CRANBERRY TWP — Township supervisors on Thursday approved a controversial housing development addition, saying they are bound by state law to approve it and could face legal action if they didn't.

Residents of neighboring communities continued to voice their displeasure with the third phase of the Forest Edge development at Thursday's meeting.

The plan adds 42 units to the already approved 59 units at the 96-acre development along Hope Road. The third phase would be surrounded by the Forest Knoll and Carriage Manor housing developments and the Orthodox Church in America on Peters Road.

Resident Judy Hammel voiced frustration that she and her neighbors attended meetings and paid for independent studies only to have the plan's approval be a “foregone conclusion.”

Matt Marshall, an attorney representing Forest Edge, urged the board to approve the matter, saying his client was in compliance with both state law and Cranberry planned residential development ordinances. He said objections raised throughout the PRD process did not provide a basis for denial.

Additionally, Marshall said the developers could have pursued the addition as a subdivision. Instead, they chose to go through the PRD process, which required them to meet or exceed open space and green space requirements.

Marshall said if the board chose to deny the plan, legal action could be pursued.

“The township does not have discretion to approve or deny it,” he said. “They must approve it in accordance with Pennsylvania state law. The law sets forth the rules which must be followed, and we urge you not to ignore them. To do so would result in aggressive defense of my client's property rights, and a waste of taxpayer dollars in litigation.”

Prior to the vote, Supervisor John Skorupan questioned Ron Henshaw, township director of planning and development, about concerns voiced over the plan. Henshaw said the developer has followed all laws and ordinances throughout the planning process.

Skorupan reiterated the threat of legal action if the plan was denied.

“If we are to deny this plan, the township could be sued by the developer,” he said. “We would be required to defend our decision in court, and we could lose, costing our taxpayers thousands of dollars.”

The plan was given unanimous approval.

Also gaining unanimous approval Thursday was the Courtyards at Willow Grove, a one-phase project with 27 single-family homes on 15 acres off North Boundary Road.

Developers said 26 of the homes would be condominiums, with each unit having a private courtyard patio built into the design. The remaining lot is a 1.9-acre estate-style home closer to Franklin Road on a single lot with independent access to North Boundary Road.