Moratorium Halts Limerick Land Development

Land development issues were the hottest topic of discussion at Tuesday's Limerick Board of Supervisors meeting.

Three development projects were on the township's list to approve preliminary and/or final plans Tuesday night, but two of them - Primrose School, 259 Royersford Rd., and Lewis Square, 508 N. Lewis Rd., are currently being affected by a recent Department of Environmental Protection moratorium.

The township received a letter about the moratorium, which affects two-thirds of the developable land in the area.

The moratorium stops development in areas that drain into the pumping station behind the Limerick Crossing shopping center. The DEP issued the moratorium because the second pump (which should turn on when the first pump is over capacity) came on three times last year.

Solicitor Joseph McGrory explained that the township plans to appeal the moratorium and that the system "is functioning exactly as designed."

"Any reasonable engineer who can do math would agree," McGrory said.

McGrory advised both Primrose School and Lewis Square that they should proceed with their plans, so that when the moratorium is overturned the rest of the process can go quickly.

The third applicant, who is developing a lot in Linfield Corporate Center, was granted final approval on their development plan.

The board also talked about placing a new sign out in front of the that will include electronic messaging. The township's budget includes $25,000 for a new sign. 

The board had a mock-up design that includes an internally-lit top half and LED signs on the bottom half.

Supervisors Joseph St. Pedro and Thomas Neafcy said the township's sign should serve as a reference point that the township staff could show to business owners.

"Our sign should be the model for what signs like this should look like," said St. Pedro.  

During the supervisor's comments portion of the meeting, Neafcy said he would like to see the township more strongly enforce violations on nuisance properties in the area.

"It's ongoing, never goes away, and it affects the property values of the neighbors," Neafcy said. "Residents expect the township to enforce this."

Township manager Dan Kerr said that of 16 properties that have gotten violation letters, only three are still not complying after receiving courtesy letters, and those three property owners will be served with violation notices.

Supervisor Elaine DeWan said she had gotten calls from concerned residents who had noticed issues with the service charges on their water bill. DeWan said she checked her own bill, and the service charge was higher than the usage charges. 

"I've written a letter to the water company, and there's a petition being circulated [to complain to the water company]," DeWan said. "Anyone interested in signing the petition or complaining themselves can contact me at the township building."