The proposed preliminary plan for the Willow Brook Farms development received conditional approval from Northampton Borough Council at its Dec. 7 meeting. The vote was unanimous.

Borough Solicitor Steven Goudsouzian said the Phase I preliminary conditional approval was recommended by the borough planning commission.

Among the 14 conditions attached to the approval was one that the applicant, Fuller Family Trust, be required to pay all fees, including professional, escrow, recreation and hookup.

Each lot owner will pay a $3,000 fee to the borough’s general fund to cover the cost of possible future development of traffic signalization at Fourth Street and Howertown Road, if deemed necessary as traffic in the area increases with the additional housing.

The sewer tapping fee will total $5,095 per lot.

Robert Dwyer, representing the Fuller Family Trust, said he estimated ground would break on the development in April 2018.

Dwyer’s original proposal earlier this year showed the development included 67 homes planned in the borough. That number was reduced to 11 single-family dwellings, a plan he presented to Northampton Borough Planning Commission June 14.

Also included in Dwyer’s plan are 152 homes to be built in adjoining North Catasauqua - proposed mainly as an active adult, 55-and-older community.

If 30 to 36 homes are built each year, he said the neighborhood should be complete in a five-year time frame.

Several builders are interested in building homes there, according to Dwyer.

Before approving the proposal, council members passed a resolution to meet the requirements for the sewer planning. An environmental study was required for the proposal.