JACKSON TWP — A planned housing development received the township planning commission’s recommendation Thursday evening.

Harmony Place, located at the site of the former Miller Animal Hospital on Old Little Creek Road, is planned to have about 14 duplex homes on 4 acres. A retention pond is also planned for the cul-de-sac development.

The building that housed the animal hospital was demolished last summer.

The homes would cost around $450,000 each and “blend in” with existing single-family homes surrounding the area.

Single-family detached homes could also be built in the area.

Trees will surround the area, which is on township land and is between Jackson Manor and Gregg Drive.

The township approved a new ordinance in February for developing on vacant land.

The developers, Hurstock Holdings, would have to pay traffic impact fees, about $1,400 per unit and recreation fees, about $800 per unit in lieu of land dedication.

However, township manager Chris Rearick said the developers could also pay to contribute to improving Little Creek Road.

“We’ve had some discussions about this,” Rearick said. “In looking at the overall costs and laying the costs with the impact fees and recreation fees, we were proposing with the developers agreeing that they could overlay (pave) Old Little Creek Road from Mercer Road to the frontage of the development and include a bike lane.”

The bike lane would connect the development to the Harmony Trail.

Sidewalks also are planned for the entire cul-de-sac.

No time frame was given on when the homes are planned for construction if given final approval.

Some Harmony residents at February’s township supervisors’ meeting expressed concern over the ordinance that was passed to make way for the development, but said they were pleased the area was going to be redeveloped.

The ordinance reduces the amount of green space required for developments and limits permitted uses to single-family and duplex units, among other similar developments.

It also does not increase or modify the number of homes that could be built and does not allow for townhouses or apartments.