Zoning Issues in Lower Frederick

On September 5th, Lower Frederick Township is having a public hearing for a zoning change that will allow high density housing in exchange for donations by developers. If approved, it will allow for 2.5 times more homes on a property that is currently undeveloped open space. The LFT Board of Supervisors may vote on the ordinance that night. LFT residents have raised concerns since the creation of this ordinance was funded by a property owner/development team who will directly benefit from this ordinance. The author of the ordinance is part of the team proposing up to 91 homes on the same land zoned for 47. The land (42 acre tract of land on Gravel Pike behind Little's John Deere) is currently zoned R2 and approved for up to 47 single family detached homes. If approved, the ordinance would allow for up to 95 homes.
The new ordinance will allow this developer to be rewarded with "density bonuses" if they contribute to the Township's sewer system, which is also needed for their own development project. Further, this ordinance seeks to drastically reduce the minimum lot sizes, distances between structures within the development and reduces the neighborhood setback distance from 100 ft. to a mere 35 ft.
A Facebook group has formed (Friends of Lower Frederick Township) where many LFT residents have expressed their concerns with this ordinance. Concerns like: increased traffic on our local roads, failing infrastructures, environmental impact on our farmlands and stream, overcrowding of our schools, the need for more police, fire and ambulance services. Most are not opposed to development within the township but would like for developers to respect current zoning regulations.

The Public Hearing on this issue is scheduled for September 5th 2017 at 6pm 53 Spring Mount Rd. in Schwenksville.