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The South Annville Township Board of Supervisors in January held a conditional use hearing for Garman Legacy LLC’s proposed development at Candler’s Pointe.

Brandon Williams of Garman Builders and Chad Smith of Steckbeck Engineering and Surveying Inc. were called as witnesses by Reilly S. Noetzel of Barley Snyder, who represents Garman Legacy LLC. South Annville Township is represented by Josele Cleary of Morgan, Hallgren, Crosswell & Kane, who facilitated the hearing. Also present were supervisors Dale Hoover, Garry Rhine, and John Harrell, township manager Jeanette Henning, assistant township manager Heather Mesko, and James Caldwell and Allison Garner of Rettew Associates.

Garman Legacy is a subsidiary of Garman Builders, a company that has completed various other projects in Lebanon County. Garman Legacy’s project at Candler’s Pointe is proposed between Mount Pleasant Road and Reigerts Lane, northwest of Garman Builders’ existing Wynfield at Annville neighborhood, which is off Reigerts Lane.

The project will combine two parcels of land: a larger parcel owned by Garman Legacy and a smaller one owned by Garman Builders at Wynfield. The combined parcel would be owned by Garman Legacy.

The combined 20.05-acre property is designated as an R-2 medium-density residential zoning district. Candler’s Pointe is proposed to include 60 apartments and 90 townhouses.

The development will have several amenities, including solar-lit pedestrian walkways with park benches, a dog park, children’s playground, pavilion, multi-use field and central mail collection pavilion. The perimeter of the walking trail will be available for public use.

The development plan calls for five water basins for stormwater drainage. Pennsylvania American Water has provided a will-serve letter indicating sufficient capacity for public water and sewer management.

Garman Legacy at Candler’s Pointe required a conditional-use application due to criteria required by township ordinances not being met in the proposal. The application includes modifications to requirements regarding sidewalks, tree placement, and private streets.

Notably, developers requested a reduction of street width from 32 to 24 feet for the public access road to run through the center of the development and intersect with Mount Pleasant Road and Reigerts Lane due to concerns about the central bend and pedestrian safety.

During audience comments, a resident raised concerns about traffic on neighboring roads. ELA Group Inc. conducted a traffic study at the intersections of Mount Pleasant Road and Route 422 and Reigerts Lane and White Oak Street. The study recommended that improvements be made to these intersections, including the development of a traffic signal at Mount Pleasant Road and Route 422. The traffic study findings and recommendations were previously presented to the supervisors due to traffic concerns from other nearby development projects. South Annville Township will consider the recommendations.

Additionally, Garman Legacy will sign a roadway improvements agreement, drafted by Cleary, to assume partial financial accountability for the recommended improvements.

If the application is accepted by the supervisors, construction of Candler’s Pointe would be completed in three phases: 48 townhomes to be completed in the summer of 2025, 42 townhomes to be completed in the summer of 2027, and 60 apartments to be completed in the summer of 2028.

A motion to close the record was unanimously passed. Supervisors will hold an executive session to consider the application and have 45 days to offer a decision. The board plans to present its decision at the February meeting, which is within the 45-day window.

Garner presented the following updates in the engineer’s report:

  • Rettew Associates reviewed the Wynfield 1B plan and will submit comments regarding construction access by the end of next week.
  • A comprehensive map of recent roadwork in South Annville Township is in the process of being developed. The map will detail what work was completed and when.

The supervisors also discussed the following topics:

  • The board unanimously passed a motion to award Robert Morris of Lebanon Valley Decorators a contract to restore the chalk board in the Donald H. Umberger Building. The restoration will cost $725.
  • A motion to authorize Cleary to draft an agreement for the Moyers’ construction on their property on Diamond Drive was unanimously passed.
  • The board granted South Annville Holdings LLC additional time to submit details regarding a conditional-use application. At this time, the board has no information regarding the request.
  • Dustin Sider of the Annville-Cleona Fire Department thanked the township for its financial support.
  • Township Police Chief Ben Sutcliffe reported that there were 115 calls for service for South Annville and 23 calls for service in Annville in December. Sutcliffe also recommended renovations to the township building to improve security and safety.
  • Motions to approve the December secretary’s report, 2024 reorganizational meeting secretary’s report, treasurer’s report, pay monthly bills and adjourn were unanimously passed.

The Board of Supervisors of South Annville Township meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. Meetings are held in the township building at 1042 Horseshoe Pike and are open to the public. Next month’s meeting will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 14.

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Jess Benninger is a reporter for LebTown. She is currently earning a bachelor's degree in English at Lebanon Valley College. When she is not writing, she enjoys hiking, listening to music and learning new things.

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