Plan reviewed for residential community

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REEDSVILLE - The two men working to make their dream for a new residential community come to life in Mifflin County literally laid it all out on the table Thursday night.

David G. McNitt and Kenton Stuck, of CENPA Development LLC, formally presented the master plan for their proposed Quillas Creek community to the Brown Township Board of Supervisors during a public hearing held at the township's municipal building.

The presentation was made as part of the developers' application process for approval under the township's Traditional Neighborhood Development Overlay Zone ordinance. Board Chairman Eugene Glick said the hearing also was intended to provide the public and members of the township's planning commission to ask questions or offer comments regarding the proposed development.

"We like to tell people that we want to bring back Mayberry," Stuck said, referring to the small town featured in the classic '60s sitcom "The Andy Griffith Show."

"This isn't about buying a lot and putting up a house. This is about building a community and bringing back a sense of neighborhood," Stuck said.

Set on 97 acres along state Route 655 in Brown Township, the site of the proposed development is about one mile away from the Reedsville exit of U.S. 322.

The plan for the community calls for a mix of more than 400 single-family, duplex, townhouse and apartment housing options. The community also would incorporate a variety of commercial, professional and business opportunities located around a town center, where services would be easily accessible to residents, Stuck explained.

"This isn't just something positive from a residential standpoint, but also from an economic development standpoint," Stuck said. "We're going to have the opportunity to create jobs and utilize local contractors for the construction."

Stuck also said more than 500 people from 20 states have contacted him and expressed an interest in making Quillas Creek their new home.

McNitt told the board he believes the master plan meets all of the requirements expressed in the township ordinance.

"We are meeting the criteria of at least 35 percent single-family houses and no more than 65 multi-family dwellings," he said. "The total open space in the community will be something close to 40 percent, which will include the combination of planned green spaces and water treatment areas."

McNitt said the plan previously was reviewed by both the county and township planning commissions, who did not make any comments indicating the plan would not be in compliance with the township's ordinance. He also said the plan includes provisions for the community to have a neighborhood association that would assume responsibility for maintenance of its green areas, sidewalks and private streets, rather than creating an additional burden for the township.

After the presentation, Glick and fellow supervisor Richard Yearick asked a number of questions regarding issues such as fencing, storm water runoff and the organization of the neighborhood association.

McNitt said the community would not have gates or fencing around its perimeter, although individual properties might incorporate some fencing. Eric Casanave, a consulting engineer for Quillas Creek, added that some fencing might be needed for safety reasons along the edge of the development that would border the nearby Kishacoquillas Creek.

Casanave also said engineering studies indicated a planned water treatment basin within the community might accumulate some water during heavy rains, but otherwise should drain normally.

As for the organization of the neighborhood association, McNitt said the plan calls for the CENPA Development manager to act as the "person in charge" of the association for its first seven years. After that time, the association would elect a board of directors that would be required to hire a professional, bonded contractor to perform the required maintenance within the community, he said, and each community member would be assessed a regular fee to provide funding for that maintenance.

Township Solicitor Jeffrey Snook asked a number of technical questions regarding specific articles within the plan and identified several components that still needed to be provided for the supervisors to review. McNitt assured the board those items would be provided promptly.

"I'm hoping we do this township proud with this development - that certainly is our intention," McNitt said.

At the conclusion of the hearing, no comments or objections to the plan were made by any of the community members in attendance. Glick said the board will further review the submitted master plan and application, and plans to make a decision regarding its approval or rejection within the next 30 days. Glick said that decision could be made in time for the board's next regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. on July 20.

"Quillas Creek is moving forward in a very positive way," Stuck said after the hearing. "We're very happy with the cooperation we've received at both the township and county levels to bring the project this far."

Stuck said additional information about the Quillas Creek development can be obtained by calling 667-0055.