On Tuesday night, the Milford Township Board of Supervisors tabled most of a zoning ordinance amendment that would allow a storage facility on Route 663, between Rosenberger Road and Milford Square Pike. The board approved only one section of the ordinance, creating an 18-foot limit on residential accessory buildings.

            The remainder of the ordinance, however, comes with restrictions that may prohibit the truck, trailer and storage company U-Haul from moving forward with purchase of the property.

            Representing U-Haul, Augusta O'Neill with the law firm Klehr, Harrison, Harvey, Branzburg, LLP asked supervisors to reconsider a landscaping requirement, adding that U-Haul needs to make a decision to purchase the property by this Friday August 5. The landscaping restriction would limit visibility of the facility from Route 663, allowing no more than five vehicles to be seen at any given time.

            O'Neill indicated that U-Haul would comply with the five-vehicle limit but, due to corporate standards, could not agree to the permanent landscape coverage along the front of the property. According to O'Neil, U-Haul will also demolish a dilapidated historic building on the property and support landscape improvements for adjacent properties.

            "U-Haul desperately wants to be in Milford Township," O'Neill said. "It would be a shame if one line in this ordinance changed that."

            "There is a deal breaker and there is a deadline and that is concerning," Township Manager Jeffrey Vey commented, noting that U-Haul facilities in other municipalities often use multiple trucks as advertisement.

            O'Neil indicated that the company would be willing to set up an escrow account to be used in the event there are future issues with the aesthetics of the property and planned a $20 million building.

            Township Solicitor Kate Harper indicated that supervisors could take time to review the ordinance again and any escrow decision would be made during the land development phase.

            O'Neil did not indicate Tuesday night whether U-Haul would be proceeding with purchase of the property by the Friday deadline.