W. Vincent OKs apartment plans

JASON KOTOWSKI , Staff Writer

"If you can’t support this, you can’t support anything," Della Porta said. Supervisors Kenneth Miller Jr. and Zoe Perkins voted in favor of the development at the meeting Monday, while Clare Quinn recused herself from voting. Della Porta said complaints about the project were made by a few residents living in the area who opposed the project for personal reasons, not out of concern about the environment. For months, several residents have voiced opposition against the planned construction of eight buildings that would house 216 housing units on the 120-acre Griffith Tract of farmland behind Ludwig’s Corner Fire Company on Route 100 near Nantmeal Road. Jason Phillips, president of Residents for Smart Development, said it is "highly likely" the group will appeal the board’s decision. He said approval of the apartment complex will have serious consequences for West Vincent residents because it allows Della Porta and other developers to subvert the township’s ordinance against building on precautionary slopes, which are defined in the ordinance as land that has a 15-25 percent slope over a minimum vertical distance of six feet. Township engineer Craig A. Kologie, of Castle Valley Consultants, said Della Porta’s plan adheres to the ordinance. Attorney Dwight Yoder and engineer John Roach argued the legality of the plan with engineers representing Della Porta. Yoder objected to the board’s decision, saying the supervisors should have denied the plan because precautionary slopes are on the site. Yoder asked that Quinn recuse herself from voting when Quinn and resident Melissa Bertolami argued after Bertolami spoke against the plan and told Quinn to "make sure you get rid of them, too." Quinn repeatedly asked Bertolami to explain what she meant, but Bertolami refused, saying, "I think you know what I mean." Quinn agreed to recuse herself after the exchange, saying she had no animosity toward anyone at the meeting, but she didn’t want the appearance of animosity to hurt the township’s decision during the expected appeal. After the meeting, Quinn said she believed Bertolami was implying there was a connection between the board’s decision in favor of Della Porta and recent staff changes in township government, such as the replacement of township Manager Robert Wideman. "She may think there’s a connection, but there isn’t," Quinn said. Miller and Perkins said they voted in favor of the plan based on the opinion of the township’s engineer. Township officials have said the apartment complex is low-density compared to an earlier plan. The apartments will occupy 18 acres and the rest will be left as open space, as opposed to houses filling the entire 120 acres. Della Porta has said he hopes to begin construction on the $25 million apartment complex in late spring or early summer. Construction should take about two years, he said.