During the first public discussion period at the Lower Salford Board of Supervisors regular meeting, several township residents voiced their concerns about the recent ordinances passed at the June meeting.

            Concerns arouse from the proposed ordinance passed by the board for the rezoning of the Office-Limited Zoning (OLC) to mixed residential dwelling zoning for Oak Drive and Maple Avenue.

            "We can't say a whole lot about it right now, because all that has happened is an applicant has petitioned the township to consider changing the zoning; we have received that petition and authorized a hearing where we sit in judgement to the proposed case by the applicant," stated supervisor Christopher Canavan.

            Currently, the three parcels of land are owned by applicant Nationwide Insurance and are being farmed by a local farmer through contract.

            Resident Kathy Godshall stood in front of the crowd and questioned the board of supervisors' vision for the proposed developments.

            "Those houses along Maple Avenue belong down at the beach, not here in Lower Salford," stated Godshall, followed by a wave of applause from the audience.

            Godshall proposed that the parcels of land should be bought and turned into open-land conservation or be an add-on to the already existing Alderfer Park, instead of adding more "beach houses".

            Chairman Gifford replied to her suggestions by stating that Nationwide owns the land and does not have it for sale.

            "In order to buy it, someone needs to agree to sell it," stated Gifford.

            According to Gifford, one of the land parcels, under Administrative Office Use, is being donated to the township as open space.

            "We love this town and that's why we are going to fight for it now; we haven't, but now we are seeing it and enough is enough," stated resident Marybeth Hufnagel, followed by yet another round of applause by the audience.

            The date for the final decision on the rezoning has not yet been confirmed but will either be during the regular August or September meeting.

            In other news, the Board of Supervisors motioned to hire and administer an Oath of Office to Matthew Cotellese into the Lower Salford Police Department.

            Cotellese previously worked six-and-a-half-years as a police officer for Reading.

            Chairman Gifford noted that Cotellese's employment takes the Lower Salford police count to 19, which was the same amount back in 2008.

            The board also unanimously voted to approve a new traffic signal installation at Harleysville Pike and Cross Rd/Salfordville Rd/Morris Rd/Old Skippack Rd. In conjunction with the new traffic signal, the board adopted the Green Light Go Grant for maintenance and upgrade of existing traffic lights.

            The next regular meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 1.