ORWIGSBURG — The borough Planning and Zoning Commission voted Wednesday to recommend denial of a retirement community plan.
The Blue Mountain Retirement Community plan proposed by The Rhodes Organization, Boyertown, sought to develop a 27.725-acre site that it owns along East Market Street between Breezy Acres and Kimmels roads. It planned for 400 rental units open to different age groups. J. Jerome Skrincosky, president of Hawk Valley Associates PC, Mohnton, attended meetings about the proposal on behalf of the organization. He did not attend Wednesday’s meeting.
“We need to make a decision tonight on the plan,” engineer Greg Stewart from Alfred Benesch & Co., Pottsville, told the board.
Stewart said he did not call Skrincosky about the meeting but said Skrincosky was aware of the time line.
A decision was needed Wednesday because the council needs to take action on the plan no later than May 8, according to the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. Extensions of 90 days were previously provided to the borough for it to act on the plan.
Stewart said the last correspondence he had with those involved with the plan was Jan. 21. He said the plan “does not meet enough of the criteria” to comply with regulations. He provided a time line to the commission about the actions taken thus far on the project.
Before this project was submitted, The Rhodes Organization had The Pine Creek Adult Community plan approved in 2009 by the borough council. That plan was similar but included underground parking and other changes.
Gretchen Coles Sterns, Skrincosky’s attorney, had submitted the Blue Mountain Retirement Community Plan in August 2015 after the borough council denied requests for zoning ordinance amendments by The Rhodes Organization for the Pine Creek Retirement Community. She did not attend the meeting Wednesday. In an email, she declined to comment on the planning and zoning commission’s recommendation.
Darin Brensinger, planning and zoning chairman, said he voted not to recommend the Pine Creek plan because there were “too many outstanding items to be addressed.”
A 10-page document by Stewart lists items that need rectifying. Stewart said the packet was sent out Wednesday.
Borough Manager Robert Williams also said a decision should be made at the meeting. After the vote, Williams said the borough council will take action on the plan at its 7:30 p.m. April 13 meeting.
Stewart said the plan can be resubmitted if The Rhodes Organization desires.