Nemacolin plans housing development
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Wharton Township is obtaining the permits needed to build about 670 homes in a 370-acre mixed residential development, but construction is at least a year or two away.
After the permits are obtained, which will take one and a half to two years, construction of single family homes, duplexes, quads and condominiums will begin when the housing market improves, resort spokesman Jeff Nobers said.
“Even if the economy began a rapid recovery next year, it would still be one a half years before we build anything up there,” Nobers said on Friday. “We want everything lined up, permits in place, so if we see a demand we can very quickly act on that demand.”
Earlier in the week, the township supervisors adopted a zoning ordinance amendment that allows high density residential development on established recreational facility/resort property. A conditional use permit from the supervisors is required.
Engineers working for Nemacolin worked with the planning commission for almost a year to develop the amendment.
The township also initiated an update of its Act 537 sewage plan to include provisions for high density home development on recreational facility/resort property.
Developers are required to provide public water and sewage services, maintain common open space, have a homeowners’ association and manage storm water runoff, according to the ordinance.
Nemacolin’s plans for water, sewage and roads for the development are being prepared, Nobers said, noting that the resort will be the developer.
The development would be located on unused, wooded resort property between the Mystic Rock Golf Course and Dinner Bell Road.
Nobers said the amount of time it takes to secure the necessary permits prevented the resort from taking advantage of the housing boom that peaked in 2005. The permits would have been in place in 2007 when the economy entered a recession, he said.