Neighbors opposing municipal land sale

Township residents advocate for preserving ‘open space’ lots along Zacharias Creek Greenway

A potential battle is brewing involving developers, township officials and a group of residents who would like to see three parcels of open space preserved along the Zacharias Creek Greenway.

In a memorandum presented to the township’s board of supervisors at their June meeting, Township Manager Tommy Ryan recommended that “the Township take advantage of the strong real estate market and complete the long-planned sale of the three building lots by public bid.”

The preservationist group, called Friends of Worcester, opposes the proposed sale and development of the land and argues that the parcels have been designated as a “township park” and “public open space” and should stay that way.

The group says the areas under consideration for sale are an important part of the creek’s greenway which protects wildlife habitats.

They also argue the land was originally intended to be used as a future trail connection to the Evansburg State Park that would complement adjacent publicly and privately owned open spaces.

Ryan’s memo says the township purchased the parcels in 1986 with the intention to sell them as building lots and use the proceeds to acquire open space elsewhere in Worcester.

The memo points out that a developer has already installed a water and sewer system to serve the area, referred to as the Meadow Lane building lots, and the township would have to reim-

burse the developer nearly $60,000 in installation costs if any of the lots are not connected.

The memo also states that two lots in the subdivision are currently for sale, priced at $350,000 and $375,000, respectively.

In Ryan’s opinion, the lots the township owns are “superior to these lots” due to their larger size and more favorable location, the memo said.

In a letter in response to the proposed sale, the Friends of Worcester counter that the parcels are “valuable open space” and “should not be exchanged for other open space or park-related improvements.”

They are urging residents opposed to the sale to attend the next meeting of the Worcester Board of Supervisors on July 18, to voice their concerns.

SUBMITTED PHOTO This Montgomery County Planning Commission map submitted by the Friends of Worcester — a group trying to preserve open space — shows township-owned parcels proposed for sale.