SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. — A subdivision/land development project called South Abington Woods Project Phase 3 was discussed at the April 8 supervisors meeting. Township engineer David O’Neill explained that Sterling Way, located off Country Club Road, is owned by engineer Mike Noto and Noto has obtained a zoning variance to be allowed to make two townhouse suites buildings.
O’Neill reported Noto started Phase 1 at Glenridge Circle and Brookfield, he completed Phase 2 at Wyndham Way and now wants to move on to Phase 3.
“It was an area where, by the size of the land, he could’ve put 100 units,” said O’Neill. “But all sorts of stipulations between the former property owners and the residents up there that there will be a 150-foot buffer between the building and back property line, which is a Clarks Summit residence. With all that being said, he (Noto) loses a whole bunch of units. There’s still a large number he can fit, but he requested approval about a year ago at a conditional use hearing (in) February of 2018, I believe.”
O’Neill said the land Noto purchased is two lots and a road (Sterling Way).
“He (Noto) is looking to take those three lots (and) combine them into one individual lot, which he needs to get to the next step of subdivision land development,” he said. “So, the first step is basically just the lines in the middle and creating on large lot.”
O’Neill announced Solicitor Bill Jones, members of the planning commission and county engineers all reviewed the plan and have no issues.
Noto and fellow engineer Jeff Jerome showed the supervisors hard copy plans of their land development at Sterling Way. Supervisor Giles Stanton asked if they plan to install street lights since it’s a dark road and Noto explained that, in their communities, they install street lights every 300 feet.
“There are no street lights from Country Club Road coming in,” he said.
O’Neill added when South Abington Twp. took over Country Club Road in 2009, officials decided not to install street lights since no one lived there at the time. He said now that people live there, they want street lights but want them at the bottom of the hill. Noto said he makes provisions for street lights at every development.
“But typically, the township doesn’t pay for street lights and, if people want them, the association should pay for them,” he said.
Noto said there are provisions on Country Club Road and PPL Electric charges $30 a month to install and maintain a street light. O’Neill then mentioned he and supervisor Joseph Sproul are working with Adam Stella of PPL about installing a light at the lower corner.
“Adam (Stella) said he could get power off the box at Glenridge Circle,” said O’Neill. “But we would have to do the power line installation. But for him to power up every light, you’re looking at significant monthly costs to those old lights.”
Noto said he and Jerome are currently seeking preliminary approval for the subdivision land development and will hopefully come back in the summer for final approval.
