Montgomery County Residents Express Opposition To New Construction Project

By Diana Rocco

LOWER MORELAND TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) - Residents packed the community room at the library in Lower Moreland Township to express their opposition to a new construction project they say would be too much for their little community.

"We don't want it," said Christine Kenney.

"I think they're very angry, last year it was a methadone clinic that opened. We have a lot of DUI and drug problems and we don't want that in our community," said Angela Malave.

A development group is proposing "Jefferson at Huntingdon Station" - 250 new apartments and commercial space which might include stores and restaurants. That would go on a nine-acre lot on the corner of Philmont Avenue and Tomlinson Road.

"Traffic would be horrible. It's already exploding at the seams right now. It can't get any better," says Dianne Gallagher.

Many residents with school-age kids are also worried that the extra apartments will create an extra demand on what they say are already crowded schools.

"I just think it would be a nightmare right now. We're a top school district and we want to keep it that way," said Malave.
While the commission still has to approve the project, residents say if they do decide to move forward, they're already gearing up for the fight.

"We're hopeful that they'll listen all over Facebook; petitions have been signed," Gallagher says.

"People aren't happy, if they approve this, it's not going to be a good one," says Malave.

The commission says this was strictly an informational meeting and they still need to look at zoning and other changes the project would bring to the area before they make a decision.