CRANBERRY TWP — Township supervisors opened a public hearing regarding a conditional use application for the Summerwind Residential Development at an agenda preparation meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
The application includes plans for a 66-townhouse unit residential development along on about 6.7 acres along Freedom Road and near LaPorte Drive.
The hearing included testimony from Ron Henshaw, the township’s director of planning and development services, and a presentation from John Schleicher, president of JMS Engineering, who explained all of the previous modifications that have been made to be in accordance with the township’s building ordinances.
After listening to six local residents voice their concerns over the detrimental impact of the development, supervisors voted unanimously to continue the public hearing at an upcoming Nov. 21 board meeting.
The comments made at Wednesday’s hearing echoed the concerns at prior planning commission meetings.
Some of the most pressing concerns revolve around privacy, traffic and stormwater. Several residents claimed that the stormwater management solutions for the development will not be sufficient.
Meanwhile, other residents highlighted the potential safety concerns when it came to traffic flow in the area near the two exits at the development.
“We have a lot of concerns about our impact, getting in and out of our development once this is in place,” Jessica McKay, president of the homeowners association board for Sun Valley Condominiums told the supervisors. “We have also talked to the engineers as well about our privacy. Since Freedom Road has been widened, we have had a lot more noise and it’s really impacted where we live.”
Supervisors could not provide responses to those concerns during the hearing, but did note that they will adhere to those comments before the public hearing continues next month.
“That will give us an opportunity to go back and discuss and get a little bit smarter about some of these issues,” township Supervisor Bruce Hezlep said just moments after supervisors made that decision.
