The Creekside Manor development project Thursday got the go-ahead for its first phase from the Jackson Township supervisors, but not before residents of a neighboring area complained about the development.

The development is west of Mercer Road and South of Wise Road, situated across Connoquenessing Creek and near the border with Harmony.

The vote was preceded by the final public hearing on the project.

Several Harmony residents aired their concerns about the impact the project might have on them.

Harmony Mayor Cathy Rape offered a statement about what she saw as improper waivers the township planned to grant.

“(These) variances given are for profit only,” she said. “I think that’s self-gratifying of the township and not taking into account local communities.”

Rape claimed that the board was improperly circumventing its own ordinances for the sake of the development.

“You made the claim before that you don’t want to turn into another Cranberry Township,” she said, “but that’s exactly what you’re allowing to happen.”

Harmony resident Brenda Benek also addressed the supervisors, explaining her concerns about the impact the development could have on the historic aesthetic of Harmony.

“We had always envisioned there’d be development close to Harmony, but we hoped it’d be more sensitive,” Benek said. “This will have a dramatic impact on our town.”

Residents are concerned about what effect the development will have on traffic as well as on visual appeal of Harmony.

“Harmony is a national historic district,” Benek said. “We work very hard to make it a beautiful place to live.”

She emphasized the time and energy many Harmony community members have put into their borough and asked that the hearing remain open until more people could come to meetings and give their input.

“We ask for you to allow other people to speak,” she said. “I’m asking you tonight to work with us.”

She said there were many who wanted to speak but could not make it to the meeting.

Other Harmony residents asked questions about the environmental considerations and the plans for the trail, each of which were addressed by the board.

After the hearing, Jackson Supervisor Jay Grinnell addressed those gathered at the meeting.

“I have lived here for 43 years,” he said. “So I understand exactly what you’re saying. I worked in Harmony for 25.”

However, Grinnell did not empathize with some of the accusations he felt had been put forward.

“I don’t think you’re considering the concessions that have been made,” he said. “There’s been a lot.”

Township manager Chris Rearick specified these concessions, with the most significant relating to the proximity of roads to sidewalks and structures.

Grinnell went on to address the propriety of the proposed variances.

“We made the rules according to what we felt was right, but we’re not perfect,” he said. Sometimes exceptions need to be made, he added.

“It’s not just, ‘Oh well, whatever,’” he said. “This has been a long process.”

The plans have been in the works for months.

After a few more comments, the supervisors voted to close the hearing.

Allan Osterwise was not present, leaving Grinnell and Supervisor Trent Geiss to vote on the plan.

With motions made and seconded, the motion to approve the Tentative Village Traditional Neighborhood Development of Creekside Manor and associated waivers passed, 2-0.

“I’m disappointed, really disappointed,” Benek said after the meeting. But “this is phase one, and there will be additional public hearings.”

The Creekside Manor development will include 105 townhomes and two, 48-unit apartments. JTC 1422 Associates submitted the application to the township.