Red Hill Council voted last week to approve the 2024 budget with a one mill increase for emergency services. President Doris Decker described it as the first tax hike for borough residents in 12 years.

            "The new tax will be used to help the borough balance the budget," Council Vice President Donna Paul said.

            The borough's tax rate will be increased to 2.7 mills, according to Decker. She also said trash costs for residents will remain at their current rate.

            The $1.305 million budget includes a dedicated revenue stream for the Red Hill Fire Company and the Upper Perk Ambulance. The tax hike is expected to generate $107,635, according to borough Manager Liz DeJesus.

            The fire company will receive 70 percent of the revenue, approximately $75,357. The ambulance service will get the remaining 30 percent, estimated at $32,296.

            According to DeJesus, the revenue streams will replace the borough's annual contributions. This year, council provided $57,000 to the fire company and $2,000 to the ambulance.

            In planning news, the members received a brief presentation from a representative of a national company looking to construct 65 residential units on a six-acre parcel that extends into Upper Hanover.

            Jesse Carpino, who handles land development for D.R. Horton, addressed council on three proposed cosmetic changes to the units to the project currently known as Kirshner Village. They included creating two separate styles for the single-family homes, increasing roof elevations for townhouses and implementing earth tones throughout the community.

            According to DeJesus, a proposal to build an equal mix of single-family homes and town houses on the property at the intersection of Hendricks Road and Cedar Lee Court near the border with the township has already received conditional final approval. She said the residences will be built in the borough.

            After the meeting, the manager said the developer could begin "moving earth" in March if council decides to grant final plan approval within the next two months. She added that council provided the developer with a few suggestions for a new name. According to DeJesus, one of D.R. Horton's suggestions included the name Green Lane Reserve.

            "That would have been way too confusing," she said.

            They appeared to reach a consensus on a new name for the development: Creekside Village.

            In related news, council granted a third extension for the developer looking to convert a portion of the local branch of the KeyBank building, located at 400 Main St., into 13 condominiums. The members voted unanimously to provide the property owner, 189 Main Street Associates LP, an additional 180 days to complete the work. They previously granted two 90-day extensions, according to Solicitor Mark A. Hosterman.

            After the vote, Hosterman said he couldn't guarantee that council would grant a fourth extension. He suggested that DeJesus remind the developer "to get his ducks in a row."

            The manager told the solicitor that she expected to meet with the developer the day after the council meeting. DeJesus said it was intended to be a pre-construction meeting.  "This development is going in the right direction," the manager said.

            Thirteen months ago, the members approved a resolution granting preliminary and final approval for the work. The retrofitting of the building included the repair of sidewalks along Main Street, according to the Nov. 28, 2022 meeting minutes posted on the borough's website.