By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
Plans are taking more definite shape for the residential Pulte development at the Bald Mountain Golf Course.
Township trustees reviewed a modified site plan at the board meeting’Monday’night that was created after Pulte engineers assessed several grading issues on the parcels located at the northwest corners of Silver Bell and Kern roads.
The biggest change is the elimination of five lots, from 343 units to 338 units. In the three-section community, there will now be 147 executive lots, one less estate lot at 77 total, and four less cottage lots, at 114 total.
Site plans were modified from the consent judgment which came from a court-ordered mediation. The mediation was ordered after Pulte and owners of the golf course – the Prieskorn family – filed a lawsuit against the township.’Pulte and Prieskorn filed the suit in December 2014 claiming that the township denied Prieskorn its property rights after the board voted to reject the Planned Unit Development (PUD) on the 236-acres.
Both sides were ordered into mediation and reached an agreement.
According to the consent judgment, modifications are allowed provided that they do not increase the number of residential units or reduce the set-back requirements determined in the consent judgment.
Because the modifications fall within this range, a township board vote was not required to approve the new plan, and it will be approved administratively. ?
Supervisor Chris Barnett said the modifications were likely the result of Pulte getting out in the field. ?
‘Now they are spending real money and doing real engineering and trying to design a site that works with what is out there,? he said. ‘Most of these changes are less dense and create open space.?
With the new plan open space has been increased by 22 acres, to a total of 95 acres.
Also due to grading issues, the large retention pond planned for the west-central portion of the community has been relocated to the north end. As a result, the northern cul-de-sac has been removed, and lots have been slightly arranged, having been pulled off the property line to allow for better grading. The south-western cul-de-sac has also been shortened.
Another smaller detention pond in the northern region has also been removed.
Odd-shaped lots were also adjusted for building purposes, and the road connection behind the clubhouse was officially removed.
Barnett said this was not the final site plan, and Pulte wanted to keep trustees informed as they were moving forward.
Township planner Donald Wortman of Carlisle/Wortman Associates, Inc. also reviewed the modified site plan, and noted several missing items from the consent judgement.
Items include landscaping features at Silverbell and Kern Rd. entrances; planting 2,000 trees; the confirmation that no changes have been made to the Jesse Decker park improvements; that an aerator should still be provided in one of the ponds; and that there will be no changes to the internal pathway, safety path and road improvements within the consent judgment.
According to the consent judgment, Jesse Decker Park improvements include two baseball fields, benches and a gravel parking lot.
‘All I ask is when you approve these things administratively make sure you check the whole thing to make sure something hasn’t magically changed,? Trustee John Steimel said.
Barnett said the township will ensure all details are included in the final site plan.
Construction is expected to start next year.?