Skippack BOS Withholds Biltmore Escrow [PHOTOS]

The Skippack Township Board of Supervisors withheld the most recent escrow releases for Biltmore Estates after several residents attended the board's October meeting to complain about current conditions within the development.

"They're out there working today, but it seems like they're trying to rush and complete these improvements, and their work is substandard," said Biltmore resident Brian Subers.  "It's clear that this is trying to be done as inexpensively as possible, to the detriment of the homeowners residing in that development.

Subers and other residents cited a number of issues within the common areas in the development, including rust, gullies, excessive rock and debris and top soil issues.

"They have failed to follow basis landscaping industry standards," said Subers. "[The supervisors] would never except that standard of workmanship on any of [their] own properties."

Photos of Biltmore as of Oct. 17 are available in the "photo and video" section of this article. Readers are welcome to post additional photos.

During the Engineer's report, it was decided to withhold two Bilmore escrow releases, totaling almost $20,000.

Skippack Board of Supervisors Chair Mary Beth LaBelle and Engineer Tim Woodrow said that there has been a lot of back-and-forth between the township, builders TH Properties and contractors H&K.

"We concluded that some of the obligation was from THP, some was from H&K - they met, divided responsibility and were going to get working on this in the fall" said Woodrow. "It's truly a mess right now."

"It is very difficult for us as a team to discuss anything with them when, right now, they're not being responsible," Labelle said, who also said that they would walk through the property again to assess the situation.

"We constantly have to - unfortunately - monitor that," said LaBelle.

Biltmore has been an ongoing issue, discussed regularly at Skippack Township meetings - this October meeting was a replay of last year,  when the township witheld a larger escrow release due to similar resident complaints.

Just before the Skippack meeting on Oct. 10 THP, which filed for bankruptcy last year, posted communication with residents regarding turning over common area responsibility to the homeowners association.