Council to ask developer if he will vacate lease at 330 Valley Brook; parcel could be appraised and offered for sale

Council discussed a longstanding lease between Peters Township and Thomas A. Robinson Family Partnership covering a small parcel near a stormwater pond at 330 Valley Brook Road and directed staff to ask the developer whether he will vacate the lease and consider purchasing the township parcel at market value.

The lease, begun in 2019, originally supported a proposed concession stand and required the lessee to maintain the detention pond in exchange for use of the surrounding area; the developer later transferred a separate parcel to the township. Construction and changing site plans have made the original concession use unlikely, and Mr. Robinson has proposed relocating the pond and extending townhouses onto the existing parcel. Council members debated whether to accept such a proposal because any sale or transfer could require plan amendments and the parcel would have to be offered publicly.

Staff said the township currently benefits from Mr. Robinson’s maintenance of the pond; some members said the parcel provides little municipal benefit in its present condition. Council discussed options: (1) seek a mutual termination of the lease and appraise the parcel; (2) if termination is granted, place the parcel for public sale with a market upset price and a condition that any buyer relocate the pond; or (3) keep the status quo and require the lessee to maintain the pond until construction is complete. No sale or termination was approved at the meeting; instead council voted to have staff contact Mr. Robinson to learn whether he would agree to vacate the lease and to discuss market value and sale terms.

What’s next: Staff will contact the lessee and report back; if the lessee agrees to vacate, council indicated it would seek an appraisal and consider a public sale with clear conditions regarding stormwater relocation and plan amendments.