Developers unveil plan for land across from Costco

LIMERICK >> A third plan to develop the property on Lightcap and Evergreen roads across from the Costco and Chick-fil-A was presented to the township supervisors last week.

Called Sanatoga Springs Phase II, a 2011 plan called for 244,000 square feet of commercial space and 300 residential units.

The plan was revised in 2014 calling for 260,000 square feet of commercial space, but that project was never built either.

The current proposal, which will go before the zoning hearing board toward the end of the month, calls for only 38,000 square feet of commercial space and 273 units of one- and two-bed housing in 21 separate buildings.

Ed Campbell, speaking on behalf of the developers, said the primary advantage of this plan is the extreme reduction in impervious surface, which prevents stormwater from being absorbed into the ground.

For example, the number of parking spaces is down from more than 1,500 in 2011 to 612 under the current plan.

However, Township Supervisor Tom Neafcy noted, with less commercial square footage, the township would get “fewer ratables” under the current plan.

The plan also calls “moving” some wetlands and an intermittent stream on the site to another location and the creation of “higher quality wetlands,” Campbell said.

The plan will be back before the supervisors at the April 6 meeting.

This article first appeared as a post in The Digital Notebook blog.