Natalie Kostelni
Reporter – Philadelphia Business Journal
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Things are heating up in Tredyffrin, Pa., over storm-water management and potential new development along Swedesford Road that may be spurred by an overlay district the township has under consideration.
Storm-water management has emerged in Philadelphia and throughout the region as an issue that many municipalities are desperate to address since the lack of it causes flooding, water damage and can be environmentally detrimental. For developers and businesses who end up being responsible, financially and otherwise, for managing storm water runoff, the issue often causes friction.
Tredyffrin is looking at a zoning ordinance amendment that would creating a new “Trout Creek Stormwater Overlay District” that would have development incentives and requirements for storm water improvements. The township wants to offer incentives to developers who may build on certain large sites within the Trout Creek watershed to construct storm water management facilities.
One parcel that has residents concerned is referred to as the Richter Tract, which totals nearly 40 acres and is bound by Swedesford Road, Old Eagle School Road and Walker Road. It’s across from De Lage Landen’s
U.S. headquarters.
Though nothing formal has been filed with the township, officials have said that some ideas have been floated for the development of that property. Early proposals include constructing twin homes, carriage houses and townhouses as well as possibly an office building, apartment complex and Super Wawa. The developer would install a storm-water management system on the property.
The overlay district could have implications for other commercial property owners since, as the township says, no single location can solve all of the downstream flooding problems and no other township roads or properties are suitable, so therefore, additional sites are needed. The ordinance would also expand the uses, such as hotels, apartments, twins and duplexes, permitted in commercial districts as well as change parking ratios among other issues.
The township is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the ordinance March 19.
Real Estate, Economic Development
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Article source: http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/blog/natalie-kostelni/2012/03/tricky-storm-water-management-issue-a.html The feed :
