Maple Glen Triangle Townhomes Get Preliminary Approval

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —After receiving unanimous planning board approval, developers of a townhome project near the Maple Glen Triangle moved another step forward Wednesday night.

The Horsham Township Council unanimously granted preliminary land development approval for the project by Paone Brothers Horsham LLC near the Key Bank at 726 Norristown Rd.

Developer Sal Paone appeared before the council for the first time since the summer when the council approved new commercial transition zoning for townhomes to be built on 14.5 acres that were zoned for single-family housing despite objections from more than a dozen residents regarding traffic and quality-of-life concerns.

The zoning change was for a tract behind Key Bank along the intersection of Norristown and Welsh roads, which is called the Maple Glen Triangle for the congestion it causes for residents and motorists of Horsham and Upper Dublin townships.

Developers Bruce Goodman and Sal, Dominic, and Sam Paone of Paone Builders have modified plans since the project was first presented in June 2022.

Sal Paone said that six meetings have been held with residents and officials over the past 18 months on the project, which calls for 53 units that would include three and four bedrooms on 16 acres.

He said that 6 acres would be preserved and reforested after trees were destroyed or damaged by a September 2021 tornado that swept through the area.

Meanwhile, the developers are also planning "significant traffic improvements" for the intersection, which they said would help ease the Norristown Road gridlock during peak drive times.

Township Manager Bill Walker asked Greg Richardson, the developer's traffic engineer, to pursue with PennDOT whether left-turn signals could be added to the lights by the Maple Glen Triangle intersection because "it is very difficult to make turns" there.

"It is a safety issue," Council President Mark McCouch said.

Paone said there would be emergency access to Norristown Road, a trail connection beyond the CVS property, plenty of parking spaces, and 39 shade trees being planted in an open space area.

The council also granted a number of waivers on technical issues such as mapping, grading, sidewalk width, and size of parking spaces.

The developers must now submit a final plan early next year for the council to review before final land development approval is considered. No date has been set for when that meeting will take place.