This Wednesday, February 3, the Land Use Committee will be meeting to review an application by Brandolini Companies for the construction of a new apartment building in Baederwood, behind Whole Foods. Per Ward 7 Commissioner Stuart Winegrad (whose ward the proposed project is set in):
“Baederwood Residential Partners, LP is seeking to build a 244 unit apartment building with associated parking garage on the north side of the Fairway, approximately 1500 feet east of its intersection with Old York Road. The Zoning Hearing Board granted a dimensional variance in 2018, and the applicant received a conditional use approval from the Board of Commissioners in January of 2019.
The Planning Commission reviewed and approved the applicant's plan on January 28, 2020. Access to the proposed apartment building and parking lot will from The Fairway through the parking lot of the Baederwood Shopping Center. The Conditional Use Order provided for improvements to The Fairway, including safer pedestrian crossings, along with improvements to the ingress and egress of motor vehicles from the existing Baederwood Parking lot. Since the time of the Conditional Use Order, the applicant has proposed to make additional improvements including increased width in the access road and fire safety design upgrades to the building and equipment.”
Controversy remains over whether or not a secondary access for fire equipment and emergency vehicles is needed. Under the PA Uniform Construction Code, only a portion of the International Fire Code has been adopted. Among the sections not adopted are those that require a secondary access for fire equipment. However, under Abington Township’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, a secondary access is required for anything greater than three stories.
As always, feel free to reach out to me with questions or concerns regarding this project, or join the meeting and public on the application publicly.
Proposed Site Plan submitted by Baederwood Residential Partners, LP
Post Meeting Note, February 6, 2021
The Land Use Committee voted 5-0 in favor of recommending to the full Board of Commissioners that the land development application for this project be approved. This was based on assurances provided by the applicants fire protection engineer, as well as Abington’s Fire Marshall, the the building, as proposed, will be safe for residents and first responders alike. Letters from Telgian Engineering and the Fire Marshall’s office can be found below.
