February Newsletter

As expected the developer of the Over 55 Retirement community submitted a new plan in January 2014. This plan was similar to the last one submitted in 2013 called the “by right” plan but contained some new twists. The most significant is the addition of 5 units in the land recently added to the property on the north-west side of the corner of Overlook and Clearview roads. Other minor changes were also added to maximize the number of units that could be constructed. The good news is that they are no longer proposing the multistory buildings they started out with. The bad news is that they continue to try to use variances to the Township Ordances to cut corners and get around the hard part of the rules. The fact that the Township rturned the application to them to correct some of the problems has given us time to consider what we want to do. Generally speaking the current residents have two choices on how to influence the new development. We could do nothing except attend Township meetings and state our intersts. To date the Township Supervisors have leaned our way and have required the developer to live up to the rules. To what extent this continues or if a deal is made to grant some of the requested variances is yet to be seen.
The second is for us to join in the discussion through lawers and expert testiomony and have a greater influence on the discussions. Results are not guaranteed, but by showing the effort and interest it is more likely that the Supervisors will stick to the ordnance as written.

In our organizational meeting the majority of residents spoke for legal intervention. Everyone was enthusistic that we should hire the lawyer and experts. However contray to that desire the funds required to pay for the lawyer and expers have not been forthcomming. We have struggled to collect enough money to pay our bills. It is not possible for us to move forward with the strategy of engaging legal help unless we collect funds to pay the bills. The Officers can not authorize additional legal work unless there is a reasonable expectation that we can pay for the work we request.
It is time to make decisions on where we are going. We can talk at length about impacts on property values, the possibility of the smell from the sewer system, additional traffic and ways to minimize the impacts. The talk is good, but without speaking with our wallets it is just talk. For those that have contributed to the organization thank you, and please consider a monthly amount. For those that have not contributed we need your financial support to make anything happen. It is you that will make or break this organization. Without sufficient support we are done. We suggest an initial contribution of $100, followed by smaller monthly amounts. If you can not afford that amount we understand but request you contribute what you can afford.
The Township has given us some time to organize. We either take advantage of the opportunity, properly fund the organization and move forward in the discussion. Or we keep together to pay our existing bills, and use the organization to communicate what happens. It is yours to decide and to show your decision by financial support.