Middletown Appoints Special Engineer for Franklin Mint Project

appointed a special project engineer and approved the introduction of an amendment to the conservation easement ordinance at its regular Sept. 10 meeting.

Council unanimously appointed McCormick and Taylor, an engineering firm out of Exton, as the special project engineer for the Franklin Mint Redevelopment Project.

In which Franklin Mint developers needed to move forward on the project, which includes a 150-room hotel, a 200-unit residential area for the 55+ community, office space in the previous Franklin Mint building, retail space, and one or more sit-down family restaurants.

Council Chairman Scott Galloway said Township Engineer Art Rothe does an excellent service for Middletown and Rothe has taken on more work than is asked of him so council believed additional support was needed for the Franklin Mint Project.

Galloway said there was not a bidding process when choosing McCormick and Taylor but there are not many engineering firms in the area that can provide the services the township needs in regard to Franklin Mint.

"It boiled down to two that could give us those services," Galloway said.

Middletown resident Dr. Gary Grove expressed concern over the appointment saying he felt Rothe always looked out for the best interest of Middletown.

The Franklin Mint project is "still very gray, it's not black and white," Grove said, "and I'm worried (the new engineering firm) may have a different way of looking at things."

Galloway said Rothe would collaborate with McCormick and Taylor in the beginning and help to familiarize them with the project.

Pond's Edge

Council also approved the introduction of an ordinance to amend the conservation easement regarding the Pond's Edge Development.

In easement for the , reducing the conservation easement setback from 200 feet to an "average" 80-foot buffer with a 60 foot minimum.

The ordinance introduction will be an agenda item on the Sept. 24 township meeting however if council is not ready to move forward on the issue, the item will be tabled.