Toll seeks conditional use to put two road crossings and storm pipes through precautionary steep slopes on Bennett property in West Vincent

Toll Mid‑Atlantic Company asked the West Vincent Township Board of Supervisors to approve a narrow conditional‑use exemption to place two road crossings and associated storm‑sewer pipes in precautionary steep‑slope areas of the Bennett property, Toll counsel Greg Adelman said at the hearing. Adelman told the board Toll seeks approval "to put certain areas of proposed roads in the precautionary steep slopes and storm sewer systems" and framed the request as limited in scope.

The applicant’s engineer, Mark Zarnowski, testified the 176‑acre site would ultimately accommodate 48 single‑family homes on roughly one‑acre lots and that approximately 59 acres of the parcel are proposed for development. He said the two road crossings and the storm‑sewer pipes would disturb 0.19 acres (roughly 8,000 square feet) of the site’s precautionary steep‑slope acreage, which he calculated at about 33.66 acres. Zarnowski described the disturbed areas as small, internally located, historically farmed tracts and said the proposed basins and storm facilities are outside prohibitive and precautionary slope areas.

Opposing counsel John Rice and several nearby residents pressed the applicant on procedural and substantive points. Rice asked whether the amended plans and the stormwater materials being presented that evening had been adequately advertised and repeatedly noted he had received some materials only at the hearing. Rice also questioned whether a conditional‑use grant limited to the steep‑slope incursion would nevertheless anchor the proposed roadway layout later in the land‑development process; the hearing officer said a decision could be crafted to limit relief to the specific steep‑slope incursion and require further approvals if the roadway configuration changes.

Residents who were granted party status questioned the applicant’s use of "man‑made" slopes in its calculations. Jeff Butler, a nearby resident, told the board: "I urge the board not to accept the applicant's definition of man‑made slopes," arguing the ordinance does not plainly define that term and urging caution before allowing an exclusion that could shrink the mapped steep‑slope impact.

Applicant witness Max (land‑entitlement manager for Toll) confirmed Toll has an agreement to purchase the Bennett property and testified that the agreement contemplates a minimum of 48 dwelling units; he estimated settlement could occur in 2027 absent extensions. Opposing counsel asked the applicant to provide the full agreement of sale to verify standing and some contract timing details for the record.

The applicant identified and submitted exhibits into the record, including the conditional‑use application, the plan set (last revised Sept. 25, 2025), proof of publication, the 500‑foot property‑owner list, and multiple consultant review letters from LDL Consultants and Bowman Engineering. The board admitted exhibits A1–A7 into evidence.

The board denied a request from opposing counsel to continue the hearing so parties could review the newly submitted plan sheets; instead it indicated it would render a written decision within 45 days. The record shows the applicant arguing the request to continue was unnecessary and the applicant preferring to finish the hearing that night.

What’s next: the board will issue a written decision within 45 days. If the board grants conditional‑use relief, the hearing officer indicated that any change to the roadway configuration during later subdivision and land‑development review could require re‑approval for steep‑slope disturbance.

Details on the record: the engineer testified that the site contains about 8.1 acres of prohibitive slopes and that the 0.19‑acre disturbance for the road crossings is internal to the proposed development and intentionally sited in smaller farmed areas. He said the plans show a 50‑foot right‑of‑way and 24‑foot pavement width for the proposed roads and that storm pipes will convey runoff to multiple infiltration basins shown on the plan. The applicant agreed to provide the ordinance language about man‑made slopes and to supply additional plan and contract documents when requested.

The board accepted public comment on the related issues, and neighbors also raised other township concerns (separate parking plan conditions and on‑lot sewage/permitting) during the public‑comment portion. The board adjourned after confirming it will rule in writing on the conditional‑use application within 45 days.