ADAMS TWP — The Hickory Glen housing development proposed for 59 acres off Pearce Road continues to elude approval.

A contentious public hearing on the 50-home plan, which was first submitted to the township in July, was held Thursday night at the township building. More than 50 residents attended the session held before the board of supervisors.

The supervisors would have been required to vote to approve or deny the development within 45 days of the hearing, but both the attorney for the developer and the neighboring family that opposes the plan agreed to extend that deadline to March 13.

The extension was made so the developer, Weaver Master Builders, can meet with supervisors and neighboring property owners to determine what modifications need to be made to the plan.

Those living in the rural-conservation zone where Hickory Glen is being proposed say squeezing 50 homes onto half-acre lots is not in concert with the surrounding properties, will increase traffic on an already overloaded Pearce Road, negatively impact the environment by causing stormwater to run into a retention pond instead of Glade Run and limit neighboring property owners chances to subdivide because of the proximity of the plan’s homes, among other issues.

Rob Crouthamel, whose farm borders the proposed development, said the close-knit community has always expected the Simmons farm to be developed, but not as a planned residential development.

“If they had submitted plans compliant with rural-conservation zoning, we wouldn’t be here tonight,” Crouthamel said.

He said the development allows 30 percent more homes and its required open space is comprised of steep slopes, a retention pond and a stream.

“Don’t confuse this with undisturbed land,” Crouthamel said.

But Brenda Sebring, the attorney for the developer, said the development meets or exceeds the specifications in the township’s PRD ordinance.

She said officials from the Mars School District sent a letter stating that school buses could traverse the plan with minimal changes, and that the bus stop would not necessitate that students cross Pearce Road.

Regarding traffic, Sebring said the road design is practical and simple.

“A traffic increase is a natural accompaniment of residential development and cannot stand alone as a reason to deny this plan,” Sebring said.

Supervisor Tom Franceschina said he would like to see some of the lots increased to one acre and Pearce Road widened by the developer.

After a contentious discussion between him and Sebring, Supervisor Russ Ford expressed frustration that such issues were not ironed out at the planning commission level before being brought before the supervisors.

Ford said the supervisors have seen the plan presented three times and the features are still not firm.

Both Sebring and the Crouthamels’ attorney agreed to the deadline extension.