With a number of questions still unanswered following the March 19 meeting, the Pine Board of Supervisors voted to extend the public hearing on the proposed Wexford Station development through mid-April.
Eddy Homes is seeking to build 41 single family and patio homes on 33 acres of largely undeveloped land between Brennan Road and State Route 910. The homes will start at approximately $500,000 with an average sale price of $750,000.
The public hearing will continue at the board's next meeting April 16 at the Pine Community Center.
During the March 19 meeting, John Schleicher, of Gibson-Thomas Engineering, gave a presentation to the board outlining the basic design and construction of the homes and other details of the development, including plans for open space, buffer zones, the dedication of space along Brennan Road to extend the Rachel Carson Trail and the rerouting of Brennan Road where it meets Route 910 to the right of its current location in order to improve sight lines and resolve a longstanding traffic safety issue.
“We've been at this for several months and we have a good design that's well thought out,” Schleicher said in summarizing the plans.
However, a number of Pine Township residents as well as Marshall Township residents whose homes would border the development raised concerns and questions about issues ranging from traffic and safety along Brennan Road to the impact on well water and flooding to whether or not the development is keeping within the established character and standards of Pine.
Kati Lefeber, who lives on Brennan Road and has become a spokesperson for the neighborhood, outlined their chief concerns.
“We, as a group, understand that development is going to happen,” she said. “We're not here to oppose the entire thing. We appreciate (the developers) saying they've been working really well with our township and we're hoping we can work well with them as a community.”
One concern, Lefeber said, is about the potential for increased traffic along Brennan Road if the intersection with 910 is improved, especially as apps such as Waze route people to shortcuts to avoid backups on main roads.
The road is also used frequently by pedestrians, she said, and neighbors fear that safety will be compromised with an increase in traffic, particularly if the portion of the Rachel Carson Trail extension exits onto Brennan Road as they believe the developers are proposing. Another major concern, Lefeber said, is deterioration along the narrow, rural road that will lead to costly repairs.
Cheryl Chandola said her property abuts the proposed development. She expressed concern about the waiver the developers are requesting regarding a three-acre detention pond that she said will sit 10 feet from her property line and negatively impact her property value.
Anthony Roethlein expressed concern that he hasn't seen plans to address an old culvert that's not going to handle increased runoff as construction proceeds.
A number of other residents also spoke at the meeting.
Several members of the board, including Pat Avolio and Frank Spagnolo, had their own questions. Those included the use of Cardinal Drive, which Schleicher said they have no right to use or improve because it is a private road, the elevations of the patio homes and the formal traffic study, which has been submitted to PennDOT but not yet approved.
The board of supervisors ultimately voted to keep the public hearing open and requested more information on a number of specifics, including the issues raised by residents as well as their own questions.
Karen Price is a Tribune-Review contributor.
