A developer wants to tear down one home on East Turnbull Avenue in Havertown and replace it with two new single-family houses, each on its own lot with underground stormwater basins.
The Haverford Township Planning Commission reviewed the minor subdivision plan for 43 E. Turnbull Ave. at its Thursday meeting. Marley Real Estate Holdings, LLC, based in Wayne, proposes splitting the 0.287-acre parcel into two lots in the R-6 medium-density residential zone.
Stormwater plan sized for 100-year storm
Because the site has no suitable stormwater outlet, each lot would get a subsurface infiltration basin, essentially an underground stone bed, sized to absorb the entire 100-year storm event, based on infiltration tests by PR Environmental Design and stormwater calculations prepared by Yohn Engineering on May 27. The property sits in the Darby-Cobbs Watershed District A-64, where township rules require post-development runoff to match pre-development rates for storms up to the 100-year level.
Engineer flags 12 issues
Township Engineer Charles Faulkner of Pennoni Associates issued a review letter on June 23, identifying 12 technical comments the applicant must resolve. Among them: portions of each proposed dwelling encroach into the required side yard setback, the zoning data table needs corrections for R-6 coverage limits, and the bottom-of-bed elevation for one stormwater basin doesn't match the calculations.
Faulkner's letter also requires a $2,200 contribution to the township stormwater maintenance fund and a maintenance agreement for the basins.
The applicant must obtain a PA DEP sewage facilities planning module or exemption and a tree removal permit for an existing tree on site.
What's next
The July 9 hearing was the first time the plan came before the Planning Commission. Planning Commission Chair Maggie Dobbs presided, with Jaime Jilozian, director of community development, and Faulkner attending as staff.
The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 13. Residents can view agenda documents on the township website at havtwp.org.
