JACKSON TWP — Township officials are preparing for further growth by reviewing and approving new housing plans while trying to address future needs ahead of time.

The Jackson Township Board of Supervisors held a hearing during its meeting Thursday evening, March 19, to discuss a proposed residential development in the township. The development, known as the Wolff Property Planned Residential Development, would look to construct 121 homes.

Ed Moore, project manager for Sheffler & Company, presented the development to township officials and residents, saying the 31-acre property meets most specifications.

“The open space required is 12.5 acres and we’re proposing a little over 18. The project will have a series of sidewalks and limestone trails to provide connectivity within the plan itself and to the adjacent properties. The plan proposes street trees, parking lots and screening and landscaping buffers,” he said.

Moore said the current plan would see the development constructed across two phases: one for the housing north of Pattison Street Extension and one for housing south of the street and west of Hartzell Road.

When the hearing opened to the public, four residents voiced their dismay over the plan. While some were worried about zoning choices and infrastructure, such as water and sewage, traffic ultimately dominated the conversation.

Township manager Chris Rearick said the township is actively exploring traffic improvements in the area.

“There will be discussions you’re going to see at the board level over the next couple of months on improvements at the intersection of Ramsey (Road), Hartzell (Road) and (Route) 528,” he told a resident.

Supervisors ultimately decided to continue the hearing to the board’s next meeting for further discussion.

While growth in Jackson Township has been spearheaded through big development plans such as the one presented in the hearing, it also occurs through smaller developments. To that end, supervisors voted unanimously to approve final land development for Chesterton Village.

The plan includes 12 single-family lots and related housing infrastructure to be constructed along Jo Deener Drive.

Supervisors also approved a resolution to enter into an intergovernmental cooperation agreement with Cranberry Township. Rearick said the townships plan to establish a clear municipal boundary between them due to the growth they are seeing.

“What has been proposed is a boundary that will essentially follow its traditional parcels and property lines between townships,” he said.

He said the agreement is just the first step of the process and that more work will be done in the near future.