West Chester condo development plans rejected by township leaders

Project would have added 68 units at the northeast corner of Tylersville and Lesourdsville-West Chester roads.
A zoning requestion that would have put condominiums like these at the northeast corner of Lesourdsville-West Chester and Tylersville roads was rejected by West Chester Twp. trustees. Contributed photo

A zoning requestion that would have put condominiums like these at the northeast corner of Lesourdsville-West Chester and Tylersville roads was rejected by West Chester Twp. trustees. Contributed photo

A project that would have put 68 condos on a 10.7-acre lot near Union Elementary School in West Chester Twp. won’t move forward as planned.

Trustees rejected a zoning change requested by NVR Inc. that would have allowed the development on the Mullins property at the northeast corner of Tylersville and Lesourdsville-West Chester roads.

There, developers wanted to put three- or four-unit buildings of about 1,924 square feet. Prices would have been in the mid-$400,000 range, said Max Radin, NVR’s land acquisition manager, in a public hearing.

“This is surrounded by single-family homes. It’s a tough one,” said Trustee Ann Becker, who voted against the project with Trustee Lee Wong. “It’s not the highest, best use of space.”

County planners and township zoning commission recommended the zoning change from agriculture to residential planned unit development. Trustee Mark Welch also voted in favor, citing eight other projects similar to this one.

Those opposed to the project cited traffic congestion, frequent accidents, and water runoff noting a creek runs through the middle of the property.

Some parts of the land where a landfill once occupied, have been built up with almost 40 feet of dirt, a nearby resident said.

“That area is congested. (It) is a heavily trafficked road for school buses — for a lot of people, said Judith Ulmer, who lives behind the proposed site.

“There are accidents. There is a ton of (runoff) water.”

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