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Residents press council over Sunrise Village safety, traffic and abandoned Main Street building
Summary
During public comment residents raised safety and resource concerns about Sunrise Village, the possibility of domestic-abuse victims, narrow streets and bus routing near Hopeland School, and pressed the mayor on plans to condemn an abandoned Main Street building; council and staff responded with process and safety explanations.
Several residents used the council's public-comment period to press officials on safety, traffic and property concerns tied to local development.
Paul Lund raised multiple concerns about Sunrise Village, saying he feared domestic-abuse victims might be at risk if abusers could find them at the facility and asking how taxing the project would be on township resources. Lund also said he worried about narrow streets near Hopeland School making bus and pedestrian movement hazardous and asked whether council was aware of Assembly Bill 22 18 and Senate Bill 22 60; he warned of a potential chilling effect on protest activity if certain provisions remained. A council member responded that the specific provision Lund cited had been struck from the bill on First Amendment grounds.
Residents also questioned an apparent plan to use eminent domain on a boarded Main Street building. One speaker, John Battary, asked why the township would move to condemn a property that might be sold and suggested the owner should be given an opportunity to sell; Mayor John McCormick replied the building remains boarded, has multiple violations and presents a safety risk. "Sometimes the threat of a condemnation forces the owner to do something," McCormick said, describing past outcomes where condemnation threats led to sales and subsequent revitalization.
Tom Maris followed with requests for inspection records, questions about certificates of occupancy and a note that Sunrise Village had recently paid back taxes; he said he would press for more details about a $712,500 grant to the YMCA referenced in the township's materials.
Claims and context: Residents expressed safety and traffic concerns and asked the council to clarify oversight and inspection protocols; the mayor and staff said many matters (property condemnation, building inspections, contractual details) are in process and will require legal steps, appraisal and, where applicable, court proceedings.
The public-comment period closed after several additional questions and the council resumed its agenda.
