Hilltown Township. Photo by James Short.
A proposal to build a new age-restricted housing development off Swartley Road in Hilltown Township is moving forward cautiously, as township officials press the developer for design changes amid resident concerns.
Warrington-based Hallmark Homes recently appeared before the Hilltown Township Board of Supervisors to outline plans for a 73-unit age-restricted townhouse community along with 11 single-family homes near Route 309, according to the Bucks County Herald.
Supervisors did not take a vote on the project, instead directing the developer to revise a proposed internal roadway that would serve the senior housing portion of the site. Township officials said the current single-access layout raises safety concerns and asked for a redesigned road system with two access points to better accommodate emergency vehicles and meet local standards, per the report.
Hallmark Homes is expected to return to a public meeting in January with a revised plan.
Residents attending the meeting voiced concerns about the potential impacts of the development, including increased traffic along Swartley Road, stormwater runoff, environmental issues, and possible effects on nearby property values, according to the article.
Township officials noted that, unlike a larger proposal previously floated for the site, Hallmark’s plan complies with current zoning requirements, with the single-family homes permitted by right in the rural residential district and the age-restricted units allowed in the PC-1 zone.
