Efforts to redevelop the former Red Lion Country Club in York County have taken a second hit.
- At a meeting on Feb. 27, zoning officials in York Township voted 3-2 to deny a developer’s request for a special exception to allow age-restricted housing under the property’s current zoning, which is for commercial office.
- “I don’t think this is consistent with what we want for our community,” said John Myers, a member of the township’s zoning hearing board who voted against the request.
- More than a dozen neighbors spoke out against it, as well, citing concerns over traffic, stormwater runoff and the potential loss of land that has been open space for decades.
Who was asking: A subsidiary of Conshohocken-based Catalyst Commercial Development.
- The company was proposing an age-restricted community of 91 duplexes, for a total of 182 units.
- The planned age restrictions reflect federal standards requiring that at least 80% of the units have at least one occupant over 55.
- The plan also called for a community center of roughly 2,500 square feet, pedestrian trails, a network of internal roads and acres of open space.
- Township zoning allowed an age-restricted community as a special exception, which required board approval.
- During public testimony at the meeting, Catalyst executive Andrew Miller said the property was not suitable for typical commercial development, even though zoning allows it by right.
Have we been here before: Sort of.
- Catalyst had previously sought to rezone the property to allow single-family homes.
- But supervisors turned down the request last year following an outpouring of criticism from neighbors.
The background: Red Lion Area School District owns the country club, which is at 150 Country Club Road, just outside Red Lion borough.
- The district uses the property for cross country meets and science education.
- However, the district has been trying to sell it for years and now has a sales agreement with Catalyst.
What’s next: Catalyst could appeal the zoning board’s decision.
- Miller declined to comment following last night’s meeting.
