West Deer residents living near the proposed McIntyre Heights development told the township supervisors they still have reservations about the plan.
At a public hearing Wednesday, they aired their concerns about the planned residential development despite some downsizing of the plan and assurances from representatives of the developer, Richland Holdings.
The supervisors have 60 days to consider whether to grant the conditional use request.
It’s the second time around in the approval process for the proposed 38.7-acre development, located off McIntyre Road. Richland Holdings brought it before the supervisors seeking a conditional use to build on it back in April 2017, but they rejected it a month later.
As it did two years ago with the previous plan, the planning commission recommended approval of the current plan.
The new plan reduces the number of houses and duplexes but also places them closer together than West Deer building requirements allow.
One of the people representing Richland Holdings on Wednesday was Jason Paulovich, a land development manager for Gibson-Thomas Engineering. Paulovich said the basics of the plan remain the same.
“We feel that it is a responsible design that isn’t overdeveloping the property,” Paulovich said. “We feel this was the best way to develop the property to best meet our needs and best meet the needs of the township.”
This time around, Paulovich said, the number of dwellings has changed. He said Richland Holdings now wants to build 31 single-family dwellings and 16 duplexes, for a total of 63 housing units.
In 2017, the plan called for 35 single-family homes and 17 duplexes, for a total of 69 dwellings.
Paulovich noted that the change was made to make the development more appealing; he said Richland Holdings was not required by West Deer’s building rules to do that.
“The requirement is two units per acre, which would allow us 76 units; we are proposing 63,” he said. “We’re preserving half of the acreage here. We have more than 20 acres of land undisturbed.”
Residents have doubts
But residents expressed doubts about the development, concerned about how it would impact their homes and lives.
A buffer zone, adding traffic to the neighborhood and especially controlling stormwater, were among their major concerns.
Joe Juran, who lives along McIntyre Road, said he built his house 10 years ago and since then, two other housing developments have been built near his home at higher elevations. The result has been additional runoff that he said virtually floods his property, with the water being directed to a small creek that cuts through his property.
“I can’t mow my grass after it rains without the tractor sinking in the mud,” Juran said. “Nobody’s been doing anything about controlling the runoff.”
His son, John, who lives with him, said, “I can’t overstate how severe the water issue is.”
John Juran said that in the past two years, they have spent $14,000 on drains for their yard.
Marshall Brindza of Whispering Pines Drive supported what the Jurans said.
“We do have drainage issues in our area — massive drainage issues,” he said.
He also questioned the wisdom of not having a second entrance to the plan. The site plan shows only the entrance from McIntyre Road, called Waylin Drive, as the only way in and out.
Waylin Drive is a little more than 2,000 feet long, according to Paulovich. It ends in a cul-de-sac and has two other cul-de-sacs that run off it.
Brindza said that could make things difficult for emergency responders.
Saddlebrook Drive resident Richard Conley questioned if the trees in the required 50-foot-wide buffer that nearly surrounds the development would remain intact.
“We’re also concerned about the use of McIntyre Road,” he said. “It hasn’t been upgraded for quite a while.”
Another Saddlebrook resident, Dave Obermeier, suggested that a traffic study of McIntyre Road be conducted and upgrades done accordingly.
The developer responds
Addressing the concerns about stormwater, Brandon Wiltrout, an engineer representing Richland Holdings, said, “We will definitely meet state guidelines regarding stormwater. We have no intention of adding more stormwater.
“You can’t release more water in the waterways than what was always there.”
On the matter of the buffer, Wiltrout said the developer has no intention of cutting down any trees at this point.
“It does have to remain vegetated and allow screening, according to (township regulations),” he said.
Paulovich, referring to the length of Waylin Drive, said there are even longer roads in the township that have no secondary access. He also said fire hydrants will be located throughout the plan for fire protection.
Township code enforcement officer Bill Payne said there is a possibility that a second access could be created through the Waylin Drive cul-de-sac in the future.
As for traffic, Paulovich said he does not believe the development will add so much traffic to the area to merit a traffic study.
Company seeking leniency on building rules
In addition to the residents’ concerns, the supervisors will have to consider granting a number of waivers to Richland Holdings for the plan.
They include not having the 50-foot buffer go completely around the development, slightly narrower garage widths than required and having only 15-foot side yards separating the duplex buildings instead of the 30 feet required by the zoning ordinance.
