Residents have environmental, safety concerns about proposed Spring Township development
A new housing development could be coming to Spring Township, but residents aren’t sure it’s the best project to take on.
What is currently 166 acres of farmland located between Axemann and Harrison roads could be home to over 400 single-family housing units, but before S&A Homes moves forward, the township must rezone the two parcels of land — the Ault and Root tracts — from suburban residential to town residential.
A 20-35 year project, S&A Homes CEO Bob Poole said he hopes to build an estimated 10-20 homes per year, averaging between $320,000-$400,000.
“It’s not going to happen overnight,” Poole said.
But during a public hearing on Monday, the board of supervisors heard from almost 10 residents who expressed environmental, safety and social concerns with the proposed development project. Using the Amberleigh development, located behind the Penn State Federal Credit Union on Benner Pike, as an example, residents said they do not want to see more clustered housing developments in the township.
Tom and Sharon Cable live on Axemann Road and said the development would affect their quality of life.
“I have two wells that are 37-feet deep,” Tom Cable said. “When you start unearthing everything ... my water quality is going to go to crap. That’s all there is to it. It’s going to add silt.”
The Cables said they are worried their property will receive runoff from stormwater and waste from additional vehicles. Sharon Cable, who owns Headlines Hair Designs, said she fears her business will suffer if they see changes in the water.
“I really think that this is a bad deal,” Tom Cable said.
Poole said the development would be built according to township ordinances and would comply to Spring Township’s stormwater management practices.
The site proposes one access road to the development from Harrison Road.
A traffic study was conducted at the site after the plans were submitted to the township in December. The study was conducted using one roadway with an estimated 477 housing units, and Doug Hill of Wooster and Associates said the development would most likely have two access roads. The locations of the roadways would depend on a full traffic study.
Residents voiced concern for traffic and safety, saying that if the development were to move forward, the township would see an increase in vehicle accidents and heavier traffic. Some who live on Axemann and Harrison roads said the roadways are full of blind spots and think the development would only increase dangers for drivers.
“I cannot tell you how many times we’ve had accidents,” Sharon Cable said. “That road cannot, cannot handle anymore. With Pleasant Hills and Steeple Chase, it is constant traffic. It doesn’t matter what time of the day you go through there.”
Still in the preliminary planning phase, Poole said questions about water management, traffic and sewer will become more clear as the designs are refined and studies are conducted.
When the plans were first introduced in December, supervisors said their main concern was traffic and safety. Moving forward, chairman Terry Perryman and vice chairman David Capperella said they plan to take resident concern into account before approving development plans.
The zoning change will be discussed and voted on at a future meeting.
