Last Wednesday, the Lower Salford Board of Supervisors discussed a February letter from Maple School Associates requesting several waivers related to the development of 57 homes at the site of the former Lower Salford Elementary School on Maple Avenue.

        Chairman Douglas Gifford explained that the letter was reviewed by the township engineer, Michelle Fountain, as well as the township planning commission and both have concerns about some of the requests that need to be addressed before any decisions are made.

        "We are here to discuss these waivers, not actually grant them," Gifford said.

        Fountain presented her concerns, which focused on maneuverability within the proposed development. She reported that the largest truck the Harleysville Fire Company has is 42 feet and the current plan only allows for trucks up to 41 feet.

In addition to updating the plan to allow for all emergency vehicle access, Fountain asked that the applicant explain some of the requests pertaining to clearances. The board also asked questions about other waiver requests related to grading, parking area entrance definitions, crosswalks, street trees and other plantings. 

No decisions were made and the board is asking that the applicant work with the engineer and planning commission and resubmit the request. 

        "From the board's perspective, if Michelle is happy, we are happy," Gifford said. "It's an engineering detail and obviously we are not qualified to decide whether it makes sense or doesn't make sense."

        To date, no construction has begun at the location, which is the site of the former Lower Salford Elementary School.  That school was closed in June 2013, and its students redistributed to Vernfield Elementary School, to realize Souderton School District approximately $8 million in savings. 

        In November the township board approved a zoning change for the 10-acre parcel, which changed it from residential to village commercial.  That change allowed the plan for 53 townhomes and four single-family homes to move forward.

        During the public comment period, Fred Hess of Oak Drive requested that the township enact an ordinance to control truck traffic along Oak Drive, which connects Routes 63 and 113, bypassing the intersection.

        "These are full-sized tractor trailers. The other day I saw a full-sized beer truck. That truck is not delivering to a local resident."

        Gifford said the township will contact PennDOT to look into the matter and work with PennDOT on a possible solution. According to Gifford, the township otherwise could not enact an ordinance to impose a weight restriction on Oak Drive.

        "We'll look into it but I would not hold your breath," he said.