Londonderry supervisors conditionally approve Tolani‑Middletown plan, grant nine waivers

The Londonderry Township Board of Supervisors on April 17 conditionally approved the Tolani‑Middletown Preliminary/Final Land Development Plan and granted nine waiver requests related to subdivision and stormwater requirements.

Duane Brady, the township’s codes and zoning officer, introduced the plan and said engineer reviews covered sewage planning modules, a resubmitted PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit, utility certifications and a stormwater review letter from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Casey Cawley of Reilly Associates summarized the outstanding items and recommended a plan note that "a permit will not be issued until the utility agreement documents are provided." Cawley said the stormwater comments from DEP were minor and would not require system changes.

Supervisors voted unanimously to approve waivers ranging from preliminary plan submission requirements and drainage‑easement widths to sidewalk location, stormwater volume control, drainage design, setbacks, sewer flow velocities, gutter flow calculations and a conditional utility‑certificate waiver requiring documentation before building permits are issued. The board then conditionally approved the plan, with Chair Bart Shellenhamer and Supervisor Mel Hershey noting that outstanding administrative items, easements, NPDES permits, signatures and financial security must be provided before permits issue.

When Supervisor Mel Hershey asked whether the proposed drainage area would exceed minimum standards, Cawley replied, "Correct, this facility is designed to be a dewatering basin that is to be empty and not create a wetland." The board recorded the approvals as unanimous.

The board also approved a Traffic Signal Permit for the Tolani‑Middletown project; the related Traffic Signal Maintenance Agreement had been approved previously on April 1.

Next steps spelled out by staff include submission of the outstanding utility agreements, required signatures and securities before the township will issue building permits or other approvals tied to the plan. The board’s conditional approval allows the developer to proceed with final administrative items but does not authorize construction until those conditions are met.