Prelim plans for multi-unit development approved in Jackson
JACKSON TWP — Supervisors approved preliminary plans for a proposed 124-unit residential development at its Thursday meeting as township residents raised questions about its feasibility.
The proposed rural corridor, mixed-housing planned residential development — Woodland Reserve — would be located along Pattison Street Extension.
The development’s preliminary plans will be voted on at an upcoming planning commission meeting, before a final approval vote sometime in the next several months.
Brett Schultz of Weaver Homes explained that Woodland Reserve would consist of 124 single-family units containing 24 single-family lots, 30 duplex buildings and ten quadruplex buildings.
Schultz expects that the neighborhood likely would attract residents who are close to retirement as well as empty-nesters, though it is not age-restricted.
Jackson residents raised concerns about the narrowness of a curve on the nearby Pattison Street Extension and Old Ehrman Road, sometimes referred to as “the Devil’s Elbow.”
“I’m mostly concerned about the road network and the availability of utilities to this development,” said resident Jeff Deegan. “I’m most concerned about the road itself. That road is not wide enough to put a stripe down. It’s not adequate at this point. It’s a very narrow road with at least three dangerous blind curves. I don’t think as a resident that I should be asked to pay for those improvements at a later date.”
Township manager Chris Rearick confirmed that Weaver Homes would still be required to pay funds to the township, which potentially could be used to help improve that segment of road.
“As part of our development process, with each building permit that is issued to us, we have identified costs, in the form of traffic impact fees as well as a zoning incentive fee,” Schultz said. “That money is paid to the township, and it’s at their discretion how it’s spent.”
Preliminary designs on the project likely will take place this fall, at which point Jackson Township will have a more concrete sense of the budget.
“Those fees have to be used for those types of projects,” Rearick said. “We can’t use them for the general fund or for general purposes. They’ll be reserved to go towards those projects.”
Construction is expected to begin sometime in spring or summer 2023, after the developer completes the permitting process.
