At the South Whitehall commissioners workshop session at Springhouse Middle School on April 11, James Preston, attorney for Kay Builders, defended his client’s right to develop the 190-acre property known as Ridge Farm.

The project proposes development on the north and south sides of Huckleberry Ridge and the east and west sides of Cedar Crest Boulevard, between Walbert Avenue and Huckleberry Road.

Preston noted the township ordinance allows even more housing units than the 741 proposed by Kay Builders.

He distributed copies of Concept Plan I, a document including 868 housing units allowed based on township zoning and subdivision ordinances.

Concept Plan II, with 163 single-family homes, 228 twins and 350 apartments is the one presently under consideration for informal review by the township and public.

“The developer is entitled to develop property in accordance with the ordinance,” Preston said.

He then addressed comments made by residents at previous meetings.

“A referendum request to have this a vacant property is not a legal action,” Preston noted.

He referred to a claim on a poster found on his windshield stating, “It was passed without us knowing.”

“All of this was done at advertised meetings,” Preston said, then reading a list of public meeting dates before adoption of the 2014 zoning update, which includes the Traditional Neighborhood Development designation being applied at Ridge Farm.

Susan Shortell, Parkland Drive, who opposes Ridge Farm, said she had a confession to make.

“I didn’t see notices about the zoning meetings,” Shortell said. “I had a basic trust the people for whom I voted to manage the township would have my interests at heart.”

Dan DiSimoni,  N. 22nd St., suggested the township take out a bond and make a fair offer to purchase the land to use for a park or library.

Preston stated Kay Builders, the equitable owner of the property, has a contract to buy the land but has not closed on it yet.

Ed Bloss,  N. 28th St., expressed frustration with what he termed Preston’s condescension toward residents.

Preston then commented.

“I know you don’t want this project but there’s going to be a project,” Preston said. We’re not giving it up.

“Stop heckling us and saying we’re lying.”

Several audience members called out and said they were just asking questions and did not like the way Preston talked down to them.

Commissioner David Bond provided his thoughts on the matter.

“I would love to see this gentleman scale this back but we have to stay within the law,” Bond said. “The developer wants to market this.

“If people [interested] in the development see they have to wait in line to get out, the houses won’t sell.”

Diane Hudak,  Albright Ave., expressed her thoughts, which were echoed by other residents throughout the meeting.

“This will affect all the people in the area. What about our properties? This is our community,” Hudak said. “You’re going to destroy it.”