ADAMS TWP — Supervisors scheduled three hearings for proposed housing developments, with one plan running against opposition from residents and one township official.

The board approved three hearings on Feb. 27 for Sunrise Acres, Brookhaven planned residential development (PRD) and Meadowpoint PRD at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., respectively.

One resident Rob Crouthamel, spoke against setting a hearing for the Brookhaven plan, saying he believes it does not meet township ordinances due to its disturbance of slopes. Crouthamel is an organizer of the group Saving Rural Adams.

Solicitor Mike Gallagher said the township engineer had approved the plan, that it went before the planning commission and that the board would risk the developer getting a “deemed approval,” if it refuses to grant a hearing.

Developers can go this route, he explained, if they have a complete application, but the municipality still refuses to give them a hearing.

“If we don't move them forward ... they get deemed approval (and) we get no say,” Gallagher said.

Supervisor Tom Ford decried the system, saying when PRDs come to the board their applications may be administratively complete, but they're often riddled with problems from the perspective of the public. He voted against setting a hearing for the Brookhaven PRD.

Board President Thomas Franceschina gave credit to the planning commission, saying that in recent months they have been more strict with developers as the law and ordinances allow.

Supervisors approved the hearing, with all but Brookhaven receiving unanimous support.

The board also voted to reduce the bonds of several developments in accordance with recommendations by the township engineer.