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Residents split over Benderson proposal as board fields traffic, tax and land‑use concerns
Summary
Community members and supervisors debated long‑standing Benderson plans for Turnpike‑frontage land; some residents urged retail and restaurants to boost local amenities while others opposed large commercial or warehouse development, citing traffic, light pollution and school tax impacts.
Discussion about the long‑delayed Benderson property dominated public comment on June 6, with residents and board members offering sharply different views about whether the site should become a shopping center, warehouses or remain farmland.
Chair (speaker 1) summarized dozens of Facebook comments requesting restaurants, grocery options and neighborhood retail and said the township will record and pass community preferences to any applicant. "I posted asking for feedback on what people want to see at the Benderson property," the chair said, and assembled residents’ suggestions at the microphone.
Some residents said commercial development would bring jobs and expand the tax base. One commenter with retail experience argued the township missed earlier opportunities and that the site could deliver tax revenue equivalent to many homes, suggesting targeted incentives to attract tenants. "If we have a tax problem, we need to increase the tax base," a resident said, adding that the site could provide jobs and amenities for local youth.
Other neighbors raised concerns about truck traffic, light pollution and construction litter; Tara Davis, who said she lives near Reemstown Road, asked specifically how the project would affect nearby roads and how the township would control new lighting. "How is light pollution going to be handled? We already are getting a lot of light pollution from the True Hotel," she said.
Board members and staff noted that prior Benderson concepts included roadway improvements that were never built and that any new proposal would require updated plans and PennDOT review for state roads. A supervisor said PennDOT and developer permit applications will drive which turn lanes or boulevard improvements are required; at present, no new permit is on file for the comprehensive Benderson plan and the township awaits a formal submission.
Why it matters: The Benderson parcel fronts a state highway and has been proposed for large commercial development for years; outcomes could reshape traffic patterns, the local tax base and amenities available to township residents. The debate highlights a recurring tradeoff: revenue and jobs versus traffic, aesthetics and neighborhood impacts.
Next steps: The board encouraged residents to email the township manager (manager@ect.town) to create a public record of concerns; the developer had withdrawn a scheduled presentation and the board said it would consider any future formal submission in coordination with PennDOT and the planning commission.
