Limerick planning commission recommends approval of self-storage project, Pen Road move and veterinary clinic

The Limerick Township Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of three land‑use items after brief presentations and questions from commissioners.

Joel Commanda of Inland Design, representing Chesco Real Estates, presented LD2603 for Lot 7 on Industrial Parkway: 36 contractor‑sized storage units arranged in three long rows with a looping access drive, a parking/loading space in front of each unit, no staffed office and no proposed water or sewer service. Commanda said the applicant is requesting several waivers, including steeper internal basin slopes to preserve trees, a 15‑inch storm pipe in lieu of an 18‑inch pipe sized by calculations, no widening or sidewalk along Industrial Parkway, reduced 12‑foot landscape buffers matched to the parking setback, a stone‑lined basin floor (recommended by the Montgomery County Conservation District), and use of an aerial photo to show existing features within 400 feet of the parcel. Commissioners asked about hours, outdoor storage and how the basin relates to existing trees; Commanda and a member of the ownership group, Steve Clifton, said the site would be unstaffed, the units are approximately 18 feet by 30 feet and there would be no outdoor storage. After staff confirmed review‑letter conditions would be addressed except where waivers were sought, the commission voted to recommend approval subject to consultant review items and the waivers described.

On LB26041 (Pen Road), the applicant asked to move part of a business to the lot. That application follows zoning‑hearing variances the applicant already obtained; the plan includes two requested deferrals (sidewalk and roadway improvements) and a partial waiver on streetscape/tree requirements tied to the prior zoning‑hearing conditions. Staff reported that consultant comments (Penoni and TPD) would be addressed; commissioners moved and seconded a recommendation that the Board of Supervisors approve the project with conditions and reflected deferrals.

Julie Bernstein of Kaplan Stewart presented CU26‑02 for 442 North Lewis Road: a planned 5,200‑square‑foot professional veterinary office operated by Main Street Vet with two full‑time veterinarians and about six employees, daytime business hours, no dog boarding, and 38 parking spaces (more than required). Bernstein said the property will be served by public water and sewer and that full stormwater engineering will be submitted at the land‑development stage; several residents and commissioners raised questions about where a detention basin would be sited and how many trees might need removal. The commission voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors consider the conditional‑use application; staff and the applicant said full land‑development plans (including stormwater, PennDOT access/hop if required, and landscaping) will follow.

The commission recorded standard next steps: the storage and Pen Road matters move to the Board of Supervisors or to land‑development review as applicable, and the veterinary conditional use will be scheduled for a conditional‑use hearing before the supervisors.

Ending: The commission closed the items and moved on to new business.