South Whitehall’s planning commission has recommended conditional approval for Ridge Farm in a unanimous vote during the Oct. 16 meeting at Springhouse Middle School.

The action resulted from consent to all but two waiver requests from the applicant, Kay Builders.

The subdivision is proposed for both the east and west sides of Cedar Crest Boulevard between Walbert Avenue and Huckleberry Road.

The plan proposes 713 dwelling units, commercial buildings, club house, dog park, village plaza, stormwater facilities and 16.78 acres of usable open space on a 129-acre tract owned by Ridge Farm Partnership and the Jeras Corporation.

Board members declined to affirm the waiver request for steeper vertical grades than the township requirement of 7 percent.

Huckleberry Road resident John Chaya commented on the grade issue.

“If we have an ordinance that says 7 percent, keep it at 7 percent,” Chaya said.

He said vehicles could slide down that steep grade on winter ice, possibly onto his property.

The board also declined to grant a waiver request for a road connection along Walbert Avenue which would be right in, right out, only.

This would be in addition to a signalized intersection farther east.

Board member Diane Kelly voiced her thoughts on the issue.

“I’m concerned over two exits on Walbert Avenue,” Kelly said. “It’s already congested. To have two outlets doesn’t seem appropriate.”

Michael Wolk, of Valley Forge Drive, who leads a citizens’ group formed in response to the Ridge Farm plan, reported opposition to the second road outlet along Walbert Avenue.

“We’re concerned about safety,” Wolk said. “The township can take a strong position to eliminate it.”

Engineer Jason Engelhardt, representing Kay Builders, said the right in, right out driveway was pushed farther east since his last presentation in September, now placing it 680 feet from Cedar Crest Boulevard.

He said the purpose is to provide easier access to the commercial sites in the project along Walbert Avenue.

Board members were satisfied with Engelhardt’s widening of the north-south collector road from 28 feet to 32 feet, increase of turning radii from 150 feet to 200 feet, and insertion of open space to break up some long blocks of housing units.

Community Development Department planner Gregg Adams noted the next step will be for the applicant to take the proposal to commissioners.

“The developer can choose whether to change the plan or not before going to the commissioners,” Adams said.

Attorney Jim Preston, representing Kay Builders, said his client will continue to refine the plan as it moves forward.

Shawn Hubler, of North 30th Street, was the last of 15 residents to comment on the project.

“A handful of people will profit from this,” Hubler said. “The rest will get stuck with the problems.”