Planners Table Townhome Proposal

The Middletown Planning Commission tabled a plan for a 111-unit townhome complex at a former orchard.

The planners voted in favor of tabling the Lennar Corporation proposal until the developer made a number of changes, including rerouting proposed sidewalks, adding the left-turn lane on Woodbourne Road to the sketch, adjust sidewalks plans in the parking area, and lighting changes.

The plan calls for constructing 111 townhome units across 18 buildings on a 15.86 acre property along Woodbourne Road across from Pickering Bend and between the I-295 ramps, the railroad line and the Cornerstone office complex. A left turn lane has been proposed for Woodbourne Road, but has not yet been approved by PennDOT. The property is currently wooded and previously was a farm and orchard.

As part of the plans, the developer has already agreed to construct a sidewalk from the proposed complex to the nearby Woodbourne SEPTA Station.

Residents spoke up and raised concerns about the adding the housing to an already congested Woodbourne Road. One man raised concerns about making a left turn out of the complex.

A letter signed by Neshaminy School Board President Marty Sullivan, Vice President Steve Pirritano, and Superintendent Joseph Jones raised concern because the townhomes could add more children to the district than a neighborhood of single-family dwellings. The letter encouraged the planners to push for more single-family homes to reduce the burden of adding a large number of school-aged kids to the district.

The Bowman family owns a home that is along Woodbourne Road and whose property would be surrounded by land that would be part of the development. The Bowmans rent the home to two families and said they care about the property, which they fear could be adversely impacted by the development. A representative for the family mentioned worries about removing the dense woods surrounding their rental property, impacts to their water well system, and what could happen with storm water.

“From the very beginning, we knew nothing about this. We’ve owned that property for close to 10 years. The people that live in that property are Middletown residents and have children in the schools,” property owner Lisa Bowman said. 

Attorney Allen Toadvine, who was representing the developer, said the Lennar Corporation plans to bring their plans back before the planners after considering changes.

A 600-unit apartment complex has recently been proposed at the Oxford Valley Mall just off Woodbourne Road, only a short distance from the orchard site.