COLLEGE TOWNSHIP — The developer of The Retreat, a controversial housing complex proposed between Waupelani Drive and West Whitehall Road, assured College Township Council that his project will follow local laws about tenant conduct.
“If you pass an ordinance that applies to all rental properties in the community, this development will comply with that ordinance,” Jon Williams said Thursday at the Township Council meeting.
The council heard from Williams, township staff members and project consultants as they continued discussion of the complex in preparation for their Feb. 2 meeting, when they expect to vote on the plan.
The planned residential development will include townhomes, duplexes and outdoor common spaces, and is intended mainly for Penn State students. That has some neighborhood residents worried about traffic, noise and disruptive behavior from drinking.
The development will straddle the township and State College. That has complicated talks among municipal officials about area street improvements, residential trash collection, sewer and water service and bus service. Thursday, township engineer Kent Baker said two Atherton Street intersections — at Allen Street and at Westerly Parkway — probably will need modifications to accommodate increased traffic. For cars on Allen approaching Atherton, he said, an “advance” signal arrow for turning left would be the best choice, causing the smallest delays of six options and costing about $20,000 to install. Developers have agreed to contribute $100,000 to cover resolving traffic issues.
By contrast, Baker said, realigning the intersection — which would be State College’s responsibility — might cost about $300,000.
Councilman Dan Klees said State College officials had declined an invitation to the meeting.
Williams said complex residents will receive prepaid bus passes or comparable shuttle service. The complex will have on-site trash and recycling collection, but the development is prepared to pay State College, which has a contract for curb pick-up, to compensate for residents on borough land, he said.
Addressing concerns about rowdy student behavior, Williams said The Retreat would require advance registration of parties with 15 or more guests, and then send the registrations to police. Management also would follow township noise ordinances. But Williams did not agree to the council’s wish for a rule forbidding residents from being in common areas from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Nor would he consent to a ban on beer kegs, citing personal freedom for legal drinkers.
“Anybody else in the community can have a beer keg,” he said. “That’s the easiest way I can explain that.”
Carol Stewart, who lives on Oneida Street near the proposed site, said at Thursday’s meeting that The Retreat should restrict partying more. She foresees the complex disrupting the area.
“I’m not opposed to the students. I’m not against drinking,” she said. “But mixing the two is just asking for a disaster.”
Chris Rosenblum can be reached at 231-4620.
