Pine officials approve Clover Chase development

After months of dialogue between Pine officials, developers and community members, the township is moving ahead with plans for the Clover Chase development.

The proposed development has one cul-de-sac for the plan, which will be accessible via Curtis Drive. The development will have 23 single-unit homes, two stormwater management detention ponds located in open space areas, sidewalks and street trees along both sides of the street, slope plantings, and a trail easement to the northern property boundary.

Developer Michael Greca/Clover Chase Brush Creek LLC has revised the plan several times. The application for development was originally denied at a June 13 planning commission meeting and again at a July 11 meeting due to a failure to comply with Township of Pine codes, which mainly involved woodlands replacement and mitigation standards.

Plans were tabled at an Aug. 1 meeting so that an alternate plan could be developed.

The main concerns of current residents of nearby neighborhood Cloverdale and the surrounding area include the elimination of existing large/heritage trees, issues of sloping and grading, increased traffic flow due to only one viable entrance to the plan, and drainage from the new stormwater management system.

The site is covered by a deciduous forest – 586 trees will have to be cut down in order to make room for the development and will be replaced with 623 smaller-caliper trees and 826 shrubs.

“The communication has been open and fair. These accommodations are noteworthy and will make a bad situation a little bit better. But we’re taking away a really major mature forest and turning it into what I’m sure will be a nice development, but it’s not going to enhance my township … I would urge you to reject it,” Cloverdale resident Mike Branwell said at the Nov. 21 board of supervisors meeting.

Cloverdale resident Sally Beatty took issue with the fact that the trees that will be planted will be significantly smaller than the existing trees.

“As an adjacent property owner, I am generally pleased with the revised plan being presented. The number of trees being removed is just heartbreaking. A one-inch tree versus a 24-inch tree is not really a fair comparison,” Beatty said.

Mike Wetzel, partner at land-planning firm Victor-Wetzel Associates, explained that in his experience, the 1.25- to 1.5-inch-caliper trees grow faster and better than 3-inch trees.

Supervisor Audrey Mackie motioned to approve the Clover Chase development plan provided that developers followed nine conditions laid out by the township regarding payment of fees and adherence to township codes. The motion passed unanimously.

“Originally, the new neighborhood was pushed right up against the existing one, so modifications needed to be made after residents voiced their concerns. I’m happy we were able to come to this decision and meet in the middle,” township manager Jason Kratsas said.

A message sent to Greca regarding price points for the homes and an estimated start of construction was not returned.