Limerick Board Hears Plans For Two Development Projects

The Limerick Township Board of Supervisors meeting was packed with developers and local residents on Tuesday evening as plans were presented regarding two development projects in the township.

The first presentation was an introduction to a potential development of single-family homes. Developer Len Blair and his attorney Bob Brandt showed the board some examples of Blair’s work in other townships and a potential design for a home in Limerick.

While the plan was not up for any official motions or votes, it did create some discussion.

Blair is purchasing 10 acres of land at the end of Roberta Lane, behind the William Penn Villas on Swamp Pike. Blair hopes to place 38 single-family homes on the ten acres, accompanied by park-like open space.

"People like the idea of a planned community where maintenance is kept up, but don’t want to share a wall with their neighbor," Blair said.

Blair’s plans for the development, potentially called The Enclave at Limerick, would have the homes 15 feet apart with garages in the back. Roads would be planned to circle the development so that the garages are accessible from an alleyway.

"Limerick’s always been known for creative housing and being on the cutting edge," Blair said.

Eugene Krasley, a William Penn Villas resident, asked Blair if he was aware that some of the homes in the back of his development have water runoff issues. Blair said he had talked to those residents and has an agreement with them to help fix the water runoff problem by putting pipe in should his development plan be approved.

Board members expressed concerns with the plan.

"I’m for reducing density, not increasing it," said supervisor Joseph St. Pedro.

Supervisor Kenneth Sperring had a different concern. He asked if Blair’s development would have a homeowner’s association (HOA). Blair said yes, it would.

Sperring said he would not vote for any development that had an HOA or had roads that weren’t dedicated to the township. He also expressed concern about the quality of life for the neighbors in William Penn Villas and in the townhome community that surrounds the other two side of the property.

Blair agreed to continue working with the township in the hopes that he and the board could reach a middle ground.

The second development discussion was during an open public hearing for proposed development on Lewis Road. RedGo Development is planning a senior community fronted by five retail/office buildings.

The property encompasses the old Stanley Tool Works property and several adjoining properties. It will have 307 units, including 233 independent living apartments, skilled nursing care and dementia care.

The residential part of the complex is four stories, and will be siding, stucco, brick and stone.

RedGo hopes to lease the five pad sites in front to retail stores, restaurants or offices.

The plan includes several improvements to Lewis Road, including acceleration and deceleration lanes and a center turn lane.

Resident of Benner Road asked about traffic control measures and who is responsible for the improvements. Township solicitor Joseph McGrory said that it is the developer’s responsibility to pay for any improvements.

Jack Jeffers, who lives adjacent to the property on Lewis Road, said that he is very concerned about the traffic because of the shift changes at the factory across the street (the John Middleton Company) and that Lewis Road already backs up. Jeffers said he feels that making Lewis Road four lanes will be dangerous.

"I think you should be proactive and insist that a traffic light be put there before someone gets killed," Jeffers said.

McGrory said that placing a traffic light would be up to PennDOT.

"We can’t force them to put a light in, but we recognize that need," McGrory said.

The board decided to table the application until several engineering issues are finalized, so there was no official action taken on the plan at this meeting. The board has 45 days to make a decision.