Middlesex approves Sienna Village application
MIDDLESEX TWP — After a public hearing Wednesday, April 5, township supervisors approved a conditional use application for the Sienna Village development.
“The conditional use application (for the development) is intending to use the property for business and professional offices, retail and townhouses,” solicitor Brian Farrington said.
The Sienna Village development will include 82 townhouse units, four duplex homes and a commercial district along Route 228 west near the border with Adams Township.
According to Farrington, a portion of the development was already approved for conditional use.
The purpose of Wednesday’s approval, he said, was to extend that use to neighboring property purchased by the developer.
Steven Victor, of Victor-Wetzel Associates, gave a presentation confirming the planners had satisfied the conditional use requirements for public health, safety and environmental concerns.
The commercial portion of the development will act as a buffer for the residential side, Victor said, providing convenient office and retail space for residents.
The plan also complies with land development approvals including appropriate setbacks, parking requirements, grading, and stormwater management, according to Victor, as well as zoning ordinances.
The conditional use application also requires the development to satisfy lighting, traffic and square-footage requirements, he said.
“We are also required to design and locate where we would put a gateway sign,” Victor said. “We are right on the boundary between Middlesex and Adams townships, and because of that we’re required to place a sign.”
The township sign would “welcome” motorists from Adams Township, where a portion of the development lies, according to Victor.
There was no public comment on the application, and council unanimously approved it.
Township manager Jeffrey Winkle said there was no timeline on the development yet but “they are moving earthwork over there now.”
The township also discussed a potential subscription to Accurint Virtual Crime Center for the Middlesex Township Police Department.
Randy Davison, officer in charge, said with a suspect’s name, date and birthday, the department can access a drivers license. However, many suspects cannot be found at their listed addresses.
Using Accurint Virtual Crime Center’s database of transactions, Davison said, the department increases its ability to track suspects.
“If you’ve paid a bill, it’ll tell us your current address, every address you’ve ever had, where you work, where you’ve worked, all your relatives, your phone numbers, every phone number you’ve ever had, it’ll tell us who your coworkers are, who your relatives are, so we can try to find you,” he explained. “Otherwise, you get away.”
For now, the department shares Penn Township’s system, but Davison said the department would benefit from owning its own subscription.
“When we need it, we have to wait for them to be out of there,” Davison said. “I would like to have it for ourselves.“
The subscription would cost the township $155 per month, and the board will take action on the proposal at its April 19 meeting.