The developer of a Costco, three undetermined restaurants, and a bank will pay the township over $1 million in the form of a donation and traffic impact fees.
On Thursday, the Limerick Board of Supervisors approved a long list of waivers for O’Neill Properties Group. There will be no road improvements along Evergreen Road, according to the resolution.
Additionally, the “mixed use” Sanatoga Springs received waivers from installing trees on parking lot islands and from constructing parking islands for every 20 spaces (fewer will be built).
The Costco approval allows a driveway within 5 feet of a property line, a variance from township codes.
Joseph Leoni, a Realtor with Keller Williams, addressed the board as a resident. He asked if there will be improvements to Lightcap Road, below Possum Hollow Road.
No, replied Township Manager Dan Kerr, adding that a “master plan” is underway with neighboring Lower Pottsgrove Township for the Sanatoga exit of Route 422.
Leoni said, “Between the outlet mall and this new project, there’s (going to be) considerably more traffic.”
“Yes, we realize that,” Kerr said.
Supervisor Elaine DeWan said, “It’s beyond the purview of what’s their responsibility.”
A representative of Costco did not speak at this meeting. Ed Campbell, of O’Neill Properties Group, and engineer Tim Stoudt addressed the board.
Confusion among board members and professionals was visible when discussion turned to sidewalks.
“There’s no additional curbing along Evergreen Road,” Stoudt said.
The original plans showed no sidewalks or curbing along Lightcap Road but that has been changed, Campbell said.
As for lighting, higher intensity lights will be allowed inside the shopping center, while exterior illumination will be dimmer, according to Township Engineer Khaled Hassan.
Campbell, of O’Neill, stated their intention to work with SEPTA and PART (Pottstown Area Rapid Transit) on a bus stop.
No construction timetable was announced Thursday.
While Costco is moving forward, another giant retailer – Walmart – is still stuck in legal limbo. A settlement agreement had been listed on the agenda. According to Supervisor Renee Chesler, Walmart representatives had it removed and placed on the Jan. 19 agenda.
Asked why, Chesler wrote in an e-mail, “No idea. Perhaps to avoid media attention.”
A resident of Walnut Grove, Chesler opposed the new Walmart and was a party to the 2004 lawsuit (initiated by the retailer).
December 11th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Looks like the Township is out of funds so they would rather take the cash instead of the improvements. Deal or No Deal
December 11th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Just what the area needs, another big box store!
December 12th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Absolutely ridiculous.
Also, Oneill has not lived up to their word.
They said they would discuss matters with residents on Evergreen. They never did. Probably wont now.
They said they would introduce an alternative route into their project.
They haven’t.
Look what happened in Conshohocken. Limited access in the time of an emergency was devastating. they had to get water from the river to battle the fire.
The township supervisors showed their lack of civic intelligence here. All they had to do was say ‘take care of emergency access’ and they did not.
Some of them are obviously so bitter that they were ousted they would rather see the town suffer.
December 12th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
More: Montgomery County Sheriff said he would not allow limited access after the Conshohocken fire. His office needs to wake up and answer calls. Also, the 911 Center almost vomited when this was announced.
Can you imagine the lawsuits that will come on the exiting Supervisors when this disaster unfolds. They all promised under sworn oath they would address traffic. All they did was funnel money to consultants and lobbyist. They sold out the residents.
I am sure the Union will protest this development again like they did the mall.
December 14th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Just remember who put the Township staff and contracted consultants in. The supervisors are gone now except one but the staff and consultants and their ties are still there.
December 14th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Hopefully this new board will clean house. Only problem is they gave the manager a new 5yr contract. Isn’t this the same thing that several of the past boards did that the incoming boards cried about and got themselves into law suits with. Man when will it stop.
December 14th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
there is no way i can see this working. Costco cant be that dumb to allow limerick supervisors to paint them into a corner. in oaks the police have several officers there for the movies and the target. limerick will have 5 times as many people per day just with the outlets and the costco.
another limerick failure coming to town due to traffic problems.
go figure
December 14th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
king of prussia mall put such a demand on upper merion that the taxes went up 2 times. 12 officers and paid fire and ems support the mall.
Limerick is a disaster waiting to happen. traffic jams, crimes, higher taxes. what a shame.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Here is an exerpt from the Conshy Fire!!
CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. – August 13, 2008- (WPVI) — A multi-alarm fire is raging in the 200 block of Washington Street in Conshohocken.
The fire broke out around 5:00 p.m. at an unoccupied building at the Riverwalk at Millenium apartments, a $51 million upscale apartment complex. The fire spread rapidly and destroyed the building.
The fire has since spread to occupied buildings. The fire, as of 9:00 p.m., has not been said to be under control.
In all, five buildings are burning.
Officials tell Action News, 375 people have been displaced and they are being taken to a local fire department. Arrangements are being made for them.
Two people have been injured during this fire, one resident and one firefighter. Those injuries are said to be minor.
The smoke was visible from the Schuylkill Expressway.
Montgomery County Public Safety Director Tom Sullivan says everyone has been evacuated. But he says the area is a former industrial region that doesn’t have the firefighting infrastructure usually found in residential areas. He says it isn’t helping that the fire broke out between railroad tracks and a river, making it hard to get to. He says firefighters have cut down fences to get access…
December 15th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
The cops at oaks are paid by the theater I believe. I could be wrong though.
December 23rd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
When the standard “donation” comes to the twp: you can have everyone look the other way for codes and surveys. Its so obvious the pay offs to get things done. And that is the way they operate, pay me cash and you can do anything they want. F.B.I., I.R.S., where are you when we need you?
December 23rd, 2009 at 12:57 pm
To Burkharts most EMS in the county is and has been paid for years now. There are no paid firefighters in Upper Merion. I agree that Limerick has given away the house to these developers….and where is our damn casino? Would have used less police resources than the mall.