Stop Development of Large Senior Living Facility Across from Beechwood Farms
ACT NOW! A privately-owned for-profit company from Minnesota is planning to build a large 151-bed Senior Living Facility (3 story building which will require up to 50 employees), plus 28 two-family duplex houses (14 separate buildings), and a 182-space parking lot across the street from Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, adjacent to Hidden Falls and Wilmar Estates (wooded area above). We want to stop the development of this Senior Living Facility because the plans are inconsistent with zoning requirements, may negatively impact the environment, and increase traffic. We support developing high-quality housing for older adults and providing compassionate, competent care for individuals with dementia; however this facility is not "consistent with the purpose of the Zoning District and adjacent land uses," as required by the Indiana Township Zoning Ordinance. If you are concerned about the development of this facility, please sign this petition! If you are interested in helping support this effort, please see: https://www.gofundme.com/1nv7hcaaao?teamInvite=347dil7QQYCrQxemI3Yr7ZeElQef37CBGyqRCQSfVKS5EaIQR5tOISQCwzc3fvxIFind additional details about our concerns below:
- Nonconformity with Indiana Township Zoning Requirements: The proposal includes a memory care wing with at least 20 units, which meets the definition of a Personal Care Home and Assisted Living Residence, not one of the permitted uses of Medium Density Residential Zoning (MDR) or a Planned Residential Developments (PRDs). Additionally, this plan does not meet the Township approval criteria that the PRD must be "harmonious and consistent with the neighborhood in which it is located." This proposal is not consistent with the MDR zoning of this land, "designed to provide areas that preserve the existing characteristics of single-family dwelling units." (see https://indianatownship.com/wp-content/uploads/201...)
- Negative Impact on the Environment: This development could have negative impacts on the environment related to storm water/flooding, lighting and noise pollution, and deforestation. Storm Water Concerns – Saturation of the water table and recent flooding across the area requires careful consideration of additional development, particularly the impact that large buidlings and a parking lot will have on Squaw Run Trail watershed and low-lying areas. As required by Indiana Township, the PRD should "afford a greater degree of protection of natural resources" than traditional proposals. Lighting and Noise Pollution – The proposed 3-story facility is located extremely close to the backyards of Wilmar Estates. This brings increased lighting, noise, and security concerns, given the 24-hour care required for residents in the enhanced care/memory units. Deforestation/Depletion of the Natural Habitat. These multiple, large buildings, parking lot, and possible fences and gates will be developed in what is currently natural woods and mature trees (photo above). The Township Zoning Ordinance requires "the conservation of natural amenities, green ways, and open spaces."
- Traffic Increases: This facility will increase the traffic on Dorseyville Road, Fairview Road, and Harts Run Road. The large facility will include 50 employees, a full service restaurant, spa, cafe, and pub for residents, family, friends, and visitors. It will also require a mulit-year construction plan with a company from Ohio.
Alternative Solutions: We encourage Indiana Township to conserve the land's natural environment and approve proposals consistent with Zoning requirements that do not have negative impacts on the environment. For example, the Township could consider preserving the land as an extension of Beechwood Farms or Squaw Valley Trail system and provide a common open space with additional walking trails, a garden, or community park.
Conclusion: We would like to protect this special, naturally wooded area adjacent to the nature preserve and hiking area from commercial development. Other locations in Indiana Township that are appropriately zoned for large-scale Assisted Living and Personal Care Homes (e.g., Village Residential, Commercial) should be considered for this development.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
January 20, 2019
January 11, 2019
These developers from Minnesota think they can just bulldoze our community for profit while ignoring every zoning law on the books. I have been spending my nights digging through their environmental impact reports and their lies are starting to pile up even higher than their ridiculous three-story building plans. They are banking on us giving up but we are just getting started.
Reached 100 supporters
January 9, 2019
97 Comments
We do not want this facility built in our community. Beechwood Farms is an important environmental property used by thousands of Pennsylvanians. This facility will bring traffic and pollution into Beechwood and our community.
The zoning rules are there to protect the neighborhood and to prevent bad decisions. If you have to make exceptions to those rules, you are either not protecting the neighborhood or making bad decisions or both. The rules either mean something or they mean nothing.
This does not conform to Zoning guidelines and is detrimental to the area in many ways. As a Indiana Twp resident I have already seen a chain link fence replace the natural trees and plants at the entrance to our neighborhood due to turnpike construction and now can see the lights glow from the fracking pad. Very concerned for the area.
Building this would be detrimental to the local community. We’ve all bought houses here due to the pleasing esthetics and natural wooded areas. Erecting this structure will have a negative impact on our neighborhood.
I am concerned that this new development will bring more traffic to.our community and possibly change the scenic view from those homes on Wilmar whose backyards are adjacent to the proposed plan. This plan could very well effect the property value of those homes. This project would be better in another area.
We chose to live in Indiana Twp specifically because of the green space here. Its presence, coupled with close proximity to the city, gives residents the best of both worlds. It is distressing that this board of supervisors does not seem to share the community's regard for the preservation of our natural resources as evidenced by their support of fracking near our schools and homes, zoning violations / variances, and unsightly and destructive building plans.
Indiana Township gave tentative approval for the Waters Assisted Living facility on July 9th. Despite overwhelming evidence that this development violates their own zoning policy, they approved it 3-2. Please help in any way you can to stop this development in our community by alerting as many people as you can to contribute to the go fund me page or spread the word that this project is scheduled to move forward. There are many areas of Indiana township this project could be built and NOT violate the zoning requirements as well as destroying natural habitats and the Beechwood farm area.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
Stop Development of Large Senior Living Facility Across from Beechwood Farms
ACT NOW! A privately-owned for-profit company from Minnesota is planning to build a large 151-bed Senior Living Facility (3 story building which will require up to 50 employees), plus 28 two-family duplex houses (14 separate buildings), and a 182-space parking lot across the street from Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, adjacent to Hidden Falls and Wilmar Estates (wooded area above). We want to stop the development of this Senior Living Facility because the plans are inconsistent with zoning requirements, may negatively impact the environment, and increase traffic. We support developing high-quality housing for older adults and providing compassionate, competent care for individuals with dementia; however this facility is not "consistent with the purpose of the Zoning District and adjacent land uses," as required by the Indiana Township Zoning Ordinance. If you are concerned about the development of this facility, please sign this petition! If you are interested in helping support this effort, please see: https://www.gofundme.com/1nv7hcaaao?teamInvite=347dil7QQYCrQxemI3Yr7ZeElQef37CBGyqRCQSfVKS5EaIQR5tOISQCwzc3fvxIFind additional details about our concerns below:
- Nonconformity with Indiana Township Zoning Requirements: The proposal includes a memory care wing with at least 20 units, which meets the definition of a Personal Care Home and Assisted Living Residence, not one of the permitted uses of Medium Density Residential Zoning (MDR) or a Planned Residential Developments (PRDs). Additionally, this plan does not meet the Township approval criteria that the PRD must be "harmonious and consistent with the neighborhood in which it is located." This proposal is not consistent with the MDR zoning of this land, "designed to provide areas that preserve the existing characteristics of single-family dwelling units." (see https://indianatownship.com/wp-content/uploads/201...)
- Negative Impact on the Environment: This development could have negative impacts on the environment related to storm water/flooding, lighting and noise pollution, and deforestation. Storm Water Concerns – Saturation of the water table and recent flooding across the area requires careful consideration of additional development, particularly the impact that large buidlings and a parking lot will have on Squaw Run Trail watershed and low-lying areas. As required by Indiana Township, the PRD should "afford a greater degree of protection of natural resources" than traditional proposals. Lighting and Noise Pollution – The proposed 3-story facility is located extremely close to the backyards of Wilmar Estates. This brings increased lighting, noise, and security concerns, given the 24-hour care required for residents in the enhanced care/memory units. Deforestation/Depletion of the Natural Habitat. These multiple, large buildings, parking lot, and possible fences and gates will be developed in what is currently natural woods and mature trees (photo above). The Township Zoning Ordinance requires "the conservation of natural amenities, green ways, and open spaces."
- Traffic Increases: This facility will increase the traffic on Dorseyville Road, Fairview Road, and Harts Run Road. The large facility will include 50 employees, a full service restaurant, spa, cafe, and pub for residents, family, friends, and visitors. It will also require a mulit-year construction plan with a company from Ohio.
Alternative Solutions: We encourage Indiana Township to conserve the land's natural environment and approve proposals consistent with Zoning requirements that do not have negative impacts on the environment. For example, the Township could consider preserving the land as an extension of Beechwood Farms or Squaw Valley Trail system and provide a common open space with additional walking trails, a garden, or community park.
Conclusion: We would like to protect this special, naturally wooded area adjacent to the nature preserve and hiking area from commercial development. Other locations in Indiana Township that are appropriately zoned for large-scale Assisted Living and Personal Care Homes (e.g., Village Residential, Commercial) should be considered for this development.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
January 20, 2019
January 11, 2019
These developers from Minnesota think they can just bulldoze our community for profit while ignoring every zoning law on the books. I have been spending my nights digging through their environmental impact reports and their lies are starting to pile up even higher than their ridiculous three-story building plans. They are banking on us giving up but we are just getting started.
Reached 100 supporters
January 9, 2019
97 Comments
This is a poor use of one of the existing green spaces in Indiana township. It would detract from the stunning Audubon facility at Beechwood and ultimately reduce property values and thus tax basis.
We do not want this facility built in our community. Beechwood Farms is an important environmental property used by thousands of Pennsylvanians. This facility will bring traffic and pollution into Beechwood and our community.
The zoning rules are there to protect the neighborhood and to prevent bad decisions. If you have to make exceptions to those rules, you are either not protecting the neighborhood or making bad decisions or both. The rules either mean something or they mean nothing.
This does not conform to Zoning guidelines and is detrimental to the area in many ways. As a Indiana Twp resident I have already seen a chain link fence replace the natural trees and plants at the entrance to our neighborhood due to turnpike construction and now can see the lights glow from the fracking pad. Very concerned for the area.
Building this would be detrimental to the local community. We’ve all bought houses here due to the pleasing esthetics and natural wooded areas. Erecting this structure will have a negative impact on our neighborhood.
I am concerned that this new development will bring more traffic to.our community and possibly change the scenic view from those homes on Wilmar whose backyards are adjacent to the proposed plan. This plan could very well effect the property value of those homes. This project would be better in another area.
We chose to live in Indiana Twp specifically because of the green space here. Its presence, coupled with close proximity to the city, gives residents the best of both worlds. It is distressing that this board of supervisors does not seem to share the community's regard for the preservation of our natural resources as evidenced by their support of fracking near our schools and homes, zoning violations / variances, and unsightly and destructive building plans.
Indiana Township gave tentative approval for the Waters Assisted Living facility on July 9th. Despite overwhelming evidence that this development violates their own zoning policy, they approved it 3-2. Please help in any way you can to stop this development in our community by alerting as many people as you can to contribute to the go fund me page or spread the word that this project is scheduled to move forward. There are many areas of Indiana township this project could be built and NOT violate the zoning requirements as well as destroying natural habitats and the Beechwood farm area.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 500 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
This is a poor use of one of the existing green spaces in Indiana township. It would detract from the stunning Audubon facility at Beechwood and ultimately reduce property values and thus tax basis.