Motion to Approve Ordinance to Rezone Corner of Philmont and Street Tabled

The Lower Southampton Board of Supervisors were scheduled to hold a public hearing tonight to consider adopting an ordinance to amend the zoning of the property at the corner of Philmont Avenue and Street Road from a R2 zone to a R4 zone. However, the motion to approve this ordinance was tabled at the direction of Chairman John McMenamin.

Township Manager Ted Taylor said Wednesday that the reason for tabling the motion has not been stated at this time, but will be explained at the meeting tonight.

Taylor further said that John VanLuvanee, the attorney representing County Builders, Inc., requested a continuance.

Prior to being tabled, the board was going to hold a public hearing and then vote for or against rezoning this area from a R2 zone to a R4 zone.

A public hearing was held on this same issue  due to the possibility of increasing traffic in an already congested location as well as increasing pollution and density.

John VanLuvanee, the attorney representing County Builders, Inc., said June 8 that the R4 zoning classification permits only residential purposes whereas the R2 zoning classification does not guarantee only residential purposes. He also said that the change would be "appropriate."

The developer VanLuvanee represents has expressed the desire to build a townhome community at this location; the land would have to be rezoned to a R4 zoning classification in order for this to occur.

According to township zoning code, the R2 zoning code refers to "only one single-family detached dwelling or one building for a principal use permitted in this district shall be permitted on any single lot."

The R4 zoning code refers to allowing "residential development, in cluster fashion, providing a cluster development with a broader spectrum of architectural designs and dwelling types development, in cluster fashion, providing a cluster development with a broader spectrum of architectural designs and dwelling types," as stated in township zoning codes.