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Council approves final plan for mixed-use Heritage project at 341 West Butler
Summary
The borough council approved the final land-development plan for the Heritage mixed-use project at 341 West Butler, authorizing building additions, 11 townhouses and condominiums and stormwater improvements with conditions including a park bench specification; the approval was granted by voice vote.
The borough council on a voice vote approved final conditional plan approval for the Heritage mixed-use development at 341 West Butler, a project that proposes residential and commercial additions to an existing veterinary building.
Attorney Todd, representing the applicant, presented the final-plan package and said the submission reflected only minor changes since preliminary approval. Planner Rachel and borough engineer Karen McNair described the project’s components: 11 townhouses, 10 condominium units, a new roughly 5,400-square-foot building, and a 2,250-square-foot addition to the existing veterinary building. The plan proposes 54 parking spaces and both an underground stormwater basin under the parking area and a larger surface basin at the rear of the lot.
Why it matters: The project occupies a site adjacent to an elementary school and a church; council members pressed the applicant on pedestrian connections, emergency access and parking for the veterinary use. Karen McNair confirmed that water and sewer capacity had been secured from the county authority and that the applicant expects to acquire easements from the school district and a nearby church to accommodate stormwater and sewer connections.
Council members raised detailed design and operational issues. One member asked whether the veterinary operation would remain open during construction; the applicant said it would and that the builder planned phasing and temporary parking to minimize disruption. Council discussed where dumpsters would be sited, signage for shared parking, and whether electric-vehicle charging should be accommodated; the applicant acknowledged both plugin and rapid-charge variants and said charging locations would be evaluated with the builder.
Council also reviewed pedestrian improvements: the developer proposed sidewalk connections across an adjoining school property to improve walkability and several internal walkways connecting condos, townhomes and the public-open-space area planned at the front corner of the site. The council’s resolution was amended to require installation of a Madison bench from Treetop Products as part of the streetscape improvements, per a planning-commission suggestion.
On the record: The council’s packet and the applicant’s presentation contained the recommended conditions and technical exhibits; the planning commission and county planning commission had reviewed and recommended approval with conditions. Council made a motion to approve the final plan with the added bench requirement and approved the motion by voice vote.
Next steps: The applicant will need to finalize the easements from the school and the church and satisfy the resolution conditions before construction permits are issued. The council’s action tonight constituted final municipal land-development approval subject to those conditions.
