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WVC athletes condition for long seasons in first practices for fall sports

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Lottery Numbers for Monday, Aug. 14

<p>DORRANCE TWP. &#8212; A controversial residential development that&#8217;s been debated for months took a big step forward after a 2-1 vote by supervisors Monday night.</p><p>Supervisors signed off on a &#8220;Conditional Use Plan&#8221; by Blue Ridge LLC for 193 housing units on property that borders the Blue Ridge Trail Golf Course.</p><p>The decision ends a public hearing phase that started in February, but doesn&#8217;t end the process.</p><p>&#8220;All we&#8217;ve done is approve their conditional use,&#8221; said Supervisor Chairman Gary Zane. &#8220;There is still a long way to go and they have to comply with all the provisions of our zoning code.&#8221;</p><p>Zane was joined by fellow Supervisor William Wengrzynek in voting for Blue Ridge&#8217;s proposal. The lone vote against was by Supervisor Kevin Gallagher, who has long maintained the plan as presented by Blue Ridge should be regarded as two separate entities instead one.</p><p>Blue Ridge will have to exclude, under a stipulation requested by supervisors, Phase Five in its initial planned development. Phase Five encompasses 40-some acres at the northwest corner of the plot, near Stairville and Blytheburn roads, nearly 3 miles from the main development area.</p><p>As it stands, the conditional use covers phases one through four on 211 acres in the southeast sector of the property.</p><p>Originally, the plan was submitted under the ownership of TFP Limited, but earlier this year the property was transferred to Blue Ridge LLC with Robert Tamburro listed as president. Tamburro is also a key partner in TFP Limited, which is headed by his father, Robert Tambur. (The son goes by his grandfather&#8217;s spelling of the family name.)</p><p>After the meeting, Blue Ridge attorney Jack Dean said he didn&#8217;t see many obstacles ahead and the owners are prepared to meet issues related to a water system and gain approval to cross a PennDOT right-of-way for its sanitary system. Dean said they are also ready to meet any challenge presented by a group of objectors, many of whom have houses adjacent to the golf course.</p><p>Attorney Mark McNelis has represented those opposed to the development, but he offered no comment following Monday&#8217;s meeting. McNelis has 30 days to file an appeal.</p><p>Tamburro said his firm &#8220;has demonstrated itself as a good citizen of the township. We have paid amusement taxes and we have developed and maintained a high quality golf course. The housing we plan to construct will conform with the quality of the course.&#8221;</p><p>The township&#8217;s planning commission had voted 5-0 in late July to deny Blue Ridge its conditional use request. Besides the matter of proposed construction phases, the commission cited drinking water, structural setback distances as well as stormwater runoff issues in making a recommendation to deny Blue Ridge&#8217;s application.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Tamburro </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_Tamburro_Robert_square_mug_toned.jpg</photo0><caption0>Tamburro </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Huntington</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @TLnews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Dorrance Twp. supervisors give preliminary OK to residential housing plan