[MA-RPC] (no subject)

[Michele Miller]

FYI.  More on the proposed development near Duncannon, PA.

Michele

 

N.J. developer's 'vision': 910 mountain homes

By Karla <mailto:kbrowne at cumberlink.com>  Browne, February 25, 2006 

A Penn Township supervisor received encouragement and advice last week from
Cumberland County officials in his efforts to deal with a housing concept
that could increase his township's population by 72 percent.

But Robert Shaffer still is calling for his constituents' involvement in
negotiations with a New Jersey developer who has a "vision" for 910 housing
units on Cove Mountain behind the Susquenita School District campus off
Route 11-15.

"Something is going to happen on the side of the mountain," Shaffer told 10
other members of Cumberland Perry Joint Task Force on Transportation and
Planning at Penn Township building near Duncannon.

"These folks have big enough bucks to purchase the (1,100 acres) of land and
they feel we're not organized enough. Citizens' groups have to be formed to
help supervisors deal with this."

Promise 'the sky'

Developer Windsor Cos. of Freehold, N.J., has promised new sewer and water
facilities, a new fire station for the village of Perdix and road
improvements with the development of condominiums, townhouses, apartments
and single family homes, Shaffer says.

"They're offering us the sky," he says.

In return, Windsor wants to build clustered houses on land zoned mostly for
four-acre lots.

Middlesex Township Zoning Officer Mark Carpenter suggested that Penn
supervisors quickly approve a cluster zoning ordinance if they think that is
the way to go.

"You could protect the mountain, have all the clustering on the smaller
slopes," Carpenter said.

May hire specialist

Silver Spring Township Assistant Manger Kelly Kelch advised Shaffer to hire
a specialist in land use to "find nuances in the ordinances" that Penn
already has in place.

That appealed to Shaffer, who said developers "will start with picking apart
our zoning. Little rural Penn Township - he could drain us dry by legal
actions."

The developer "got off on the wrong foot" with township residents, Shaffer
said.

"The supervisors chairman had to kick them off his land because they were
surveying without permission," Shaffer said.

The developer's spokesman, David Meiskin, told the approximately 100 people
who showed up at his presentation that if they don't sell right-of-way
access to Windsor, it will be taken from them, Shaffer said.

Although private developments cannot take land through eminent domain, "if
you're a citizen, that scares... you," Shaffer said.

Constituents have told Shaffer that developers told them, "we aren't going
to give you nothing compared to what we gave your neighbors," if they
hesitate to sell, Shaffer said.

Compromise is "what it's going to come down to," Shaffer said.

"That's why I want as many people as possible to (give input). It's a group
effort."

 

Michele Miller

Associate Regional Representative

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Mid-Atlantic Regional Office

4 East First Street

P.O. Box 625

Boiling Springs, PA 17007

Phone: (717) 258-5771

Fax: (717) 258-1482

 

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy
<BLOCKED::http://www.appalachiantrail.org/>  is a volunteer-based nonprofit
organization dedicated to the conservation of the 2,175-mile Appalachian
National Scenic Trail, a 250,000-acre greenway extending from Maine to
Georgia. Our mission is to ensure that future generations will enjoy the
clean air and water, scenic vistas, wildlife and opportunities for
recreation and renewal along the entire Trail corridor. To become a member,
call 304.535.6331, ext. 119, or visit our Web site at
www.appalachiantrail.org. There, you will also find volunteer opportunities
and general hiking information.

 

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