JACKSON TWP — A proposed residential development drew criticism from several residents at a public hearing during a township supervisors’ meeting on Thursday, June 19.

Representatives for Wee Five Development are seeking tentative approval for Londonderry Ridge, a three-phase, planned residential community that calls for the construction of 108 townhomes and 115 single-family homes along Route 528 and Lindsay Road.

Residents voiced concerns about traffic and safety, noting the development would be constructed with only one entrance point and one exit point.

It also proposes a 125-foot turning lane — much shorter than one that would typically be put in place — on a blind hill that neighbors claim is prone to accidents.

“This design leaves drivers with almost no time to react, creating a hazardous combination of limited visibility and heavy turning traffic,” resident Maura Hensler said during the hearing. “It significantly increases the risk of turning conflicts, driver confusion and serious accidents — especially during peak hours and emergencies at an already busy and dangerous section of road.”

According to Jackson Township’s municipal code, any driveway “must have safe sight distance, not impair normal street movement, not result in excessive traffic flow or congestion on streets and not create a hazard.”

Another resident, Joseph Diana, said he has lived on that stretch of road for three decades, and he and his wife have had a number of vehicle accidents occur on their property.

“We have a minimum of seven to 10 cars every single winter that me and my wife are out there trying to get out of our yard,” he said. “They came through about seven years ago.”

To mitigate that problem, the plan also calls for a 132-foot fence that would act as a buffer for the units closest to the road.

However, Diana contended it won’t be capable of preventing dangerous conditions near the turning lane.

“With this lane being like this, I want it on record that somebody is going to get hit really bad there, and somebody’s going to get hurt really bad there,” he said. “I know that PennDOT said it’s approved, but it’s going to happen.”

Residents cited already congested traffic flow and questioned whether existing infrastructure could support the influx of new residents.

Additionally, a required traffic study that was submitted as part of the plan is from September 2021, right around the time the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the amount of vehicles on the roads.

Some residents, such as Hensler, were promised a new traffic study would be conducted and sent to PennDOT, but that never occurred, leaving open the possibility current traffic levels are inaccurate.

“Current traffic volumes already greatly exceed the developer’s own projections for the year 2032, making their analysis unreliable and the proposed traffic plan inadequate for current conditions,” she said. “And it certainly won’t handle any future growth.”

Since the public hearing was officially closed, supervisors will have 60 days to grant or deny tentative approval. However, that decision could come as soon as next month’s meeting, which is scheduled for July 17.