HARMONY — Potential plans for development along the Connoquenessing Creek in Jackson Township were discussed this past week between the borough and township.

In an e-mail sent to borough council members, council President Greg Such detailed a meeting he and council member Jason Sarver had with Jackson Township manager Chris Rearick, developer Don Rodgers and Butler County Planning Commission’s Dave Johnson.

“It could go either way,” Such said on the plan. “I have no opinion yet and need to do a little more research.”

The development would create 120 work force housing units and 204 senior living units.

The townhouse-style work force units would consist of one, two and three bedrooms. No garages are planned to be built.

Each building would have 10 to 12 units per building, built to be “low maintenance with low energy consumption.”

The senior living part consists of three four-story high rise units.

Such said he expects between 550 and 650 people living at the site with between 320 and 500 cars.

Rodgers said each unit will cost about $230,000 to build and will be leased at rate of $900 to $1,000 per month.

Rodgers said he is still looking at ways to help fund development.

“We wanted to bring them (Harmony) into the loop as to what we’re intending on doing with the property,” Rodgers said. “I want to try to amend our relationship moving forward.”

Rodgers said he aims to donate land he won’t use to Jackson Township to possibly be used for parks. Although the total amount of land hasn’t been decided on, Rodgers said “20-plus” acres may be donated, 4 to 8 acres of which is usable park area.

The Butler County Housing Authority also is being brought in as a partner to operate the units.

Housing authority CEO Ed Mauk said he has not met with Rodgers yet with details about the plan.

Some benefits include flood mitigation, trail maintenance, increased foot traffic to build Harmony retail and improvements in appearance from more manicured green space.

Risks include difficulty obtaining grants and having the green space areas sit undeveloped and in an unattractive condition until funding is obtained.

Other speculative risks include increased petty crime and possible decreased property values.

Such also listed concerns he voiced during the meeting. Concerns include affecting the aesthetic, historic appeal of the borough, flooding, traffic and potential noise after development.

“We have a lot of residents in low-lying areas, as well as historic buildings,” Such said about the flooding risk.

Sarver also voiced concerns about the new addition of people and whether they would support local businesses.

“We have 996 people living in Harmony, and now we have all these people. Who are they?” Sarver said. “I constantly worry it’s going to be of a transient nature.”

“I’m happy that Jackson (Township) engaged us and told us what was going on before any official plans were made. I think it’s positive we’re talking together,” Such said.

Rodgers said he enjoyed the meeting, saying it was “cordial.”

“I hope they realize I want to work with them moving forward since the site is developable now,” he said. “This is just another design.”

Harmony’s floodplain ordinance adopted last month does not affect development because the development is on township property, not the borough’s.

Potential ways to mitigate flooding were discussed in the meeting. Baker Engineers will be doing engineering work for the site. It was suggested that Baker include ways to reduce flooding risks in its study.

“In this manner, we could perhaps leverage grants from DCED (Department of Community and Economic Development) and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency),” Such said in the e-mail.

Council will discuss the plan in more detail at its next meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 10. Council will not meet today due to the election.