Patton Crossing Development Draws Concerns from Community Members

With all the buildup along North Atherton Street in Patton Township, the land that used to hold the Penn State Mobile Home Park is a hot property. The plans for the proposed Patton Crossing development at the site have not been met with approval by some community members who want their concerns to be addressed before development proceeds.

Developers submitted plans in 2017 for a grocery store, hotel, mixed-use residential and commercial buildings and a large central plaza to be built on the land. The idea is for a downtown-type atmosphere.

After discussion over zoning for the land and a petition signed by 250 residents in opposition to the plans submitted by developers, Patton Township supervisors formed an advisory committee, comprised of planning commission members, staff, developers and 14 community members who want to work with the township in the planning for the land.

Committee member Rick Meyer has lived in Park Forest for 30 years. He remembers what it was like before Walmart was there, when an old drive-in movie theater was on the lot. Now, North Atherton is being built up fast, with new stores and business popping up all the time, and Meyer hopes that the feel of Park Forest can stay the same.

“It really is a forest community, with lots of trees and wildlife; that’s why people live here,” Meyer said. He said the plans at Patton Crossing take some of that park-like charm away. He is hoping the township can work with residents to provide a situation that keeps things as they are.

Karen Dabney can walk to five different grocery stores from her Park Forest home. While she is not opposed to having options, she does not see the need for a sixth supermarket in the area. Dabney joined the committee because she felt she needed to have a positive impact on her community. She said the committee understands that this is private land that will eventually be developed, but she is hoping that the development can be within the spirit of the community and actually be a benefit to all.

After all, said Dabney, according to documents published by the township, developers Ara Kervandjian, Bob Poole and Heidi Nicholassaid they could have built student housing under the current zoning code, but believed the Patton Crossing plan would better serve the community.

So far, the committee’s voice has been heard. Original plans called from an entrance to the site through a small parcel of park land on Park Forest Drive that the committee thought would create a influx of traffic through the surrounding neighborhoods. This access road has been denied by the township, and the park area has been preserved.

Another big concern is the allowable height of the planned hotel. The developers are hoping for a maximum height of 80 feet for the hotel building. This would require a change in the zoning. The plan is to have a large clock tower on top of the hotel that would be in front of a large plaza for gathering. Dabney said she feels like this would be intrusive because it would be higher than the trees in the community and be seen everywhere.

“It would be like the eye of [Sauron] watching over us all,” said Dabney, referencing ‘The Lord of the Rings.’ Committee members hope to keep the height allowance to a less intrusive 50 feet. Also of concern is how close the development is allowed to build to it neighbors’ properties. Nearby are homes and townhomes that Dabney feels would lose their sense of privacy.

Dabney said she is glad the township is listening to community members and she is optimistic that the township will continue to work with them regarding their concerns.

The next Patton Township supervisors meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, at the township office. For more information about the project, visit www.pattoncrossingissues.com.