Developer asks for relief in down market
Artery Homes asked Antrim Township for relief for Rolling Hills Planned Residential Development on bonding requirements. Attorney Paul Schemel represented the developer at the Board of Supervisors meeting Oct. 25. He said the owner wanted to complete the subdivision in the future in a better market, but didn’t like so much of his money tied up in a bond for an inactive project.
While Antrim no longer has a PRD ordinance, Schemel said the Municipal Planning Code allowed the township to make bonding exceptions. James Byers believed a hearing would then be necessary. Township solicitor John Lisko was concerned that because the development already had final approval, the owner could sell lots but the unconstructed streets would not be bonded. Eventually Antrim could be on the hook to build them. He preferred Artery amend its plan. Schemel offered to change the deeds at the county courthouse so no lot could be sold until the development had full bonding.
Lisko asked that Artery get unanimous consent from all of the other property owners on the proposed change.
Schemel also spoke on behalf of William and Heidi Yaukey on a solution for closing the end of Patton Bridge Road. He said the township could temporarily close it, as allowed by code, for unsafe conditions, specifically its propensity to flood. The Yaukeys would install a gate and turnaround, and allow the public to access the Conococheague Creek. Schemel wanted that done on a permit basis such as when residents reserve a park pavilion.
He continued that the Yaukeys and the farmers at the end of the road, Lee and Dean Myers, and Antrim, would have keys to the new gate.
“This would cut down on nefarious activities and is a win-win for everyone,” Schemel said.
The Myers’ attorney, Thomas Steiger, said not all of the neighbors were aware of the new idea. The supervisors asked Schemel to bring back the proposal in writing.
Other business
The board, with Byers, Fred Young III, and Curtis Myers present, gave Atapco the go-ahead to dedicate Armada Drive and Antrim Commons Drive to the township. Sam Miller and Rick Baer were absent.
Antrim also agreed to pay for half of the Heritage Christmas tree to be set up on Center Square on Nov. 18. It and Greencastle borough each will pay $1300 for the cutting, erecting, takedown, and stringing of lights in the downtown area.
A change order for the Antrim Township Community Park concession stand was approved in part. The cost went up $2,405, including $1,362 for restroom wall modifications. The supervisors were disappointed that the architect did not design the rooms to ADA specifications, and GRC Contracting had to move the walls.
Dewberry Engineering was authorized to observe the Norfolk Southern construction of the Hykes Road bridge, charging its normal hourly rate. The company will also conduct the annual inspection of the sewer and collection system, not to exceed $12,750. Next year Antrim’s new public works director Carl Rundquist thought he would be ready to handle the task.