V-7 was no tomato juice, but was once a popular golf driving range and miniature golf course along William Penn Highway in Bethlehem Township. Its name represented the seven Vedomsky brothers who were part-owners. But as an exit ramp from Route 33 opened up only a stone's throw away, it fell into disuse. Charles Chrin has owned the 16.9 acre tract since 2007. And as Bethlehem Commissioners have recently learned, he's got plans for the property, and they involve no driving range.On October 4, Langan Engineering's Greg Elko presented an informational "sketch plan" to dubious Commissioners, asking for feedback on a redevelopment that includes a supermarket, retail store and two restaurants. The plan calls for 611 parking places right next to the backyards of homeowners on Hope Road as well as the north side of William Penn Highway. "It is going to be changing as we go through the process," he reassured everyone.
Commissioners expressed concerns about increased traffic on an already bus road, access from William Penn Highway, as well as stormwater runoff from a large impervious parking lot replacing a grassy former driving range. "Where would the stormwater go?" asked Commissioner Jerry Batcha. "I'm going to assume the township park on Hope Road."
President Arthur Murphy stated that an exit onto William Penn Highway "would just clog up things," but suggested that Chrin might want to consider making parking available to the Township when there are major events at the park along Hope Road. Commissioner Thomas Nolan shared Murphy's concern about what he called a "tremendously dangerous access." He also lamented, "I hope you told the group that uses it for soccer that they may not use it next year."
Township residents were even more concerned than Commissioners. Constance Rampulla-White complained about the lack of notice to neighbors, but Commissioner Paul Weiss assured her that it is only a concept plan. "There will be no formal action, one way or the other, tonight."
Neighbor Edward Rollin stated he was concerned about safety. "The traffic is horrendous there," he complained. "There is no way you can increase the amount of traffic in that area without causing complete chaos."
Melissa Davis, who claimed to have been involved when the Christmas Barn was torn down, complained that gathered signatures and presented a petition to the zoning hearing board, but "I was told to sit down and shut up. so the fact that you have a procedure doesn't necessarily mean that the residents will be heard."
Murphy assured Davis, "We're going to listen to you." And Batcha explained that zoning hearing boards are "quasi judicial" and more focused on the legal aspects of a plan.
11 comments:
I love that sign - It would great on my wall.
The property is located at a Highway interchanged and is zoned commercial. The County, School and Township are lacking in funds and have budget shortfalls not only now but in the foreseeable future. The V-7 site is woefully under utilized. Its about time someone tries to do something with it and make it productive.
Did neighbors really think something like this was not coming to that very busy interchange?
Bethlehem Twp could live well within their means if they would cutback on the size and expenses of their government!
There is NO WAY that intersection can absorb any more traffic without expanding Hope Rd and Wm Penn Highway to 4 lanes.
Why did the driving range close? I don't see the 33 exit having any impact on that business.
And the Christmas Barn wasn't torn down.
The driving range cosed around the time that the exit as finished. I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it.
Thank you for informing me about the Christmas barn. I have this woman on video to be accurate, and she did say something vey much like that.
"The property is located at a Highway interchanged and is zoned commercial. The County, School and Township are lacking in funds and have budget shortfalls not only now but in the foreseeable future. The V-7 site is woefully under utilized. Its about time someone tries to do something with it and make it productive."
All of this is true but, Mr. Chrin, don't you have enough money? Between the landfill in Williams and the destruction of beutiful farmland in Palmer and Tatamy aren't you interested in keeping some green areas green?
Bernie,hello, I've known the Chrins for a long time,they are really only interested in one thing and that is MONEY.
Yes. It's time we make zoning decisions on the basis of developers' worth. Let's make Bernie our local Ken Feinberg, the chief adjudicator of who has enough already.
You're as politically tone deaf as the one-term change moron whose brand of socialism is about to be roundly rejected at the polls after just two years.
Anyone with passing knowledge of that area's development history and interchange saga - over 35 years - should have known better if they didn't want to live near it. This has been a slow train coming for 30 years. Buy smarter next time. Chrin did.
Regarding Chrin, the ostentatious community center in Palmer Township which conveniently faces route 22 rather than Green Pond Rd and has his name in a 10,000 point font plastered at every angle, I'd say he is a bit full of himself.
The Chrin's are all about Green. the color of money baby!
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