West Rockhill planning commission recommends subdivision waivers, preliminary‑final despite residents' concerns

The West Rockhill Planning Commission voted to recommend subdivision waivers and a preliminary‑final plan for a Select Properties application that consolidates parcels along the township line.

The applicant's representative said the plan was revised so the lot line now follows the township boundary and that three waivers remain requested while sewage approvals are worked out with the health department and neighboring Richland Township. Susan Ricks of STI Engineering identified herself for the record; a presenter for the applicant described the ten review items and waiver requests, including a request to allow existing vegetation to satisfy buffer requirements and waivers for street improvements and street lighting.

Why it matters: Neighbors told the commission the consolidation could enable future expansion of a nearby compressor station and urged caution. "So now you're going to allow them to make that fight... you're gonna give them more land so then in the future they're able to expand the compressor station," one resident said on the record, expressing concerns about air and well water impacts. Another neighbor asked why the township would grant waivers while litigation over prior approvals remains unresolved.

What the commission heard: Staff and commissioners discussed the waivers in detail. Planning staff noted that waiving required street improvements in this case would trigger a $7,000 contribution to the township in lieu of construction and said the compressor station's driveway and frontage activity lie in Richland Township, not West Rockhill. Staff also said pending litigation does not, by itself, prevent the township from acting on the plan and that unresolved sewage coordination with Richland Township remains an outstanding issue to be addressed at later supervisory review.

Action taken: After discussion the commission moved, seconded and voted to recommend the requested waivers and later to recommend preliminary‑final approval. Commissioners said they are forwarding the matter while flagging the unresolved sewage and cross‑litigation for the Board of Supervisors.

Key details from the record: The applicant's presenter enumerated the review items and waivers filed (buffer vegetation, coordination with Richland Township on subdivision approval, deeds of transfer and consolidation at recordation, deed notice restricting building until certain steps are taken, ongoing sewage plan and permits, waiver requests for street improvements and street lighting, monumentation prior to recording, likely fee‑in‑lieu for recreation land, and financial security/ cost opinion requirements). Residents asked whether consolidating the parcels would change zoning (staff said it would not) and whether granting waivers during court proceedings was appropriate.

What happens next: The commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors, and staff indicated outstanding sewage approvals with Richland Township must be resolved before final supervisory action.

Quotes from the meeting: "We changed the plan as you suggested, and the lot line is now running consistent with the township line," the applicant's presenter said when describing the revision. "So now you're going to allow them to make that fight... you're gonna give them more land so then in the future they're able to expand the compressor station," a resident told commissioners, urging caution. "I don't think you can put any kind of a price tag on [the historic resources]," another resident said when asking the commission to delay action until court matters are resolved.

Ending: The commission carried motions to recommend the waivers and the preliminary‑final recommendation. Staff will relay unresolved sewage coordination and litigation matters to the Board of Supervisors for further consideration.