A King of Prussia developer presented a method to help deal with flooding along Montgomery Avenue in Pennsburg. Last week, Tim Hendricks made a proposal to Borough Council to remediate flooding issues by installing a new drainage pipe on the Kline property.

            Citing a study completed by Nova Consulting, Hendricks described the water – which flows in a drainage ditch that is visible from Montgomery Avenue near the Upper Hanover border – as "ephemeral", a briefly flowing stream during and following a period of heavy rainfall.

           A recent study completed by the Upper Perkiomen School District identifies that area as wetlands. The parcel is located in a riparian corridor.

            According to the developer, a drain pipe which has been installed along the ditch at the property at 704 Montgomery Avenue has filled up with debris and is not working.

            Hendricks argued that replacing the drain, and connecting it the borough's existing storm water infrastructure, would alleviate flooding issues in the area.

              "Hopefully we can solve the problem by redoing the ditch," Hendricks said. "We need to make those corrections."

            Stanford Large, Jr. owns the 5.09-acre property. He purchased it for   $120,000 from the Affinity Bank of Pennsylvania, according to information posted on the Montgomery County Property Records website.

            The developer, a founding member of T.H. Properties who claimed no current affiliation to the company, wants to build 50 townhouses on the five-acre parcel and three additional properties. Hendricks stated after his presentation that he had acquired an agreement of sales from three adjacent land owners.

            During the meeting, the developer identified the drain pipe as one of the project's three main issues. The other two include the need to remove an existing home and barn and the proposed length of cul-de-sacs that exceed 500 feet.

            In May, Chris Lash and Hendricks presented a development proposal, which included a sketch plan, to the members for the property, which is zoned RC-residential and commercial.

            Daniel Sager, the borough's solicitor, informed Hendricks during the recent meeting that council needed more information before it could decide on the drainage issue. He suggested that the developer submit a formal land development plan with a full engineering analysis. Hendricks said he was prepared to make that submittal and expressed a willingness to return before council after the borough's engineer analyzed it.