Supervisors focus on Ridge Pike projects

LIMERICK » There may be some changes coming to the intersection of Ridge Pike, Fruitville Road and Airport Road, but you’ll only be able so see one of them.

A series of issues before the Limerick Township Supervisors Tuesday night gave a glimpse of what’s in store.

The more visible of the two changes are plans to build two retail commercial properties and 19 single family attached homes on a combined 5.5 acres on the northwest corner of the intersection of Ridge Pike and Fruitville Road.

It’s a site that has served as several unsuccessful bars and restaurants in the past.

Representatives for Piazza Realty were before the supervisors seeking permission to raze that building and erect several new ones.

Both the commercial buildings

and the town homes would comply with the zoning ordinance’s architectural design standards, the developers testified.

And a traffic study concluded the re-development would have no adverse impact on the intersection or surrounding roads, according to traffic engineer John Caruolo, who said the development would only add one new trip per minute.

The supervisors took the testimony under advisement and will render a decision within 35 days.

The other change coming is across the street and is, for the most part, invisible.

It turns out part of the property used by Triad Truck Equipment Co., on the southwest corner of Ridge Pike and Airport Road, is actually owned by the adjacent Pottstown-Limerick Airport and has been rented for years. The airport now wants to

sell the property and Triad wants to merge the two parcels into one.

What was debated Tuesday was whether that should trigger the Main Street zoning streetscaping and landscaping requirements as will be undertaken at the other project across the street.

But over the strenuous objections of Supervisor Thomas Neafcy, the three remaining board members (Chairperson Elaine DeWan was absent) said it would be silly, since the truck company could buy the property, not merge the parcels, and would be required to do nothing.

“Time and time again, this board has had an opportunity to do the Main Street streetscaping and this board waives it. I don’t understand it,” lamented Neafcy.

“I would agree with you if they were doing any land development, but they’re not,” said board Vice Chairman Kenneth Sperring.

Online:

For a Twitter recap of the supervisors meeting, visit

pottsmerc.com