Upper Providence supervisors grant tentative approval to 472‑unit South Collegeville Road development in 3–2 vote

The Upper Providence Board of Supervisors voted 3–2 on Jan. 21, 2025 to adopt Resolution 2025‑08, granting tentative land development approval for a proposed multifamily project on South Collegeville Road that the applicant says will contain 472 residential units.

The applicant team described the plan as a land condominium with a 175‑unit northern building and three additional buildings totaling 297 units. Tony Seis, a representative for the applicant, told the board, “So, what you see on the screen is, in total, 472 units.” The plan includes amenities such as a pool, courtyard, and a dog park and proposes to meet local density‑bonus and setback requirements.

Why it matters: Supervisors and nearby residents pressed the applicant on traffic and safety along Route 29, stormwater and floodplain impacts, building height and the projected number of school‑age children. Those issues bear on both public safety and local public‑service costs as the project advances toward preliminary engineering and detailed plan review.

During a technical presentation, engineer Paul Leppard described stormwater controls that include four basins around Unit 1 plus several underground basins intended to meet the township’s stormwater ordinance. Traffic consultant Eric Ostachuk said the applicant has coordinated with PennDOT and Bowman on off‑site improvements, including a plan that would widen portions of Route 29 to a five‑lane cross section with a new traffic signal and a center left‑turn lane.

In a fiscal‑impact summary, planner Eric Kessel presented projected net revenue benefits to the township and school district: “a net positive fiscal impact to the township totaling about $135,000 annually, and a net fiscal impact … to the school district totaling just over $1,100,000 annually,” and an estimate of roughly 67 school‑age children based on the school district’s November 2024 multipliers.

Residents and supervisors repeatedly raised safety and capacity concerns for the Route 29 corridor. A local resident said the project’s scale would “cram a lot of units in” and warned the development could worsen an existing bottleneck at the top of the hill where the road narrows. The applicant acknowledged those concerns and said further traffic analyses and design coordination with PennDOT would continue as part of the preliminary plan process.

The board voted on the tentative approval after public comment and extended Q&A. The roll call recorded in the meeting minutes was: Supervisor Kalsy — yes; Supervisor Stevens — no; Supervisor Yeager — no; Supervisor Sadler — yes; and the Chair — yes, yielding a 3–2 approval. The tentative approval permits the applicant to proceed toward preliminary plan submission and more detailed engineering reviews; it does not authorize final construction.

Next steps: The applicant will address review comments, submit additional traffic and stormwater studies and return to the township for preliminary plan review, and the township will continue coordination with PennDOT, Bowman and other agencies where required.