Representatives of the proposed Ridge Farm development requested eight waivers from the South Whitehall planning commission at the Sept. 11 meeting at Springhouse Middle School.

Although the project covers both the east and west sides of Cedar Crest Boulevard, the waivers relate to the portion on the northeast corner along Cedar Crest Boulevard between Walbert Avenue and Huckleberry Road.

According to the public notice for the development, 713 dwelling units, commercial buildings, a club house, dog park and village plaza are proposed for approximately 129 acres.

Much of the presentation concerned the north-south road which runs through the development from Huckleberry Road to Walbert Avenue.

Jason Engelhardt of Langan Engineering said the applicant, Kay Builders, prefers to have all roads in Ridge Farm private.

The South Whitehall Public Safety Commission, however, recommends the north-south street be constructed to collector road standards and dedicated to the township as a snow emergency route.

The street, still unnamed, would have two school bus stops and would incorporate sufficient space for firetrucks to have an adequate turning radius.

Engelhardt noted the road was planned to have a 20-foot travel way with eight feet for parking on one side and a 25 mph speed limit.

Community Development Department Planner Gregg Adams said the township standard for a collector road is 40 feet from curb to curb.

He said speed limits for collector roads range from 35-45 mph.

Engelhardt commented on the matter.

“We don’t object to turning it over to the township but we don’t want 40 feet wide and 45 mph,” Engelhardt said.

The engineer requested a waiver from the township allowable grade of 7 percent.

“We’re asking for a 9-1/2 percent grade in a few places for the existing rolling terrain of the site. Cedar Crest Boulevard is 12 percent,” Engelhardt said.

Adams reported other waiver requests referred to right of way improvements along Huckleberry Road, length of blocks, turning radii at horizontal curves, smaller cartways for private streets, and offsets for intersections.

Other topics of concern from the planning commission were a “right in-right out” road along Walbert Avenue, not too far from Cedar Crest Boulevard and a north-south road connection at Huckleberry Road, also near Cedar Crest Boulevard., followed by a sweeping sharp curve going up to the Ridge.

During public comment time, Barb Reinhold of Sunset Drive expressed her thoughts on Ridge Farm.

“General studies should be done before waivers,” Reinhold said.

“We need more details on stormwater runoff and intersections.

“Parkland School District should be more involved.”

Donald Holden of Walbert Avenue stated a concern about waivers which he said are often a request for a cheaper way to do something.

Adams said the planning commission will consider the waiver requests at a future meeting and decide whether to approve or deny them.