Houghtonville residents warn Neshaminy board that proposed 120-home development could strain Hoover traffic and school capacity

Patricia Taggart and Sandy Carroll, members of the Houghtonville Conservation Committee, told the Neshaminy Board of School Directors during public comment that a proposed development behind the Houghtonville firehouse — described by speakers as about 120 homes — could create significant traffic delays during school pickups and drop-offs, add students to already near-capacity classrooms at Hoover, and increase flooding risk.

“They're planning on building 120 homes on the property behind the firehouse,” Patricia Taggart said, adding the project appears to rely on a single entrance and exit and “no light, no anything,” which she said will make ingress and egress difficult. Sandy Carroll said the developer has sought a conditional-use approval and that residents have been at several hearings; she said the group hired an engineer who concluded the proposed retaining basins likely won’t work given clay soils and the proposed locations, and that other application elements “don't really fulfill the application.”

The comments placed emphasis on two concrete impacts: traffic and enrollment. Taggart said the neighborhood is concerned about “getting children in and out” of Hoover — noting the proximity of the school and the planned parking that would adjoin district property — and questioned whether the district was prepared for additional students. Board members acknowledged those concerns and said the district would need to be involved if any developer seeks to use or connect to district property.

Board member Allen said the district had raised concerns earlier in the public-review process and that a district representative would try to attend an upcoming conditional-use meeting to represent school interests. Commenters told the board a conditional-use meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m., with a second meeting planned in mid‑August before the council has 45 days to issue a decision.

No board action was taken during the meeting; the remarks were recorded as public comment. The board did not adopt or reject the development plan during the session, and the MOU and other agenda votes that followed were unrelated to the Houghtonville proposal.

The public comment period concluded with the district thanking the residents for raising the issue and promising additional involvement if the developer's plans involve district land.