This view from Old State Road shows some of the farmland adjacent to Parkhouse Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, seen in the distance, that would be developed under proposals now before Upper Providence Township supervisors.
Royersford Holdings published a legal notice invoking a 30-day window, beginning July 11, for challenges under Section 108 of Pennsylvania's municipal planning code.
The controversial Parkhouse property in Upper Providence Township faces a pivotal zoning change, catalyzing a potential shift from its current state to a housing development.
Recently, Royersford Holdings, the developers behind this initiative, published a legal notice invoking a 30-day window, beginning July 11, for challenges under Section 108 of Pennsylvania's municipal planning code, according to The Mercury.
This notice aims to preemptively address any legal challenges against the zoning amendment approved by the township supervisors on May 29. According to Gregory Heleniak, special counsel to Upper Providence Township, this tactic is intended to secure the zoning change against future disputes over procedural flaws.
The Parkhouse property, spanning 176.4 acres near the Parkhouse Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, represents one of the largest undeveloped parcels in both the township and Montgomery County.
The zoning amendment, according to the article, presents a decisive choice: maintain the current zoning, allowing more than 1,200 age-restricted housing units, or adopt the amendment to permit a mixed-use development featuring 600 units, with a quarter designated as age-restricted.
Developer Gary Berman has proposed further modifications, reducing the number of units to a maximum of 585 and allocating 80 acres for open space, following discussions with township officials, per the report.
The proposed development includes various housing types such as single-family homes, age-restricted carriage houses, and townhomes. Notably, recent revisions exclude taller "stacked townhomes," potentially requiring specialized firefighting equipment, according to the report. Home prices are estimated to range from approximately $1 million for single-family homes to the upper $700,000s for age-restricted units, and $400,000 to $500,000 for townhomes.
Despite presentations during zoning hearings, the developer's plans remain conceptual and do not meet the formal land development submission requirements, according to The Mercury.
Royersford Holdings LLC authored the zoning amendment and it underwent legal review by township lawyers. While the notice under Section 108 aims to block legal challenges by ensuring transparency, it marks a critical stage for the Parkhouse property's future, balancing development interests with community and environmental considerations.
Read more on the project here.
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