Planning Commission, Supervisors Approve Sewage Planning Module for Ashford Development

NEWTOWN SQUARE–A special meeting was called for 's Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors on Thursday evening to discuss the sewage facilities planning module, particularly component 4A of the module, for the 449-unit, age-targeted Ashford Cluster Development.

Tina Makoulian, the attorney representing the developer of the site, The Rouse Group, pointed out that although the Planning Commission had previously approved the planning module last fall and another vote to approve the sewage planning module was not needed from the commission, but a request was made at a to reconsider the planning module.

"We're happy to follow that process," said Makoulian. "But technically, under the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) regulations in the NPC, I don't think another vote is actually required."

Makoulian said the planning document is "pursuant to the Act 537 plan and it is to designate how a property will be sewered."

The sewage planning module for the Ashford development site includes a pump station on the property, in which the forced main will flow through the property out to the main street of Route 252/Newtown Street Road and continue down Route 252 where it ties into a Central Delaware County Authority (CDCA) manhole.

The sewage will then go through the CDCA conveyance system to be treated at a plant owned by Delaware County Regional Authority’s DELCORA waste-water treatment facility.

According to David Pennoni, township engineer, component 4A in the planning module consists of 16 items that the module has to adhhere to, such as if the plan is consistent with use of the municipal land, consistent with the municipal zoning ordinance and consistent with the cluster ordinance, in which they all are.

However, Pennoni mentioned one item that the planning module is not consistent with is the 2002 Act 537 Plan, in which this particular planning module is in essence a revision to that 2002 plan.

"So, we're not consistent with the current plan," explained Pennoni. "Because we're going with public, off-site, sewage disposal. This is a revision to the 2002 plan."

The sewage facilities plan from the Ashford property down to the CDCA manhole on Route 252 is just a part of the larger Upper Crum Creek sewer project, according to Makoulian.

"We have negotiated an agreement with the township municipal authority and they have approved the agreement, and we submitted it to the township and have asked the supervisors review it because the supervisors will also need to approve it," said Makoulian. "That agreement governs how the cost for the entire Upper Crum Creek project will be allocated among all developers and all residents of the township."

In addition, Makoulian said existing users are "not responsible for expansion portions" but "are responsible for repair portions."

When asked about the costs of the project, Makoulian answered, "Ashford has agreed to front the money to make the construction of what we have described tonight, which is the pump station on the Ashford property and the force main down [Route] 252. We would just pay that. There would be no interest owed to us or anything like that."

Ashford's share of the entire sewer costs of the township will be based upon a percentage. If Ashford's share is less than they spent to build the portion of the sewage planning module, then Ashford will owe money to the township; however, if the cost is more, then the township owes Ashford that portion of the costs. 

The entire sewer project is estimated to cost $22 million while Ashford's portion of the project is about $3.5 million, which includes the pump station on the Ashford property and the force main. Approximately $8,000 per unit has been estimated for tapping costs on top of the on-site costs.

"That $22 million does not include the costs for the internal collection system for the Ashford project," said Makoulian. "But it does include the cost for the internal collection system for existing residential communities in the township. But we agreed to do that and that's, I think, what I meant when I said that we've actually gone above and beyond what we're legally required to do."

It is possible to have others tie on to Ashford's main force, which they have purposely "over-sized" it to hold a larger capacity, should they choose to, said Makoulian. She also clarified Ashford will be independent of BPG and will not go through their pump site.

"We have 'over-sized' it so it can handle sewage flows from other areas," said Makoulian. "Including Episcopal [Academy], Melmark, Echo Valley and Hunt Valley. So it will be large enough and the pipes are large enough to accommodate all of those sewer flows."

In addition, Makoulian clarified at the Board of Supervisors portion of the special meeting that the township is not paying for any type of engineering fees for the Ashford planning module. "We're not spending township tax dollars," she said.

Planning Commission Vice Chairman Michael Trio made a motion to approve the planning module, which was seconded by Shimon Guy and was unanimously passed.

Board of Supervisors Vice Chairwoman Linda Houldin made a motion to approve the Ashford planning module to submit to DEP, which was seconded by Supervisor Dr. Ross Lambert and was unanimously passed.