Tuesday
September 26, 2023 
Plumstead Township supervisors reviewed possible amendments to a final development plan for Lantern Ridge at their meeting last week.
The property on Stump Road above Wawa on Route 611, owned by GPH Plumstead Corporation, received final approval in 2003 for 40 townhouses, 13 single-family homes, 10 twin dwellings, a manor house with 24 apartments, and commercial space.
Joseph Price, of GPH explained that the amendments to the plan reflect changes in the real estate market over 16 years. The new plan shows 10 single homes, 62 townhouses facing Stump Road, 30 units of stacked apartments and elimination of the 16,000 square feet of commercial use.
The site is under agreement to be developed by Lennar homes, according to their representative Sam Parlow. He said the new loop road configuration has alleyways and allows for more green space and less parking than the original plan. The townhouses will have varied facades of brick and siding, and the stacked units will have rear-loaded garages.
Supervisor Dan Hilferty expressed concern about the densely packed community. He cited the same question he had years ago, of how residents will walk to Wawa and Giant Market. He said the township wants to create a more walkable town center.
Parlow replied that Wawa was contacted in 2012 about a possible easement for a walkway with no results and that he would look for another way.
Supervisor Brian Trymbiski said he has a tough time with the stacked units because of the percentage of renters concerning mortgage companies. Parlow explained that the stacked units help pick up the density lost with elimination of the manor house apartments and offer a more affordable home to first-time buyers.
Supervisor Darren Carroll said that the stacked homes are questionable because of so many what-ifs. Parlow listed the approximate prices of the stacked units in low $300,000s and townhouses in low $400,000s.
Trymbiski said that the building architecture looks okay but that he would like to see something besides the stacked units.
The developer will consider the supervisors’ input, review with the township planning commission and hopes to be back before the supervisors in May.
