North Londonderry approves $38M bond for Londonderry Village expansion

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At their April 20 meeting, North Londonderry Township supervisors approved a bond resolution allowing Lebanon Valley Brethren Home to issue up to $38 million to fund new construction and refinance debt at its Londonderry Village retirement campus.

The board also unanimously approved paying off the mortgage debt of Citizen’s Fire Company #1, Palmyra. 

New construction at Londonderry Village

Reading attorney Peter Edelman, who represents Lebanon Valley Brethren Home, owner of Londonderry Village, requested bond approval since the 12 new homes to be constructed are within the municipality. 

He said the bond serves another purpose. 

“The expected principal amount of the bonds will not exceed $38 million,” Edelman said. “About two-thirds of that is going to be used to refund existing debt. And this was incurred to expand the campus. And the other third of the bond proceeds are for new capital improvements, including the construction of 12 new carriage homes and town homes on campus.” 

The bond is with the West Cornwall Township Authority, Edelman noted. He also said a precondition to the issuance of any taxes and bonds is to hold a public hearing, which was held on April 7 at that municipality’s public meeting. 

“Following the public hearing, Lebanon Valley Brethren Home must obtain the approval of the selected officials in both the community that created the authority and the community in which their campus is located,” he said. “So we were in front of the board of supervisors of the township of West Cornwall as the municipality that created the authority. They have approved the project and authorized the Lebanon Valley Brother Home to move forward with the issuance of the bonds.”

In asking for the North Londonderry supervisors’ permission, Edelman noted several conditions. 

“Tonight I’m here on behalf of Lebanon Valley to present this resolution to your board as the community in which the project is located. This is really just a technical requirement in the Internal Revenue Code,” he said. “The resolution makes clear that this township is not liable in any way for the bonds. You’re not pledging your credit, you’re not guaranteeing anything.”

He added that two findings had been made concerning this project.

“One is that the project benefits the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this community. And then secondly, you’re basically approving the project and authorizing the authority to move forward with the issuance of the bond,” Edelman said. “This township has granted a similar approval many, many times in the past. West Cornwall has traditionally served as a common issuer due to long-term relationships between Lebanon Valley Brethren Home and the authority. So we’re really kind of keeping the same structure in place that they’ve used in the past.” 

Citizen’s Fire Company #1

Supervisors voted to settle the remainder of the township’s mortgage debt for Citizen’s Fire Company #1, which sits at just under $1.7 million. 

Township manager Mike Booth told supervisors that a meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, with Jonestown Bank officials to make the final payment, which he said was $1,694,050.30 million.

Supervisors had approved in December 2025 for Booth to work with bank officials to draft the paperwork needed to complete the final mortgage payment transaction in 2026.

The fire company notes on its website that it serves Palmyra Borough, North Londonderry Township, and the surrounding area.  

Other township business

In other business, supervisors unanimously voted to:

• Accept the recommendation of the township planning commission to deny a waiver request to reduce the street width from 35 feet to 28 feet for the Wexley Hill construction project.
• Pay $15,000 from the township’s Sewer Capital Capacity Fund for a SCADA computer. SCADA is an industrial-grade computer running software that monitors and controls physical processes, infrastructure, or industrial machinery in real-time. It was noted the system is important to help prevent phishing scams and other attacks by hackers of the township’s sewer operating system.
• Announce a document shredding event for Palmyra Area School District residents on Saturday, May 9, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the township building. There is a 10-box limit.   
• Accept the March 31 treasurer’s report.
• Accept the police report for March. 
• Pay March invoices.
• Approve the minutes of a special meeting to discuss township roads on April 1.
• Announce public tours of Bindnagle Lutheran Church, 801 Gravel Hill Road, Palmyra, on May 6 and 9.

Next meeting

North Londonderry Township supervisors meet the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the township municipal building, 655 E. Ridge Rd., Palmyra. Next meeting is scheduled for May 18, 2026, at 7 p.m.