Lower Allen commissioners, Charter Homes agree on traffic improvements for mega-development

Lower Allen Township commissioners Monday night approved an amendment to a memorandum of understanding to allow construction of about 40 homes and commercial space in the Highpoint development while negotiations continue on the configuration of traffic improvements as part of the mega-development.

Meanwhile, the township and representatives of developer Charter Homes & Neighborhoods of Lancaster have reached agreement on a plan for those improvements to be submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Charter is developing about 247 acres in the areas of Rossmoyne, Lisburn and Arcona roads for a project of as many as 1,600 homes and commercial space known as Arcona. Highpoint is the first phase of the traditional neighborhood development.

Charter had proposed a roundabout at Rossmoyne and Lisburn roads and another at Arcona and Lisburn roads.

Charter representatives said there was a difference of opinion with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation over the size and features of the traffic roundabouts to help deal with traffic the development would generate.

They said PennDOT wants traffic roundabouts about twice the size they have proposed. That, Charter said, would prevent it from having the core of the development serve as a town center.

They said to preserve their idea of a traditional neighborhood development that allows pedestrians to walk freely around the development and its planned commercial components, the roundabout has to be smaller.

So the township and Charter have drawn up a proposal for a smaller, one lane, roundabout at Arcona and Lisburn roads. The plan also includes the inclusion of a new local road from Rossmoyne into the Charter property.

That road, shown about halfway between the railroad crossing and Lisburn Road, also would feature a traffic roundabout. There also would be a roundabout at Rossmoyne and Lisburn.

Charter had proposed traffic signals at Rossmoyne and Lisburn and at the intersection of Rossmoyne and the new local road. But at Monday night's meeting, Charter representatives said they would support roundabouts instead of those two lights.

The proposed new local road would take some traffic off Lisburn and funnel it through the development.

The amendment to the memorandum of understanding will allow Charter to continue building and selling up to 40 homes in the Highpoint section while the traffic plan is being considered.

Charter said it is poised to settle on the first homes in the initial phase this month.

Source: PennLive.com