My favorite part about this is that people are starting to care about sprawl, bad planning and the destruction of trees. Not only do they care, but they are speaking out too!!!
W. Hanover to take 2nd look at housing plan
Residents' complaints spur review
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
BY PHYLLIS ZIMMERMAN
For The Patriot-News
After hearing concerns from a half-dozen angry residents, West Hanover Twp. supervisors want a proposal for a housing development on Jonestown Road to go back for further review.
Last week, supervisors agreed to send the proposal to the township planning commission, which will review it again on Oct. 21. The commission -- an advisory body -- earlier had voted against the plan.
Supervisors decided to return the plans to the commission after Lexington Partners, the developer, agreed to a 30-day deadline extension. Without the deadline, the developer's application to the township would have expired.
The developer wants to build Lexington Woods, a cul-de-sac of 33 town homes on seven acres next to Historical Cemetery on Jonestown Road.
Although the land is zoned as residential, opponents of the plan say they believe the number of homes would create too high a population density in that area.
"I'm concerned about the traffic in the area," said Bob Raffensperger, who lives near the site. "There's only going to be one stop sign for 30 town homes. Cars are going to be lined up on the road."
Raffensperger and Patti Estheimer, head of the township's Environmental Advisory Committee, voiced concerns that the proposed site was a "flood plain" and that developer was violating township ordinances by cutting down trees larger than 6 inches in diameter.
Resident Bill Ostermayer, who has worked with the state Forest Stewardship Program Volunteer Initiative Project, said that clearing the land of trees has caused the spread of mile-a-minute vines, a fast-spreading, noxious weed that chokes out other vegetation.
Ostermayer also complained that the developer left "all the good trees there to rot" after clearing the land, rather than harvesting it for lumber.
"It has a variety of trees that only grow in this type of soil -- ash, black cherry, poplar, locust, bitter cherry, red maple, oaks and a good variety of shrubs," said Ostermayer, who also is a member of the township's environmental committee.
Project engineer Rick Castranio, of Alpha Consulting Engineers, said he has met with municipal staff since May and reworked the project's design to meet township specifications.
Developers flagged particular trees to save during construction and designed an on-site stormwater retention pond with two feeder channels, he said.
Township Manager Michael Rimer said township staff -- including the municipal engineer -- has reviewed plans, including those for tree preservation, and said that the blueprints meet all pertinent municipal ordinances.
After the planning commission again reviews the plans, the matter will return to the supervisors on Nov. 1, officials said.