Credit: LevittownNow.com
The Stonehaven subdivison proposed for a wooded area at 2651 Langhorne-Yardley Road is moving forward after getting preliminary and final land development approval from Middletown Township.
The development, which has been under scrutiny and continued plan edits for nearly two years, is a complicated split-zoned property which features an existing home which will be preserved and nearly 300 trees.
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The property will disturb many of its existing trees to come to fruition, which will include nine rather large homes laid out among three cul-de-sacs. An older home along Langhorne-Yardley Road will be preserved, according to attorney Ed Murphy.
Stonehaven Homes developer John McGrath, whose father is also a developer, asked for leniency with the re-planting of trees since Middletown’s policy asserts trees that are removed must be replaced with new trees elsewhere in the township on municipal property. The developer was accused of nickel-and-diming by officials since they hired an arborist to count the exact amount of trees to be disturbed, agreed to only plant a portion of that, and then worked with neighbors to plant trees on their private property.
Supervisor Amy Strouse told the developer that while neighbors may have agreed to the trees to act as a buffer between their homes and the new subdivision, the township would feel “more comfortable” if something was provided in writing to assert that was true.
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At completion of the presentation, township officials granted the developer approval including variances for curbing and sidewalks providing they pay fees.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to note that Stonehaven Homes is developing the property.
