Marple OKs extension on Don Guanella developer plan
MARPLE >> The Marple Board of Commissioners approved a conditional use application extension to Sproul Road Developers, LLC for plans to build more than 200 homes on the former Don Guanella Village property along Sproul and Reed roads in Broomall.
The extension was approved unanimously at the board’s Monday night meeting and will provide for review and action on the preliminary subdivision and land development plan up to Jan. 14, 2019, and to hold a public hearing on the conditional use application for the plan through Dec. 10, 2018.
Board President Joseph Rufo and Robert Fortebuono were absent from the meeting.
The plan in question is a by-right one that would build approximately 230 single and twin housing units on two residential zones located in the back of the 213-acre property.
Peter Miller, principal at Carlino Commercial Development who is overseeing the project and is the perspective landowner, said Tuesday the extension will allow him to submit a revised plan that will reflect the comments made by township Engineer Joseph Mastronado in his first review of the plan over the summer. Mastronado’s letter of review had 51 comments in it pertaining to zoning, subdivision and stormwater management, among other areas. A similar review letter by the county Planning Commission had similar con- cerns as Mastronado, but review from that commission, said Miller, is only a recommendation and not a requirement as at the municipal level.
Miller expects to submit his revised plan to the township on Oct. 25.
Board Solicitor J. Adam Matlawski said the developers are complying with the deadlines that are associated with his application and no vote on the extension on Monday would have required the board to hold a hearing and entertain the application that night or it would have automatically been deemed approved.
Developers have called this an alternate plan as they continue to work to create a mixed-use development on 47 acres of an institutionallyzoned area on the same tract of land.
“Even though there were about 100 witnesses (who heard Miller say) we’re not going to build this,” said Commissioner John Longacre in a joking matter when discussing the motion to extend on the residential plan.
“I understand, but there’s an application and there are time limits,” said Matlawski.
“I know, we’ve got it, we’ve got it,” Longacre responded, understanding that the developer is cooperating with the process.
Miller still contends that his primary focus is to build a commercial shopping center with senior living units and a self-storage facility at the front of the property and preserve the 166 acres of open space that would be left after development.