The Woods School will appear before the Middletown Township planning commission on Wednesday, Dec. 4, to seek a rezoning of its property in the township to enable the construction of over 200 apartments. Woods wants an overlay zone because the current residential zoning, which allows only single-family homes, “doesn’t make sense,” said an attorney that appeared before the supervisors in November. Simon Kimmelman, senior executive vice president/chief operating and legal officer for Woods, said the overlay would allow future development without requiring the need for zoning variances. Land use approval would still be required. An overlay zone would also need to be approved by the Bucks County Planning Commission. According to Kimmelman, Woods is “re-envisioning” all of its property, saying the “status quo” for its vocational day services, medical services and housing for the disabled cannot be maintained and that on-campus living for the disabled is becoming a thing of the past. Woods property comprises 285 acres, 90% of which is in Middletown and the remaining 10% is in Langhorne Borough.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 11/24/2024