Townhome Development at Swim Club to be Reviewed June 26

A proposal for 56 townhouses on the Newtown Swim Club property will be reviewed by the township supervisors at a meeting on June 26.

The review comes six months after another, more controversial, proposal for that site was submitted to the township.

In December, County Builders submitted plans for a 56-pad trailer park on the 16.5-acre swim club property after the board shot down its initial proposal for townhomes. The club is closing after this summer.

The trailer park proposal was met with an uproar of dissent from neighboring residents, who said such a development would jeopardize property values in the Headley, Wiltshire Walk and Raintree communities, among others.

In response to the residents’ concerns, the township supervisors in April agreed to a series of parameters set forth by County Builders to construct townhomes instead of a mobile home park on property.

Under current township zoning, the only "by right" use on that lot is single-family homes—the size of the Swim Club parcel would permit 30 single-family homes under current zoning. County Builders will need a variance to build the townhome community.

In a five-page letter sent to the township in March from the developer’s lawyer, County Builders said it would consider filing a second application for the site that consists of 56 townhomes—four more units than original townhome application that was not supported by the board—provided the board agree to a series of parameters.

The developer said it would only submit the second application for townhomes if officials agree to six conditions, including seven waivers of the township’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance that pertain to street size, parking locations and dedicated open space.

As set forth in the letter, township officials must agree that County Builders can have the townhome plan and the mobile home plan pending simultaneously.

The meeting on June 26 begins at 7:30 p.m. at the township Administration Building.