Residents voice concerns about proposed housing

More than 50 firedup residents, mostly from the William Penn Villas, came out against a proposed zoning change that could lead to 17 new single-family homes in the township.

The board of supervisors listened Tuesday night as attorney Joe Clement, representing Giamo Real Estate, asked for a zoning change that would allow developers to build 17 homes on a 10-acre parcel connected to the first-hundred block of Roberta Drive. By right, the developers have the authority to build nine homes, but they want to build an additional eight.

Clement argued he could make a case that the developers could build 103 homes on that property based on the R5 zoning in place at a surrounding apartment complex and at the William Penn Villas, a 55-and-older active adult community. Those areas enjoy higher density on their properties, which would extend to the new development.

The developers, however, aren’t interested in that many homes and think 17 is a fair compromise, Clement said.

“Because this property has not yet been devel-

oped, it has become a peninsula into a more highly dense development area,” Clement said. “What we’re seeking to do is development in accordance with the surrounding property and frankly this is not economically feasible.”

He said the lots are at least 20 percent larger than the surrounding properties

and it would not make economic sense to bring in water and sewer utilities. According to the plan, public water would be connected to the line fromthe William Penn Villas based on an established easement.

The township agreed there is an easement but wasn’t sure the development would benefit from it.

Neither the township or the William Penn Villas Homeowners Association were convinced of Clement’s arguments. Solicitor Joseph-McGrory asked that Clement come back in November with the estimated cost to build nine homes.

Township Manager Dan Kerr told the crowd this was the first of a multistep

process, and asked them to look at the developer’s plan as more of a sketch that would need to be refined overtime. The board could ignore the request, do nothing or entertain a zoning request. However, none of those decisions would mean the board was necessarily approving the project.

Board Vice Chairman Kara Shuler said she wanted to compromise between nine units and 17 units. Clement said anything under 17 units wasn’t economically feasible.

The board ultimately agreed to wait to make a comment on the application until after it does further research.