Officials Express Concern
4/18/2001
Barbara Warren says she is confident her plans to lend part of her East Manchester Township property for a rehabilitative center will move ahead despite concerns raised at a recent township supervisors’ meeting.
Warren has offered Lou Castriota, Jr. the use of part of her 200-acre property for a farm-based therapeutic and rehabilitative facility for children with special needs. Castriota, whose 5-year-old daughter has a disorder similar to cerebral palsy, plans a 77,000 square-foot facility.
Leg Up Farm will feature a wide array of therapies both recreational and occupational. It will employ about 25 people and be located on North Sherman Street Extended.
At a recent meeting, East Manchester officials expressed concern that they weren’t informed of Warren’s intention, or given a heads-up on the project.
Terry Gingerich, a township supervisor, said East Manchester officials learned of the plans by reading a newspaper article. The supervisors had their solicitor, William Poole, Jr., write Warren, advising her to communicate with the township concerning her plans.
There are “hurdles she needs to jump through,” Gingerich said.
Township officials say any modifications to the property will need to go before the township planning commission, possibly the zoning hearing board and eventually the board of supervisors.
Poole said the township was not offering an opinion on the proposed use, but that as township solicitor he must determine that zoning and subdivision laws are adhered to.
In early stages: Warren said she intends to involve township officials. She said she served on the township zoning hearing board for more than 10 years and is aware of the proper process.
She described the project as being in its initial stages, saying a topographic study must be completed and boundary lines delineated before she goes before the zoning hearing board.
Warren said the township was invited to send representatives to a March 28 press conference announcing her decision to donate the use of her land but none attended. She said details of the project were not included in the invitation because that “would have defeated the purpose” of the press conference.
The conference might have been “putting the cart before the horse,” Warren said, but the event was “good PR for the campaign.”
The facility needs an estimated $7.2 million for start-up, Castriota has said. Leg Up Farm received a $60,000 state community development grant last June and state Sen. Mike Waugh, R-Shrewsbury, added the project to the state’s capital budget for a $4.5 million matching grant.
Castriota, who lives in Shrewsbury Township, said he’s aware of his obligations to involve East Manchester officials in his plans.
“I’m a little shocked that someone would think that we wouldn’t know that we’d have to go through subdivision approval and zoning,” he said.
Castriota said there’s plenty of time. Preliminary information may be given to officials in about six months, he said.
The planned facility would have several structures, including a two-story main building, stables, and indoor riding arena, a pool and gymnasium.
By AMY MARCHIANO, The York Dispatch/Sunday News