Middletown approves settlement for 1700 Woodburn redevelopment; developer to seed $200,000 home‑buyer assistance fund
February 05, 2024 | Middletown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
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Middletown Township supervisors on Feb. 5 approved a settlement resolving a zoning appeal tied to the proposed redevelopment of the former Eisenhower Elementary School at 1700 Woodburn Road, authorizing township solicitor staff to carry out the stipulation of settlement.
The settlement, presented by township solicitor Michael Esposito and the applicant’s counsel, would allow the applicant to seek relief after the zoning hearing board denied variances for townhomes in the Professional zoning district. Counsel said the plan sets a cap of 66 townhouses, adds deed‑restricted open space and buffering adjacent to the Cobalt Ridge neighborhood, and requires a decorative perimeter fence and landscape plantings to screen the development from neighboring homes.
“The applicant has put all of those conditions into this stipulation, including limiting the density to 66 homes,” counsel said, adding the applicant agreed to install buffering and to work with PennDOT to extend a left‑turn lane near Cobalt Ridge to address neighborhood safety concerns.
As part of the settlement, Westrom Development Company agreed to work with the township to establish a home purchaser assistance trust fund, via a qualified nonprofit, to provide no‑interest second‑mortgage loans for qualified buyers to cover deposit requirements. Counsel said the developer would seed the fund with a $200,000 contribution.
Township staff and developer representatives said the proposal reduced density and impervious surface from earlier plans, incorporated numerous neighbor requests and township staff comments, and limited rear‑yard improvements (no sheds, pools or recreational equipment) for units backing up to existing homes. The developer also agreed to install the perimeter buffer plantings before construction of the 19 homes nearest Cobalt Ridge.
Supervisor discussion noted remaining steps: approval of a separate land‑development application, final engineering review and solicitor review of deed‑restriction language. Solicitor Esposito emphasized the settlement resolves the current court and zoning‑board actions but does not grant final land‑development approval.
The board voted 5‑0 to enter the stipulation and authorized the solicitor and staff to carry out the terms and to return the matter for land‑development review. The applicant said it will continue working with neighbors and township staff before submitting final land‑development plans.
The settlement, presented by township solicitor Michael Esposito and the applicant’s counsel, would allow the applicant to seek relief after the zoning hearing board denied variances for townhomes in the Professional zoning district. Counsel said the plan sets a cap of 66 townhouses, adds deed‑restricted open space and buffering adjacent to the Cobalt Ridge neighborhood, and requires a decorative perimeter fence and landscape plantings to screen the development from neighboring homes.
“The applicant has put all of those conditions into this stipulation, including limiting the density to 66 homes,” counsel said, adding the applicant agreed to install buffering and to work with PennDOT to extend a left‑turn lane near Cobalt Ridge to address neighborhood safety concerns.
As part of the settlement, Westrom Development Company agreed to work with the township to establish a home purchaser assistance trust fund, via a qualified nonprofit, to provide no‑interest second‑mortgage loans for qualified buyers to cover deposit requirements. Counsel said the developer would seed the fund with a $200,000 contribution.
Township staff and developer representatives said the proposal reduced density and impervious surface from earlier plans, incorporated numerous neighbor requests and township staff comments, and limited rear‑yard improvements (no sheds, pools or recreational equipment) for units backing up to existing homes. The developer also agreed to install the perimeter buffer plantings before construction of the 19 homes nearest Cobalt Ridge.
Supervisor discussion noted remaining steps: approval of a separate land‑development application, final engineering review and solicitor review of deed‑restriction language. Solicitor Esposito emphasized the settlement resolves the current court and zoning‑board actions but does not grant final land‑development approval.
The board voted 5‑0 to enter the stipulation and authorized the solicitor and staff to carry out the terms and to return the matter for land‑development review. The applicant said it will continue working with neighbors and township staff before submitting final land‑development plans.
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