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Upper Dublin commissioners debate Fort Washington Village overlay amendment over steep slopes and unit count
Summary
Commissioners spent the meeting questioning whether a proposed text amendment that changes how steep slopes count toward developable acreage would enable denser housing along the Fort Washington Village corridor; the board heard technical explanations about 18 parcels and differing views on whether a one-unit change constitutes spot zoning.
Chair opened a lengthy discussion of a proposed text amendment to the Fort Washington Village (FWV) overlay that would change how steep slopes are treated when calculating developable acreage, saying the overlay map covers about 12 acres and “of those 18 parcels, there are 11 parcels with steep slopes on them.”
The board and a commissioner debated whether reducing an applicant’s proposal from 10 units to nine would materially affect broader planning outcomes. The commissioner argued the change would not produce the broad impacts opponents alleged and called selective citation of a single comprehensive-plan map “cherry picking.”
Staff and board members reviewed engineering and precedent context. Chair noted prior proposals on nearby parcels were counted differently depending on use (for example, an older assisted-living proposal had been counted by beds rather than dwelling units) and said the update aims to apply the overlay consistently across the corridor.
On stormwater, Chair asked the applicant to explain mitigation measures and whether runoff volume or rate would increase; the Chair summarized staff testimony that the project’s stormwater controls are intended to improve, not worsen, the rate and flow of runoff. The board did not adopt a final decision in the discussion recorded; Chair signaled a pragmatic approach and said he expected to vote on a text amendment later in the day.
Why it matters: The FWV overlay determines development density and protections for steep slopes in a long-established township neighborhood. How the board defines ‘‘developable acreage’’ affects multiple properties along a three-quarter-mile frontage and could change what is allowed on parcels currently listed in the overlay.
Where it stands: The board discussed the amendment in detail, raised questions about spot-zoning risks and stormwater impacts, and will consider the measure at a subsequent vote recorded in the meeting record.
