FORWARD TWP — The township’s planning commission narrowly approved on Tuesday night, Feb. 27, the final development plans for the first phase of the Merten Farms residential development.

Merten Farms would be built along Marburger Road in Forward Township, near the border with Adams Township. The most recent plans for the development consist of 161 units across three planned phases, with 83 units planned for the first phase. Of the 161 units, 58 would be single-family homes, 78 would be “carriage-style” homes, and 25 would be townhomes.

The planning commission approved the plans by a vote of 5-4, with Susan Oliver-Stough, Pete Francino, Sheryl Long and Jeff Wolski voting no.

One of the points of concern for the planning commission members was that the complex, as presented, would have only one entry and exit point connected to Marburger Road.

“Marburger Road is an unsafe road that is narrow, especially the section of Marburger in Adams Township that connects to Mars/Evans City Road,” said township manager Tom Hartwig.

In addition, the township engineer has identified 13 items from the plan that need to be addressed before they are presented to the township’s supervisors.

The planning commission’s approval was given on the condition the applicant addresses the 13 items, as well as receives a sewer capacity letter from the Breakneck Creek Regional Authority. Merten Farms’ representative, Mike Wetzel of Victor-Wetzel Associates, indicated the developers — the Marburger Road Development Company — would have those items sorted out by the time the plans go before the supervisors.

According to Hartwig, it is likely that the Merten Farms item will end up on the budget for the supervisors’ next meeting, which is scheduled for March 12.

The township’s supervisors granted preliminary approval to phase one of the plans in May 2023.