(2/4) A subdivision proposed by the Strawberry Hill Foundation was unanimously, conditionally approved by the Hamiltonban Township Board of Supervisors at their February meeting, as had been recommended by the township Planning Commission.
Specifically, the ‘minor’ subdivision plan involves subdividing a four-acre lot from a 26.56-acre tract of land belonging to Strawberry Hill. The four-acre lot, which is the subject of the subdivision, is located on Swamp Creek Lane and contains a cabin that was previously used as a rental by Strawberry Hill, with an additional abandoned structure.
The conditions imposed on the subdivision approval are more of a technical nature, such as ensuring that certain notations and signatures are added to the plan. The applicant has 90 days to meet the conditions. Petrus Holdings is the intended buyer.
Some of the concerns expressed at the meeting include that the specific or intended use of the property, which remains unknown … and that the plan does not address issues relating to the protection of Swamp Creek.
However, those concerns cannot really be taken into consideration when doing a subdivision - but tend to be triggered when a developer actually begins to propose a project which would alter that which presently exists on the site, according to township Engineer Fred Heerbrandt. A subdivision doesn’t physically impact or alter anything other than a map.
As far as any ‘hint’ of proposed use, Commissioner Robert Gordon stated the applicant had suggested the tract would be a nature preserve, but subsequently suggested it could be used for unspecified religious purposes.
Petrus Holdings had previously acquired a circa five-acre tract along Swamp Creek Lane which is now owned by a religious sect, but there is no known connection (if such even exists) between that group and Petrus Holdings’ purchase of the soon-to-be-subdivided tract.
Also approved by the supervisors at their meeting was a planning waiver for the four-acre lot, which relieved Strawberry Hill from having to install septic systems. Both the cabin and abandoned structure already have septic systems in place.
Additionally, the supervisors approved granting the applicant a 60-day extension to allow for the execution of a maintenance agreement that would facilitate the use of privately-owned Swamp Creek Lane … in order to be able to access the proposed four-acre lot. The agreement would include the applicant and other parties who utilize the lane.
The 26.56-acre tract, from which the four-acre lot is being culled, is part of Strawberry Hill’s 32-acre campus. In June of 2018, Strawberry Hill transferred a the vast majority of the preserve’s original land grant - the organization donated 80 acres of land and sold 480 acres to the state and subsequently became part of Michaux State Forest.
