A plan to build nearly 500 homes near a golf course in Salem Township is expected to generate significant tax revenue without much cost to the township.
The Totteridge housing plan would be adjacent to the golf course that shares its name on Hannastown Road. When it's completed, the plan is expected to comprise some 480 dwelling units on 585 acres.
"This is where money really comes from, a tax base like this going into a community," Salem Supervisor Ed Gieselman said. "This capital investment is going to be a tax cow. They're private roads, so they get no services from any taxing authority, so there's no strain on any taxing authority. They just pay taxes."
Property tax revenue also would benefit the Greensburg Salem School District.
"Any time you have development, it's a good thing," Superintendent Thomas Yarabinetz said. "It's good, too, in the sense that Greensburg is landlocked. There's not a lot of potential at a lot of sites. That area can be developed. We would definitely welcome it."
The development is the brainchild of Tom Tanto, who built and owns the golf course. He has been building golf courses for 34 years, but saw some additional potential in this site.
"I started building a golf course and it just kept getting bigger and bigger," said Tanto, president of Totteridge.
He expects to develop the site in as many as 16 phases. Salem supervisors anticipate voting on the first phase when they meet at 7 p.m. today at the Slickville Fire Hall. .
That first phase would accommodate 168 units on 40 acres.
"It's dedicated exclusively for what we call 'attached single-family residential,'" said Doug Lockard, of LMC Enterprises Inc., a consultant on the project. "These are not rentals. It's just for primary, single-family occupancy."
Two types of housing, dubbed villas and carriage houses, will be constructed first, he explained. Villas are duplexes, and carriage houses consist of four units per building.
Asking prices start at $275,000 for the villas and nearly $200,000 for the carriage houses.
The housing plan will rely on public utilities, with the exception of sewage treatment. A treatment plant has been approved, Lockard said. Infrastructure will be built by the developer.
"At least for the time being it will be a private sewer system," Lockard said. "We install the streets, the sewers, water lines, gas, electric, phone and cable, everything so these units can be serviced with utilities."
Links Development Corp., of Export, is the contractor for the first phase of the project. Mike Peretto, president of Links Development, said about a dozen units were purchased before any dirt was moved.
"I think we're going to get residents of all ages and from all walks of life," Peretto said. "People like to live around a golf course. They like that park setting around them. It's a nice way of life."
Totteridge residents ought to enjoy they view. Tanto said many link-side developments allow only a limited view of the course.
"Here, if you're on the golf course, you're going to see five, six holes," he said.
County approval for the development will be required for each phase of the plan. If the township gives final approval for the first phase, the county will be asked to concur.
"It's a pretty impressive thing they've put together out there," said Randall Strong, planning coordinator. "They have enough wisdom that they're looking ahead to make sure this is well maintained."
It may take three or four years to complete the first phase, but some of the dwellings may be occupied in 2004.
"Based on the schedule we're on, people will be able to take up residence by late summer or early fall of next year," Lockard said.
Units already have been purchased by professional golfer Rocco Mediate and his father.
"It's surprising the response we've had, and we haven't started doing anything yet," Tanto said. "All we have to offer them is a picture. I think once we start having buildings up, it's going to be much different."
