FRANKLIN TWP — Residents of a development in the township are urging the supervisors to formally adopt a road for public maintenance, saying the action was promised 20 years ago.

Residents of the Chestnut Grove Senior Condominium Complex showed up to the board’s meeting Monday, Oct. 20, to ask why Ridgemont Drive still has not been adopted.

Cindy McKnight, who helped originally sell the condos, claimed when the development was proposed and approved, the township promised the developers the road would become a public road. However, she said the current board of supervisors has yet to approve the move.

Mike Ogin, of Gateway Engineers, said Ridgemont Drive, which was built within township specifications, was always meant to be a public road.

“We started the project around 2003. From Day One of the project, the intent was that Ridgemont Drive would be a public street, serving three parcels,” Ogin said. “Fast forward, after some time it was discussed with us that at 60%, we could get Ridgemont Drive adopted. When we got 60%, we came to the township, the township said we need to go to 90%.”

At the end of last year, the development’s homeowners association requested the township adopt the road once again. Ogin said the township inspected the road after it was repaved and said adoption would be formally approved via resolution.

“It took us a while, 20 years to get to that point. But Ridgemont Drive from Day One was constructed within township specs, never had an issue with it even with the heavy hauling in the project,” Ogin said.

Ogin presented drawings and documentation of the development’s original plans for condos and subdivisions, saying it talked about eventually having a public road.

The Chestnut Grove community is made up of duplex condos and residents 55-plus years old.

McKnight said of 146 units built, all but six are currently occupied. The development also includes storage units and two plots zoned for commercial use. Ridgemont Drive connects the development to route 422, while two other private streets have duplexes on them.

Nathan Wulff, supervisors chairman, said the board did not intend on making any decisions on road adoption Monday evening and would probably make a decision by its December meeting.

“It’s 550 feet of roadway with not a single home on it or a business. I know where it leads into the community, but why, with other roads private, is this one intended to be public?” Wulff said.

McKnight urged the board to consider the residents are paying taxes to the community and were originally promised the road would eventually be taken care of by the public.

“These people have been here since 2003. I was the saleslady and I told all of these people, there was never anything budgeted for Ridgemont Drive. It was always meant to be publicly adopted. I don’t want to be made out to be a liar,” McKnight said. “I understand all of you up here are new to this, but 21 years have gone by. Last September it was topcoated, everything was made to township specifications, the bond was released, if you guys had any doubts, why did you release the bond?”