Anne Leavitt-Gruberger, county planning manager with the Montgomery County Planning Commission, shows a chart to Towamencin’s supervisors depicting the number of new housing units built in the township since 2015, during the supervisors meeting on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Screenshot of meeting video)
Board splits 3-2 on study from county planning commission
A fresh look at Towamencin’s zoning codes is moving ahead.
In a split vote, the township’s supervisors chose to proceed with a housing affordability audit to be done by the Montgomery County Planning Commission.
“I’m not against a study that would provide us with a third party’s perspective on this issue,” said supervisor Amer Barghouth.
In June the Montgomery County Planning Commission offered to undertake an audit of the township’s current codes, after sharing data on the numbers of approved housing units built in Towamencin over the past decade and population growth forecasts. The offer came amid plenty of public commentary about possible future development of the Freddy Hill Farms property on Sumneytown Pike, and several other possible housing projects at various stages of public discussion and approval.
During that June discussion, the supervisors voiced concerns they’ve heard from residents about sharply increasing the township’s population and the resulting impact on traffic and runoff, while others said they were open to input from the county as the township updates its comprehensive plan.
That debate continued on July 9, as board Chairwoman Jocye Snyder asked if the rest of the board agreed on whether to proceed with the review. Supervisor Kristin Warner said she was against, and thought “there’s nothing complimentary — our tax dollars are paying for this.”
“I’m not interested, and I’m not for increasing density,” said supervisor Chuck Wilson. “I’m not in favor of looking at ways of increasing density, of providing ‘workforce housing.’
“I also know there’s comments in the comp plan, or certainly things we can implement, and I don’t see this as necessary. So I will be a no,” he said.
Supervisor Kofi Osei said he found that argument from those two “very frustrating,” saying the township would realize no savings by voting it down.
“The county’s not going to give our taxpayers a rebate for not doing it. So yeah, it costs money, but we don’t save money for not doing it,” he said.
The two then sparred over the motivation behind doing so.
“Supervisor Warner and Supervisor Wilson do not want the (county) planning commission to make recommendations because they ‘have an agenda,'” said Osei, and Wilson interrupted: “They absolutely have an agenda. As do you,” and Osei replied: “Right, and so does our township planning commission.”
“We have the fortitude to say no to their recommendations. And that is our job as the board of supervisors. So I don’t understand why you think you’re so weak that you can’t say no to something if they recommend it. I like having another set of eyes, so I will be voting yes for this,” Osei said.
Snyder and Osei both cast theirs in favor of proceeding, Wilson and Warner against, and Barghouth broke the tie by casting his in favor.
“From my perspective, and for my own benefit, as well as for residents who have not been involved in this discussion for as long as the supervisors and other residents have been, additional insights and perspectives that may be offered into this conversation, may be helpful,” he said.
Towamencin’s supervisors next meet at 7 p.m. on July 23 at the township administration building, 1090 Troxel Road. For more information, visit www.Towamencin.org.
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