Council OKs Controversial 175-Unit Townhome Development

A group of residents from the Lin Park section of Trevose was disappointed by Bensalem Township Council Monday when the panel approved a large townhome development in their neighborhood; but they weren’t surprised.

Council voted 3-2 around midnight in favor of the controversial project with councilmen Joseph Szafran, Tony Belfield and Joseph Pilieri for the project and members Ed Kisselback and Joe Knowles against it.

By its approval, Council ignored the advice of the township Planning Commission, which struck down the application twice. Planners agreed with the opposition that the project was too big for the Lin Park area.

Dozens of residents patiently sat through the four-hour hearing waiting for their turn to speak and a number of those residents foretold the outcome of the vote.

The development application by Somerton Valley Homes LP proposes 175 units on 45 acres on the Poquessing Creek at Somerton and Carter Mill roads. The townhomes are to be constructed by developer K. Hovnanian Homes.

Neighbors opposed the project for a number of reasons but especially because they believe it is too dense for the surrounding neighborhood and will exasperate existing traffic problems.

The residents noted that the neighborhood, built in the 1920s, has narrow streets and many with no sidewalks. They also noted that a recent accident at Street Road and Old Lincoln Highway showed the traffic problem in the area.

“We had an accident a few weeks ago,” noted Keith Howard, a long-time resident. “Traffic was rerouted through the neighborhood. It was gridlocked.”

“The recent accident highlights the inadequacy of the current infrastructure,” said Adam Webb, noting it showed the development could be a “recipe for disaster.”

“Why should this neighborhood be placed in jeopardy?” he asked.

Many residents also opposed the recent zoning change for the property that made it possible to build a townhome complex there.

“We opposed the zoning change because of the density that comes with townhomes,” said Walt Livingston, a third-generation resident. “We knew what we were in store for.”

Felica Webb-Glover, another long-time resident agreed.

She said the community couldn’t believe that the township changed zoning in the area to allow townhomes with the outpouring of residents opposed to the change.

“This neighborhood has been taken as a second-class community,” she added. “We no longer want to be treated as second-class citizens.”

But not every resident was against the project.

“We do have traffic and water problems, but these problems can be fixed,” said Tony Sallworth, president of the neighborhood town watch group.

He said the proposed development’s wooded area was a dumping ground.

“I’m seeing constant dumping in the area,” he said. He recently counted 400-1,000 tires “and car thieves are putting cars back there and setting them on fire.”

“I’m an old umpire and I have to call it the way I see it,” he said. “And we all know that umpires don’t always make everyone happy.”

“I’m for the project,” he said.

Resident Ion Talica likes the project.

He said that in addition to the dumping, the area also had a problem with crime and the new development would be good for the area.

Carl Pearson, president of local homeowners association, was also pro-development.

“I’m in favor of the townhomes,” he said. “I don’t think it will be bad for our community.”

The residents in opposition, however, seemed to know how the board was going to vote before the meeting ended.

“This is Bensalem. It’s a done deal,” said Webb-Glover, regarding residents’ feeling before the meeting.

Livingston agreed.

“Council is going to do this again, but I hope you prove us wrong,” he said.

“That’s assuming that three of you vote for it and two against, which is what we hear is likely to happen.”

“A 2-3 vote tonight is unacceptable,” said Adam Webb, noting the vote was political. “Especially when the two members (Kisselback and Knowles) are up for reelection.”

When asked for their comments, council members followed the script.

Kisselback sided with the residents.

“The number one consideration that I have when I make a decision is how does it affect the community,” he said.

“In my opinion, this is much too large a development for this area,” he added. “I believe the community has been against it from the beginning. I’ve been against it from the beginning and for the sake of consistency I will be voting no.”

Knowles chose to follow Kisselback and the planning board.

“I think the density is too high and I’m going to follow the advice of the planning commission…I’m going to vote no.”

Szafran chose not to take the planners’ advice.

“The planning commission does not have to…go by what the law says,” he said.

Belfield said the development complies with all zoning regulations so council had little choice but to approve the application.

“There are ordinances out there to protect the neighbors…but the person who owns the property has the right to build on the property,” he said. “That is one of my key values.”

“I agree with Tony (Belfield),” Pillieri said. “We have to follow the lay of the law. The lay of the law says a person has a right to develop their property and we have to follow that law and we have to do the best we can to make sure they follow the law.”

In the end, the vote went as the residents predicted.

Rev. Gregory Holston, pastor of St. Matthew United Methodist Church on Somerton Road, warned council that Lin Park residents wouldn’t forget this vote.

“(They) are galvanized more than they have ever been galvanized before,” he said. “Their community is going to stand together…even if you vote for this development, it is not going to be an end.”

“It’s not going to be just this year, they are going to remember every year,” he added. “So all of you guys are going to come up for election at some point.”