River's Edge homeowners ask Oakmont Borough for inspection records, financial guarantees and erosion fixes

Tom Dixon, a River's Edge homeowner, told the Oakmont Borough Council on Feb. 4 that residents are struggling to understand documents they received when buying into the subdivision and asked the borough to provide documentation and oversight as the developer prepares to transition ownership to homeowners.

“We're here asking for your help to ensure that the standards for the public improvements ... outlined in the development agreement are being properly upheld,” Dixon said, urging the borough to release inspection records for retention ponds and retaining walls and to confirm whether the developer supplied the video records of roads required by the 2013 development agreement.

Dixon told council he had hired counsel and provided a written list of questions, and he repeatedly asked for clarity on two financial protections the development agreement appears to require: a bond or other financial security equal to “110% of the public improvements” (he cited that as “over $2.3 million”) and an irrevocable line of credit referenced in section 17 (he said the agreement calls for $15 million). “Is that in place? Is that being monitored?” he asked.

Roger Dice, another River's Edge resident, described visible erosion and instability at Plum Creek and said photographs supplied to council show cracks, fissures and compaction concerns on a hillside. He urged the borough to help convene county or state stakeholders so the work needed to stabilize the bank is completed before the developer leaves. “We would like to have some assurance that we have a partner with solving this problem,” Dice said.

Council members and staff responded that the administration will review the development agreement and try to gather available inspection records. Scott (staff) said staff and the borough attorney and engineer — Jake and Sean, respectively — would be the first contacts and that the borough could send staff to meet with homeowners. “We may have some documentation, we may not,” council president said; staff asked for a couple of weeks to assemble information and to coordinate a site visit when key staff are available.

The homeowners also requested a formal agreement for the Riverwalk public space similar to a neighboring plan and suggested the borough begin drafting it now. Council asked to receive the homeowners' letter and photographs; staff confirmed copies would be distributed to the relevant staff (engineer and solicitor) for follow‑up.

Next steps: staff committed to reviewing the development agreement provisions cited by residents, to looking for inspection records and documentation of required financial securities, and to arranging a meeting with homeowners within a few weeks. The council did not take formal action at the work session beyond directing staff to follow up.