Commission tables Sporting Green apartment plan after questions on stormwater, traffic and occupancy

Vice‑Chairman Curt Helman and the Silver Spring Township Planning Commission tabled the Sporting Green Apartments final lot add‑on and land development plan after a technical presentation and questions on stormwater, traffic and occupancy. Representatives from Miller and Associates and Vanguard Development Group described a five‑building project with 252 dwelling units, a clubhouse, pool and a parking garage. The developers said a sewer line crossing the property must be relocated and that they plan a below‑ground Managed Release Concept (MRC) stormwater system.

Township and county staff pressed the applicants for technical details. Township Engineer Jonathan Robinson noted conditional‑use conditions remain to be addressed, including sidewalk access to Sample Bridge Road and provisions for bus shelters. Steve Hoffman of the Cumberland County Planning Department asked about the depth of the proposed MRCs; applicant engineer Bill Swiernik said no storage would be located below the 100‑year floodplain. The developer said the buildings along the creek would be four stories and interior buildings three stories and that occupancy limits would be enforced through lease agreements. The applicant said a traffic study is still pending and that the project remains under NPDES technical review.

Because the applicant requested time to advance the underground storage design and NPDES permitting, the commission approved a motion to table the plan and continue technical review. The applicant estimated construction would take about two years from the start of work. The commission did not adopt any approvals or conditions at the Sept. 4 meeting; the matter will return for further review once the outstanding engineering and permitting items are resolved.