New apartments or condos? Aston waits to see

ASTON » Commissioners Wednesday night approved a conditional use application submitted by Grace Real Estate Investment Partners for the construction of three buildings at a maximum height of 42 feet each, on a 10.4-acre parcel of land located at 104-106 Old Pennell Road.

Grace has proposed 180 units of a mix of condominiums and apartments with 364 parking spaces, which is more than required by the township ordinance.

Commissioners President Jim Stigale reiterated several times during the meeting that the approval was a preliminary step and the project was “not a done deal.”

“This is not a final plan,” Stigale said. “All we did tonight was approve the dimensional standards for the property and they (Grace) can prepare plans to the specifications we have set. We realize that traffic, sewer, and other issues need to be addressed. Ground studies also need to be performed... There are ordinances that the applicant needs to abide by.”

Township Engineer Joe Viscuso said the applicant must go through the entire land development process before any final decision is made.

Grace’s initial proposal was for a 55-and-older development, however, according to Commissioner Mike Higgins, Grace was unable to acquire funding because of there being “no market” for such a development in Aston.

Higgins addressed not only the Old Pennell Road proposal but also a proposed townhouse development at the corner of Red Hill and Concord roads. He said there has been much misinformation regarding both proposals on social media.

One issue that has been discussed that of rental costs. Higgins said if apartments are built at the Old Pennell Road site, rents will range from $1,400 per month for a studio apartment to $1,750 per month for a two-bedroom apartment. Condominium sale prices will range from $175,000 to $275,000.

Several residents spoke publicly against Grace building apartments and the general consensus was that if the project was going forward, condominiums would be a better fit for the community.

Anthony Morelli, owner of Morelli’s Service Center on Pennell Road, questioned commissioners about possible water run-off, increased traffic, and overcrowding of local schools.

“These should be condos, not apartments,” Morelli said. “These are our property values. You just can’t do what you want to do ... We have apartments right here in the township that are already not rented. When people own their property they take care of it, but apartments are another story.”

Mildred Lane resident David Kelso also prefers condominiums.

“The current plan calls for both apartments and condos,” Kelso said. “Can we have any say over what is built? What kind of teeth do we have that we can make sure at least one-third of this is condos?”

Viscuso said municipalities do not have ordinances for condominiums because

they are considered to be a form of ownership. It is not a zoning issue. The township cannot dictate any form of ownership.

The Old Pennell Road parcel is zoned apartments.

“If he chooses to build condos, he must submit the proposal to the state,” Viscuso said “... I know it’s confusing, but there are things that are out of the jurisdiction of the township.”

Convent Road resident Rocky Albano discussed

the traffic situation at Red Hill Road, adding that if townhouses are constructed at that location, the problem will only increase.

Stigale said traffic and water runoff are definitely an issue at that location.

In reference to the Red Hill Road townhouse proposal, a public hearing will take place 7 p.m., April 5 at the municipal

building on Pennell Road.

Commissioners will consider amending the zoning map to rezone the parcel from R-1 low-density residential district to townhouse zoning district.

The proposal submitted by Red Hill Road, LLC includes constructing 24 townhouses on the 3.39-acre parcel.