Upper Allen commissioners approve zoning change for $50M to $100M development near Messiah College

The Upper Allen Township commissioners approved a zoning change Wednesday needed for the development of three tracts of land totaling about 100 acres between West Lisburn, Mill and Quail Hollow roads near Messiah College.

The Rider Musser Development LLC plan is known as Oakwood Hills. It includes residential and commercial properties and will generate a significant source of tax revenue and create hundreds of jobs for the township while providing quality housing options and conveniences, the company has said.

Charles Courtney, attorney for the developer, said this morning that a formal land development plan is likely to be filed by this summer.

The commissioners approved rezoning one part of the property from institutional to business professional office and a second part from institutional to high-density residential.

There were few questions and little interest from the public, Courtney said.

"We made a number of tweaks by the time we made it to the board of commissioners," he added.

Other requested changes include increasing  the maximum height of motels/hotels with conference/convention centers in the BPO district to 85 feet from 55 feet.

Incorporated in May 2014, Rider Musser was initiated and supported with starting capital by the Messiah College Board of Trustees.

According to a news release, Messiah and Rider Musser will uphold an “arm’s length” relationship with all day-to-day operations and decision-making conducted by Rider Musser Development. The legally and functionally separate and independent corporation will maintain ongoing communication and annual reporting to the college, it says.

The project will be constructed in several phases and is expected to cost $50 million to $100 million and take 15 to 20 years to complete.

The master plan currently features 312 garden-style apartments, 44 townhomes, a club house for residents with swimming and exercise areas, a hotel conference center, restaurants, a bank, a convenience store and professional offices.

Source: Central Penn Business Journal