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Springettsbury supervisors deny preliminary Druck Valley subdivision plan over access waivers
Summary
After weeks of follow-up with PennDOT, supervisors denied the preliminary subdivision SD2023-0002 (Druck Valley Road) because it did not meet two required ordinance waivers for access and cul-de-sac length; applicant argued physical constraints and said the project proposes 84 units (zoning allows up to 122).
Springettsbury Township supervisors voted to deny the preliminary subdivision SD2023-0002 (Druck Valley Road) after concluding the application did not meet two required waivers tied to access and cul-de-sac length.
The decision followed an extended presentation by the applicant’s counsel, Stacy McNeal, who told supervisors the developer had met with PennDOT and secured a “right-out only” at Druck Valley Road as a second means of egress and had provided turning templates for emergency vehicles. “PennDOT’s district 8 standard … right now is that 1 point of access for a property is safer,” a PennDOT representative said during the meeting.
Board members and staff disagreed that the write-out-only arrangement satisfied the township’s subdivision and land development ordinance. Supervisors repeatedly emphasized the ordinance’s intent that larger residential developments have two full turning-access points. In discussion, township engineer John noted ordinance thresholds tied to street length and dwelling counts. The applicant said the property is zoned for up to 122 dwelling units but is proposed for 84 units under the current plan.
After debating five waiver requests and multiple conditions, supervisors approved denial motions for the cul-de-sac/length waiver and related sections and then voted to deny the preliminary plan, citing the specific ordinance provisions not met. Because two waivers were denied, staff advised the board the plan “cannot move forward until those are rectified.”
The applicant asked the board to consider separate action on remaining waivers and noted efforts to obtain additional frontage from neighbors had been unsuccessful. The board tabled consideration of plan conditions until the applicant addresses the denied waivers.
Next steps: the applicant may revise the plan or seek further modifications and must resolve the cited waiver deficiencies before the township can accept a revised preliminary plan for approval.
