Critics call Carlino a ‘bully’ for Don Guanella plans

MARPLE » Some township residents are feeling “strong-armed” into accepting one plan over another in the continuing saga in development of the former Don Guanella Village on over 200 acres of land along Sproul and Reed roads.

Such feelings were aired during the public comment section at the township planning commission’s Aug. 23 meeting to go over preliminary plans by Sproul Road Developers LLC to develop

232 housing units in two residentially-zoned parcels of land on the vast property owned by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. This byright plan, named so because of its existing compliance with zoning, is an alternate to the developers’ primary plan to rezone the front portion of the property for

47 acres of mixed-use development and preserve 166 acres of open space. This primary plan would need zoning variance.

“You call it plan B,” said resident James Christaldi of the residential plan. “I call it armageddon.”

Christaldi said he doesn’t like feeling bullied by Carlino Commercial Development, which is overseeing the development plans and purchase of the property, to feel pushed to favor the smaller commercial plan over the housing plan.

“I don’t like Carlino coming in saying, ‘We’re going to do this to you if you don’t give us what we want,’” added Christaldi. “I don’t think we have to give this to you. We have commissioners here who have to listen to the general population, not the few or minority, but the majority, who do not feel this is a benefit to the community.

“This is a bullying tactic to give you plan A … This is something to twist my arm behind my back, and good like doing that.”

Diane Wilkins said the point of plan B was to scare the residents so they approve everything proposed for the front of the property (mixed-use).

Carlino Principal Peter Miller said after the meeting that he completely disagrees with those sentiments.

“I don’t think our style has been as a bully, at all,” he said. “Quite frankly, the opposition attempts to bully and chill commentary. That’s just not our style and I don’t think that’s been the case. We’ve always positioned this as a choice that the community has.”

The planning commission held off on approving any of the residential plans at their meeting, instead asking for revisions be made as per the review letter of the plans written by township Engineer Joseph Mostranado.