Developer delays hearing for West Chester mixed-use project

WEST CHESTER TWP.

A public hearing on a zoning change aimed at bringing a upscale mixed-use development to an area planned as this townships downtown didnt take place as planned Tuesday, but a handful of people still offered their take on the retail-residential-business project.

Trustees opened the hearing into a proposed 8.2 acre iLoft at West Chester project, which is planned to include 247 one- and two-bedroom luxury apartments, 19,300 square feet of retail space, an 81,600-square foot office building and a three-story, 406-spot parking garage.

But board members then immediately postponed the hearing until Sept. 23 at the request of Anderson Birkla Investment Partners principal Anthony Birkla, who wrote in an Aug. 26 letter to the township that he was eager to address concerns about the development with an adjacent property owner.

That property owner, Schumacher Dugan Construction, kicked off comments against the development during a portion of the regular meeting reserved for the comments of West Chester Twp. residents or business owners.

This residential project is practically surrounded by commercial and office spaces, said Larry Schumacher, president of Schumacher Dugan Construction. We think its going to have a negative effect on the value of all of the buildings in that neck of the woods. Its going to be I think harder to rent the space and I think just having a domestic element in the center of everything there is not at all good planning. underparked.

Schumacher Dugan is responsible for two office buildings next to the site and is planning a third office building for the area.

Following the meeting, Schumacher said he foresees iLoft at West Chester residential element as a disruption to everything thats been built in the area.

If I thought it was such a wonderful thing, I should be jumping with glee because I own more property around there than anybody else, but I dont think its so wonderful, he said.

State Sen. Bill Coley also spoke out against the proposed zone change, claiming it is procedurally deficient and does not even meet the minimum requirements of the West Chester Twp. Zoning Resolution. He went on to list what he believes are design drawbacks, parking insufficiencies or zoning violations.

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Developer delays hearing for West Chester mixed-use project