Residents press township on Kaywood North stormwater agreement and PennDOT permit

Residents raised concerns at the June 10 Harris Township meeting about an outstanding agreement for the Kaywood North subdivision that relates to a culvert/road cut and who will maintain the stormwater infrastructure. A longtime resident said the item has been open since Sept. 11, 2023, and asked for a timetable and clarity about the PennDOT permit and responsibility for long-term maintenance.

Township staff and the township engineer explained that when the board gave conditional approval in September 2023, developers were required to meet conditions before final plan approval. The pipe at issue does not tie into a PennDOT stormwater system, so PennDOT did not require a separate agreement; the permit in question is between the developer and PennDOT and PennDOT determines final acceptance of roadway restoration. The engineer said the HOA is responsible for maintaining the stormwater features under recorded plan notes, but staff still recommended obtaining an additional agreement to clarify HOA responsibilities. Staff said they are awaiting a draft of that agreement from the developer's solicitor to send to the township solicitor for review and cannot finalize anything until it is received.

Residents asked who will maintain the stormwater if the HOA fails to act; staff said the township can compel property owners to perform required maintenance when the recorded plan notes make responsibilities clear. Residents said the lengthy delay and staff changes have made tracking the agreement difficult and requested a time frame and more active follow-up with the developer's attorney.