TodayCarlisle Forge tries again
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Article RatingPerhaps the third time will be the charm for Carlisle Forge developers.
Rejected twice already by South Middleton supervisors, developers have submitted another subdivision plan for the controversial plan along York Road. Supervisors voted 4-0 last month to deny conditional use approval for the project.
The project fell apart after the promised connector road between York and Trindle roads was taken off the table by developer Kiran Patel. Supervisors initially rejected the subdivision plan in September when the previous developer did not attend a key meeting and was therefore unable to grant a time extension.
Previous plans for the development showed 561 mixed housing units on 189 acres at Fairview Street and York Road across from Mayapple Golf Links. Additional land would be developed as commercial use.
New plans filed last week subdivide a commercial strip of land from the main tract, Supervisor Tom Faley explains. It includes a request for 10 waivers.
"The planning board and our board will have to carefully weigh these waivers," he adds.
As usual, the planning commission will get the first look at the plan, as soon as July 17.
Neither Patel, or his engineer, Bony Dawood could be reached for comment on the new plan.
Road the key
Shah Matthias, the original developer, promised the connector road to divert northbound traffic from using Fairview Street, which is narrow, hilly and curvy.
Since then, Matthias sold the deed to the site to investors 44 Carlisle SM Forge Associates and 44 Carlisle SM Two Associates. Patel put forth a new plan to build half of the connector road -- with the other half to be completed by the developer of the neighboring Otto tract, or during phase seven of Carlisle Forge.
Patel cited economic concerns and pointed out the proposed infrastructure improvements -- including half of the connector road -- amount to a $3.4 million investment.
Patel did not attend the June 14 meeting during which supervisors rejected Carlisle Forge. But during a previous meeting, he declined to commit to the connector road, calling his final offer the best he could do financially.
Supervisors insist they cannot consider the project without the new road.
