The previous two plans for 200+ single family developments on a 113-acre parcel in Amity Township are now proposed as a Continuing Care Retirement Center (CCRC) with at least 30 full time and 16 part time employees.
William Lampey of McCarthy Engineering Associates, Inc., Wyomissing, and Atty. Mark Koch, Reading, representing American Land Development, presented the new sketch plans at the Nov. 19 Amity Township Board of Supervisors meeting.
Koch said the land parcel is located on Amity Park Road in the township’s Planned Business/Office/Light Industrial District (PBOI), which is in AWIP (Amity Western Industrial Park).
“The Flatleys have investigated their options for the property and determined that a CCRC would be appropriate for this property in PBOI and AWIP, with a very symbiotic use — and would probably be the last piece there that would ever be developed [in AWIP],” said Koch.
Previously known as the Flatley Tract and Golf Estates, the plans were for a by-right, 182-unit Planned Residential Development (PRD) and also a 202-unit PRD plan in 2008, which is under appeal.
“From that we developed a new concept that is a blend of CCRC, age restrictive, and nursing home, but PBOI doesn’t support that — the use isn’t permitted in AWIP,” said Koch.
Koch wants to work with the township to develop an overlay zoning amendment that would permit the three uses in the PBOI district.
The CCRC and nursing home uses are currently permitted in the Highway Commercial (HC) district.
“It would be a synthesis of those three ordinances and uses,” said Koch, adding, “An economic analysis done by McCarthy indicates that for the plan to be feasible, it needs to have this combination of uses. As these age restricted developments have developed, it has become clear that this mix is important.”
The sketch plan of 380 units includes 240 apartments, 42 townhouse units, 48 cottages, 50 assisted living units, a clubhouse with a pool and tennis facilities, and now 50 percent open space with walking trails.
“It is entirely age restrictive, which is something we thought you would find quite attractive,” said Koch.
“This is the type of plan I think we’re looking for,” said Supervisor Richard L. Gokey. “It adds economic development to the township, no increased burden to the schools. I think it definitely has possibilities and I think it’s worth all our time.”
Supervisors Terry L. Jones and Paul R. Weller agreed with Gokey.
“I don’t see a bad side to this,” said Weller.
The zoning amendment would create an overlay district for other areas in the township — at either a 10 or a 20-acre minimum.
Township Manager Charles E. Lyon said the township’s tentative 2015 $4 million budget will be balanced by encumbering $66,000.
No tax increase is required for the expenses that have increased from $3,939,100 to $4,016,253.
The township’s tax rate is 1.95 mills.
Properties with an assessed value of $100,000 pay an annual tax bill of $195.
Lyon said the township’s general fund has a balance of $2.4 million.