Updated: Guilford Hills residents upset about a big apartment complex proposed in Franklin County
Update: The public hearing on Metropolitan 4's conditional use permit to build a 676-unit apartment complex on Ragged Edge Road has been postponed to March 22. It will start at 6 p.m. in Fayetteville Volunteer Fire Department's Social Hall, 101 W. Main St., Fayetteville.
Previous:
A developer wants to build 33 apartment buildings containing 676 units on 70 acres between two single-family home developments in the Guilford Hills area outside Chambersburg.
Metropolitan 4 LLC, of Wyomissing, Pa., submitted a conditional use permit application to the Greene Township Board of Supervisors. The area is zoned low-density residential, but multiple-dwelling residences may apply for conditional use.
The apartment complex would sit about a half mile north of U.S. 30 on the west side of Ragged Edge Road, between Meadow Lane to the south and Summer Breeze Lane to the north. Most of the complex would be in between the neighboring developments of single-family homes, and a rear branch containing six buildings would sit adjacent to Westover Way and Heritage Road in the southern development.
The site plan shows that each building would contain 20 or 21 units with one or two bedrooms. Parking spaces would be in front of each building and line most of the road in the complex.
The units would be "garden" apartments. According to apartmentguide.com, garden apartment buildings are typically no more than three stories and feature shared green space. They also often have outdoor recreational facilities.
This proposed complex would include a recreational area with a pool, clubhouse, sport court and a fire pit. There would also be private garages.
There would be one official way in and out of the complex on Ragged Edge Road. However, the site plan shows an emergency access road that connects the rear branch to Sherwood Drive in the neighboring development.
What is Metropolitan 4 LLC?
Also known as Metropolitan Companies, the company has divisions for apartment management, land development, single-family home development and construction of homes, apartments and commercial buildings, according to its website.
Metropolitan has a variety of apartment complexes in the Harrisburg and Reading areas. It has a number of complexes in development in other places, including Gettysburg and the Pittsburgh area. Its land development team has been buying land and developing housing since 2002.
Southgate redevelopment:Chambersburg to seek developers' proposals
Petition against Ragged Edge Road apartment complex
Some residents in the area do not want the Greene Township apartment complex built.
A petition on change.org entitled, "oppose conditional use permit for apartment complex on Ragged Edge Road" had 1,174 signatures as of late Thursday morning.
The petition, created by Guilford Hills resident Meredith Dunn, says the complex would not fit in with the surrounding residential area. It could lead to increased traffic, school overcrowding, decreased property values and infrastructure problems.
"The proposed 676-unit apartment complex would more than double the number of residents in the neighborhood and raises significant infrastructure concerns," Dunn wrote in a message to the Public Opinion. "In addition, the location and size of the proposed apartment complex is incongruous with the neighboring residential areas. Since receiving notice of the permit application, the community has organized and formed a group to discuss our concerns and evaluate next steps."
A public hearing on the conditional use permit application will take place at 6 p.m. March 22 at the Fayetteville Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall, 101 W. Main St., Fayetteville. This is where the Greene Township Board of Supervisors will receive evidence and testimony on the request. There will be a public comment period.
Parx Casino Shippensburg opens soon:What you need to know
Dan Younkin has been organizing the community ahead of these upcoming meetings. Dunn provided a statement from him:
"Our community is diverse and comprised of single family homes. Some of us are from here and some have moved here seeking escape from the urban life. The proposed development goes against the existing neighborhood's characteristics and the peaceful suburban setting. The lack of infrastructure to support the proposed development would turn living here into a nightmare scenario."
The conditional use permit application and site plan for the proposed complex can be found on the Greene Township website, twp.greene.franklin.pa.us.
Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com.