Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Upper Allen vote set on $50M to $100M development near Messiah College



The Upper Allen Township commissioners could vote next week on plans to develop 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.


A required public hearing was held Wednesday night, attended by about 50 people, said Jennifer Boyer, Upper Allen director of community development. Ccommissioners are slated to discuss, and possibly vote on, a rezoning amendment at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, she added.

Rider Musser requested the rezoning of one part of the property from institutional to business professional office and a second part from institutional to high density residential.

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

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

Victoria Lindstrom, president of Dillsburg firm Suasion, which is handling community relations for the project, was not available for comment this morning.

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 entire 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.

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