The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Use permit for senior housing approved
LIMERICK >> A crucial step toward the construction of a 112-bed senior living facility at the corner of Lewis and Linfield roads was approved by a 4-1 vote of the township supervisors Tuesday night.
The project is proposed for 8.59 acres at 545 N. Lewis Road, located south of the intersection with Route 422 between Linfield Road and Benner Road.
Supervisor Patrick Morroney cast the sole “nay” vote.
The vote granted a conditional use permit, which will allow Senior Housing Development LLC to begin the land development process and submit engineered plans to the planning commission. The project calls for a twostory assisted living and memory-care facility with a 30,000-square-foot footprint with 67 parking spaces,
The project has already obtained four variances from the township’s zoning hearing board, including an allowance to clear more vegetation that the ordinance allows, and to have less parking than the ordinance requires.
“This proposal is the lesser of the evils possibly allowed at that location,” said Board Vice Chairman Michael McCloskey, who spent several years serving on the planning commission.
Other potential uses the zoning allows at the site — a bar, a drive-through restaurant or kennel — would generate more noise, traffic and light pollution than an assisted care facility.
The site is located behind the Wawa at the intersection with Linfield Road and construction there is of particular interest to those who live along and adjacent to Aronomink Drive judging by the number of people who questioned the project during a hearing in March.
The subject that raised the greatest concern among those who spoke previously was the impact the new building would have on flooding and stormwater issues.
One of those residents, Matthew Lewis, asked the supervisors to vote against the conditional use permit Tuesday night and, after they approved it, voiced disappointment in their vote, but said he understood why.
Township Solicitor Michael McGrory said residents may not understand that the supervisors had little choice in the matter.
“This is a permitted use and the only question the supervisors could address here was if the application satisfied the conditions in the ordinance and the attorney for the developers submitted ample evidence that it does,” McGrory said. “The supervisors really had no discretion here.”
McCloskey said the land development process before the planning commission is where the stormwater issues the residents are worried about will be addressed.
Should the project win a recommendation for site plan approval from the planning commission, it must come back before the supervisors for final approval.