CENTER TWP — Some township residents plan to speak out against a proposal to rezone seven adjoining lots from a low density residential district to a multiple family residential district that allows duplexes and townhouses.

Township supervisors are conducting a hearing at 6 p.m. Monday in the Unionville Volunteer Fire Company hall on Mahood Road into the request from Weaver Master Builder to rezone the seven lots south of North Duffy Road from an R-1A low density residential district to an R-2 multi-family residential district.

If the request is approved, Weaver would probably petition the township to combine the lots, said Anthony Amendolea, township secretary. Combined, the lots would measure about 45 acres.

The property around those lots is zoned R-1A, Amendolea said.

The hearing is about the rezoning request and Weaver hasn't submitted any building plans, but Amendolea and township resident Richard Hein said they believe Weaver is planning to build “quad” townhouses.

Each quad would contain four townhouses.

Amendolea said he believes Weaver wants to build 25 quad units.

Stormwater runoff from the development would flow into a tributary of flood-prone Sullivan Run.

“It's surrounded by single-family homes. It can be developed that way,” said Hein, who lives across the street and owns land adjoining the property in question. “It can be developed responsibly.”

He said other residents are opposed to the rezoning and one of his neighbors has hired an attorney to help them fight it.

Adding more runoff to Sullivan Run could lead to more flooding downstream, he said.

“That's pretty notoriously known for flooding each year,” Hein said.

According to the township zoning ordinance, R-1A districts are areas already utilized as single-family residential dwellings, farm lands or vacant property. Existing properties are large, served by secondary roads and must be of sufficient size to support on-lot sewage disposal and private water supply.

Principal permitted uses in an R-2 district include single-family detached dwelling units. Duplex dwellings, two-family detached dwelling units and townhouses of not more than eight dwelling units per acre are permitted, according to the ordinance. Large child care or child day care centers are also among the permitted uses.

Township supervisors and officials from Weaver Master Builder (Weaver Homes) could not be reached for comment Friday.