MIDDLESEX TWP — While the township supervisors would prefer a turning lane on Route 228 to access a 98-home housing development, the developer said a traffic study shows it is not necessary.

Donald Trant of Trant Corp. on Wednesday night sought final approval for the second phase of Weatherburn Heights, which is the township’s first planned residential development.

Gigliotti Properties is the developer of the three-phase, 190-home development on 150 acres off Denny Road near the Adams Township border.

The second phase would include 98 homes, with the road leading to the neighborhood off Route 228 directly across from Officer Ed Brooks Drive.

Trant told the supervisors a traffic study showed the number of vehicles predicted to travel in and out of the plan each day is not high enough to require a turning lane for traffic coming from the east or for a right lane leading into the development from the west.

But the supervisors say the turning and right-in lane should be added for safety and also because every other recent development along Route 228 has a right-in, right-out access configuration.

Trant said adding the two lanes would increase the cost of each lot by about $4,000, which could cause builder Ryan Homes to bail out of the project.

He also said Gigliotti plans to add retail development along Route 228 near the access road at some point and hesitates to add features now that may have to be removed if a signal light is required at the intersection in the future.

After a lengthy discussion, the supervisors unanimously approved the phase with one condition: The developer is required to get a highway occupancy permit from the state Department of Transportation.

The supervisors also made it clear that they would give input to PennDOT regarding their wish for the new intersection.

Rusnak said it could take at least two months to get the highway occupancy permit.