Politics & Government

Swim Club Development Receives Tentative Approval

Supervisors Rob Ciervo and Phil Calabro voted against the townhome proposal, with Matt Benchener, Mike Gallagher and Ryan Gallagher voting yes.

The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors gave tentative approval for a townhouse development at the Newtown Swim Club site Wednesday.

In a 3-2 vote, County Builders received tentative approval for a 56-unit townhome development at the 16.5-acre site on Newtown Yardley Road.

Supervisors Rob Ciervo and Phil Calabro voted against the proposal, with Matt Benchener, Mike Gallagher and Ryan Gallagher voting yes.

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The property is zoned for single family housing and requires a variance to construct higher density townhomes.

County Builders has an agreement with Swim Club owner David Platt to develop the site now that the club has closed. A prior plan, a 56-pad trailer park proposed in December, resulted in an uproar from nearby residents.

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Neighboring residents 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 the property.

Ciervo, who has long been opposed to County Builders’ requests for zoning variances, said the townhome proposal violates the township’s zoning ordinance. Others, including Benchener, has said the townhome plan is better than the alternative of a mobile home park.

The applicant will need to receive final approval before proceeding. 


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