Council OKs Rezoning for Townhouses; Refinances Loans

Township council Monday unanimously approved a zoning change for a 6.5-acre plot at 1282 Byberry Road.

The property’s owner SD Real Estate wants to construct a 35-unit townhouse development. To do so, it needed to change zoning from R-2 to R-3 residential zoning district. The entire property is 10 acres, but over four acres is undevelopable wetlands.

SD’s attorney Tom Hecker noted that they would also seek to rezone the remaining four acres to ensure that the property remained one zone.

He said there was a good mix of zoning in the area – R-2 residential to the east, R-3 residential across the street and General Industrial to the south. The application already received the thumbs up from the township planning commission because the zoning change fits the area, Hecker said.

He explained that storm water runoff, lighting, parking, traffic, density and other development issues would be taken care of at future land use meetings.

Two residents spoke during the public comment portion of the application.

Ed Daley, of Hulmeville Road, was in favor of the development.

He said a new townhouse development would be good for the neighborhood.

“Townhouses are a plus given this economy,” he said. “They are more reasonable than single family homes.”

Helen Shaup, of Whalen Avenue, said she lives behind the property.

“Isn’t it all wetlands back there?” she asked.

Councilman Tony Belfield explained that the development is proposed on the “high and dry” part of the property. He said the township and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection have regulations regarding wetland that the developer would have to follow.

In other business, township council approved refinancing of a $3.5 million loan from 1998 and took out another note for $5 million on Monday evening.

Finance manager Jack McGinley explained that the interest rate was refinanced from 4.5 percent to 1.5 percent.

He said the new rate would save the township “about $100,000 per year for the next five years.”