It wasn’t quite the same as going back to square one, but close. Concord Ventures — the business entity that wants to build 29 townhouses and 166 apartment units on a property adjacent to Route 202 at Watkin Avenue in Concord Township — was back before Concord Township's Zoning Hearing Board last night for a variance it originally received three years ago.
Concord Ventures needs a variance to develop the property because it’s 49.02 acres, but the township zoning code says the minimum size for such a plan is 50 acres.
The applicant had begun hearings for the planned residential development early this year, but the last PRD hearing session was in June. A July session was canceled and the entire hearing process was put on hold when the township realized the variance granted in March of 2015 had expired without the applicant asking for an extension.
Attorney Marc Kaplin told the board members during the Aug. 15 meeting that his presentation would be the same as it was three years ago. He had engineer Ben Crowder relate how Concord Ventures became the equity owner of the property, how the three parcels were consolidated into one and how the property fails to meet the size requirements by less than one acre. The proposed use, though, is allowed.
When the board had asked what Concord Ventures could do without the variance, Crowder relied with one word, "Nothing."
Kaplin said the applicant also wants the variance to be good for a year after Concord Ventures gets its permits and approvals.
Board Chairman Alfred Glessner said the board would announce its decision in September.
Woodlawn Trustees is the legal owner, with Concord Ventures being the equity owner. Plans call for the 29 townhouses to be in six buildings and 166 apartment units in three five-story buildings. About a dozen residents are opposing the development.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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