Elk Township board deems D.R. Horton Orchard Glen application complete; technical hearing scheduled

At its Sept. 18 meeting the Elk Township Combined Planning & Zoning Board voted to deem complete an application from D.R. Horton, Inc., seeking preliminary and final major site plan and subdivision approval for the Orchard Glen development, a multi‑phase project totaling 962 residential units.

Board Engineer Steve Bach described the project's proposed makeup: 685 single‑family age‑restricted units and 276 multi‑family units, divided into three sections the applicant called The Willows, The Carriages and The Reeds. Bach and the planner/engineer review letter flagged multiple waivers and required submissions as part of a completeness determination, including documentation concerning any historic structures within 200 feet of the tract, cross sections and centerline profiles for streets, and written commitments or "will-serve" letters from the Elk Township Municipal Utilities Authority or New Jersey American Water.

Mrs. Nicholson asked whether the board could review the historic‑structure list and waive the requirement for completeness; Bach recommended the waiver for completeness only. Board members requested that the two affected school districts receive sets of plans and that applicants provide utility capacity documentation. Applicant representatives confirmed they could supply school plans and that no exterior fire escapes are proposed.

Mrs. Nicholson moved to deem the application complete as amended and Mr. Wolf seconded. By roll‑call the board voted 7–0–0 to deem the D.R. Horton application complete. The board tentatively scheduled a technical hearing for Dec. 18, 2024. The completeness determination means the application will proceed to a technical review; outstanding waivers, utility confirmations, and detailed engineering submissions must be provided before final approval could be considered.