One of Lower Makefield's few remaining large farms could be giving way to 78 single-family houses.
A preliminary land development and major subdivision plan was filed in the township within the last few days. It proposes to divide the 106-acre Torbert Farm at 1700 Yardley-Newtown Road, near its intersection with Creamery Road, into 78 single-family dwelling lots. At Monday night's township Planning Commission meeting, members acknowledged receipt of the plan and took public comment but didn't start their formal review.
The plan, filed under the name of the estate of Harry M. Torbert, Jr., deceased, is already drawing a big reaction from township residents, several of whom spoke during public comment Monday night.
"The entire community is really concerned about traffic, drainage into our neighborhoods, as well as (the impact) on schools," one resident said.
There is no potential builder of the houses named, township Community Development Director Jim Majewski said. He added that officials connected with the plan say it can be built "by right" in the R-1 residential low density zoning district where the property is located without the need for any zoning variances.
However, one resident who looked at the plan said it's asking for 14 waivers from requirements of the township's subdivision and land development ordinance. Both entrance/exit points are proposed from Creamery Road, another cause for alarm among nearby residents who say they have a hard time getting out onto Creamery Road as it is.
"That's insane," one resident said of the proposed accesses.
Planning Commission members and board of supervisors Chairman Fredric Weiss, liaison to the planning commission, said the review process for the plan is in its infancy and the plan will be reviewed by the township and Bucks County planning commissions along with several other agencies, including the supervisors, who have final say.
"We're all just finding out about this together right now. Every concern will be taken into consideration during this process. It will be a long process," Weiss said.
"There will be a lot of eyeballs on this thing," added township Planning Commission Chairman Adrian Costello. "Keep coming to meetings and if you have questions and concerns, keep bringing them up."
Majewski indicated at one point during the meeting that it's not a certainty, despite the plan filing, that the land will be developed, at least not to the full extent. When asked by Planning Commission member Anthony Bush whether any effort was being made to preserve all or some of the property as open space, Majewski responded that officials connected to the proposed development were "possibly open to that."
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