Board of Commissioners to Hear Latest Pitch for Apartments in Lower Moreland

The Greenhill Group will be back in Lower Moreland to present its sketch of the Huntingdon Station apartment complex to the Board of Commissioners.

After the Planning Commission recommended that it couldn’t on Jan. 26, the Board of Commissioners will hear the Greenhill Group’s latest pitch for apartments on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Because of the large crowd that came out last week, this meeting will take place in the Community Room at the (second floor).

Many of the residents who came out to the Planning Commission meeting in the municipal building debated over the project for three long hours. A lot of people don't want these apartments in their town because it will lower their own property value, while others simply don't want the schools overcrowding. Lower Moreland School Board President Dr. Murray Cohen made his feelings loud and clear that night that he is not in favor of adding more kids to the school district. 

The prospect of more students means LM would need to hire more teachers which would add new costs to the budget.

As always, traffic and flooding were concerns, just like any business wanting to open on Philmont Ave.

Residents who are in favor of Huntingdon Station were few and far between as only one or two people spoke positively about the project at last week's meeting. 

The township has not confirmed whether or not there will be police officers present for backup like last time.

According the Lower Moreland Township Code of Ordinances, the sketch plan process affords the opportunity to give informal guidance to the applicant from consultants and the Board of Commissioners. Plans are neither approved nor denied at this stage.

Even though the Planning Commission expressed concerns over the number of apartments (among other things) in the four total buildings, a letter posted on the township web site still says the Greenhill Group will present 284 apartments on 9.5 acres of land to be built on the following properties:

• 3051 Philmont Ave. (Feretti Motors)
  
• 3001 Philmont Ave.
  
• 145 Tomlinson Rd.

The only new information that surfaced is that the property will primarily be made up of one and two-bedrooms apartments with eight three-bedroom dwellings. The pool and clubhouse are still listed as amenities.

The issue of this new apartment complex has . Depending on what other details are finalized at the upcoming Board of Commissioners meeting, this has the possibility of dragging out while the two sides can come to a compromise.

By right, the Greenhill Group has the opportunity to present/build apartments in the township according to the Lower Moreland Zoning Code, and more specifically the Revitalization District guidelines. The following uses are permitted according to section 208-164:

• Apartment houses
• Townhouse dwelling structures
• Apartment dwellings
• Bed-and-Breakfast Inn

Apartments is the first item in a long list of businesses that are permitted in Lower Moreland under the current code. For the complete list, click here.

The plan that the Greenhill Group wishes to construct does not fit entirely within the Township Zoning Code as of yet. There are a number of concerns that still have to be discussed like the density, sewage issues, frontages, etc.

Now is the process where the township works with the developer to come up with a concrete plan. Even if the current sketch for the apartments is turned down by the township, there is still a chance some variation of the plan will be here one day whether it be reducing the number of apartments or making entirely different changes of another sort.

Tuesday's meeting will be the second time Greenhill Group is presenting. If you would like to hear more information, come out to the Huntingdon Valley Library (not the regularly-scheduled meeting place at the municipal building) and continue to check Patch for updates.

Complete directory of Lower Moreland Township codes.