Map of part of Towamencin’s Village Overlay district which developer PSDC is proposing to split into four new sectors along Reiff Road between Forty Foot Road and Sumneytown Pike, as approved in early 2020. (MediaNews group file photo)
Sumneytown-Forty Foot intersection has been discussed since 2018
Plans to revive one of Towamencin’s busiest intersections continue to move ahead.
Township officials heard an update earlier this month on a proposed “Main Street” development at the corner of Sumneytown Pike and Forty Foot Road.
“We heard from the community and the board that they wanted us to work in all due course to make this important development happen, as soon as possible,” said attorney Matt McHugh of developer PSDC.
In late February PSDC gave an update on two pending projects in the township, including one that’s been on the drawing board since 2018: a code update to allow new uses within the current village overlay area, an area of roughly 20 acres surrounding Forty Foot and Sumneytown.
The township’s planning commission began talks on updating the overlay in early 2018, and those talks continued in summer 2019, with the board voting in early 2020 to allow different uses in each of several “sectors” currently zoned as village commercial and R-150 residential.
Since then, PSDC has acquired several more vacant office buildings on the western side of that intersection, bringing their holdings there to roughly 35 acres, with a concept for new commercial and apartment construction close to the office buildings, creating a “Main Street” mixed-use development.
On April 10 McHugh gave an update on behalf of PSDC, outlining steps taken since the prior presentation the month before. Following that presentation, the developer held talks with the township’s planning commission on the latest version of the plans, and that plan could be before the supervisors soon.
“You’re going to keep seeing us back here. We’re committed to making this project a reality,” McHugh said.
Supervisors Chairman Chuck Wilson thanked McHugh for the update, and said he and the board were eager to hear further updates from PSDC CEO Mark Nicoletti on that project, and on the developer’s latest plans to revive a long-vacant shopping center just up Forty Foot at Allentown Road.
“We’re anxious for him to come out again and give us a update on the shopping center,” Wilson said, and McHugh replied: “I’m sure he will provide one as soon as possible.” An agenda posted for the supervisors’ April 24 meeting includes talks on that project: “6.1: PSDC Update — Towamencin Village Shopping Center.”
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