Residents' objections end condo plans

Residents had problems with the impact on the neighborhood.
By MARY SMITH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MINERAL RIDGE -- Amid opposition from some residents, Weathersfield Township trustees have rejected a zone change for a planned unit development in Country Meadows Estates.
Trustees William Miller and John Vogel voted Wednesday to deny a zoning commission recommendation for a zone change to allow construction of the PUD. Trustee Fred Bobovnyk abstained.
More than 30 residents attended Wednesday's meeting, and many of them objected to plans for the 92 units of townhouse and ranch-style condominiums. These were to be built by Mark IV Developers Inc. off County Line Road, fronting on 14 acres at the entrance to Country Meadows Estates. Trustee William Miller said it was a "tremendously tough" decision to make.
"I have to listen to the residents. I have nothing against your development," he told Mark IV representatives.
Trustee John Vogel, noting the opposition from nearby homeowners, questioned whether the PUD furthered the general welfare of the township. He also said that the township will see only an additional $14,000 in taxes and added he was deeply concerned by the ingress and egress issue to the new condominium site.
The developers planned to use Country Meadows Drive as the main exit and entrance, diverting traffic onto County Line Road. A second road would be gravel and would be closed off to outsiders.
Bobovnyk said Thursday he abstained on the vote because of a number of "inconsistencies."
Bobovnyk said he was told in December that the initial hearing was to be Jan. 4, then it was changed to Jan. 5, when he could not attend. He also said that the hearing was delayed to Jan. 18 to give an attorney time to prepare a case for the residents, but no attorney represented residents Wednesday.
Other concerns
He added there were too many concerns expressed about control of flooding, traffic control and sewer capacity. He said residents of his own development, Beaver Trail, were upset that they may be hurt by the development.
Ninety-two condominiums of 1,600 to 1,700 square feet each were planned by the developer. Prices were to range from $129,000 to $145,000.
Residents expressed concerns about whether a water-retention pond could handle the overflow from the new development, even though builder Jim Carsone and engineer Jim Mahoney both said they planned to add two retaining areas as transitional ponds.
Resident Cora Beck from Beaver Trail said she's been getting flooded at her home since Country Meadows went in.
Ayetha Marshall of Deer Trail in Country Meadows said the area was zoned Residential-A when she moved in three years ago. She asked, "Who is the zoning board; who are these people? Don't they care what our opinion is?"
Thomas Bukofchan of Squirrel Hill Court said he objected to the change in plans from the condominium types that are already in the neighborhood, saying the new design is "going to look like row houses, it's so close together."
Original developers of Country Meadows were Dean Worsencroft and Jim Rich of Jim Rich Realty. Rich has since dropped out of the development.
Phase I of Country Meadows is complete. All 29 lots for single family homes have been sold. Plans were to build 11 duplex buildings, and between seven and eight of those have been completed.
Phase II of the development is beginning on the second half of Squirrel Run and Fox Chase and will include 27 single-family homes and 20 duplexes.