Hithergreen petition has 2,300 signatures

Washington Twp. residents fight plan for residential project.

Residents in Washington Twp. are fighting a plan to turn the former Hithergreen Center into a residential neighborhood.

Washington Twp. residents fighting a proposal to develop the former Hithergreen Center into a residential neighborhood said they have collected more than 2,300 signatures for a May referendum.

The signatures — collected in two weeks — were turned into the township last week, said Brian Feldmeyer, who lives near the property.

“We had 30 days to file a petition with 1,024 valid signatures from Washington Township registered voters,” Feldmeyer said in a statement to this news organization. “We first set a goal of 1,250 but then decided to shoot for 1,500 signatures in the event of human error on a few.”

“I think that the people of Washington Twp. have spoken,” he said.

The signatures are under review by the township’s law director, said Township Administrator Jesse Lightle. If found to be genuine, the petition will be forwarded to the Montgomery County Board of Elections.

Washington Twp.’s trustees voted last month to approve a rezoning of the township-owned land at 5900 Hithergreen Drive as part of a deal to sell the land for $250,000 to developer Tom Peebles.

After a demolition estimated at $300,000, Peebles would then divvy the nearly 15 acres of land into green space and 30 residential lots.

Trustee Joyce Young said about 3.5 acres would be devoted to open space.

Feldmeyer, who says the development will be too dense, said he is running for trustee in tandem with Matt Lynch, who does not live in the neighborhood but also spearheaded the referendum.

Scott Colwell, David Douglas, Katie Levens and Sharon Lowry are also running for the two trustee seats on the ballot, while Scott Paulson is running for re-election.

Paulson, the trustee president, has said the recent vote to rezone the land was correct.