clinger tract in Concord

CONCORD » Chester County builder Bentley Homes is considering its second foray into Delaware County, as the company presented a conceptual plan for townhouses and carriage houses on the Clinger Tract at Baltimore Pike and Thornton Road. The 26-acre property, zoned village district and light industrial, has been the subject of interest by developers for more than 20 years.

“This is the fourth time I have been involved in some type of development for this tract, including possibly for Costco and 200 townhouses,” said attorney Marc Kaplan. “We have spent a considerable amount of time on this parcel.”

The plan is the third residential iteration. The initial design, proposed by a different builder, showed 197 townhouses. Bentley revised the plan to 152 mixed units (108 townhouses and 44 age-targeted carriage houses), then made additional changes for the 123 mixed units (90 townhouses and 33 carriage houses) presented to council. The former would be marketed in the low $400,000s; the latter, from $500,000$600,000, said company President Mitch Kotler.

The design addressed issues which have been raised in the past. The main entrance from Baltimore Pike would be aligned with Concord Road, with no access from Thornton Road with the exception of an emergency access route. Bentley would also be sensitive to a number of historically significant buildings on the tract, such as Whitehall, the first apartment in the township dating to 1910, and at least six other resources.

“We try not to demolish anything historical,” said Kotler. “We work together to possibly relocate or adaptively reuse them when feasible and reasonable.”

A number of homeowners who live adjacent to the tract raised a variety of concerns, including the necessary zoning change, density, traffic, lighting and noise intrusion, limited open space in the township, environmental impact on Chester Creek, wetlands, mature trees and steep slopes and impact on the Garnet Valley School District.

“It appears to be a lot of houses clustered into a tight area,” said Denny Waldman. “It would have a definite effect on the people who live right there.”

Council President Dominic Pileggi began the presentation by reminding those in attendance that the plan was merely conceptual.

“It would be a stretch to allow townhouses, but we were asked to look at it and we are,” he added. “If we were to hold out for light industrial, would it be a better use?”