Allen Township hires adviser, attorney in Willow Brook Farm legal battle

Allen Township officials have begun preparing for a legal challenge to their zoning ordinance that would pave the way for a spacious mixed-use development at Willow Brook Farm.Supervisors on Tuesday approved the hiring of Judith Goldstein, managing director at Boucher & James, an engineering consulting firm in Doylestown, to serve as an expert adviser on land-use requirements to the township’s Planning Commission in the legal action being brought forth by the Willow Brook Trust & Alexandra Family Trust.They also hired Gary Asteak, an attorney who serves as solicitor for Lower Nazareth, Upper Nazareth and Bushkill townships, as outside legal counsel.The trust is seeking to challenge the substantive validity of Allen’s zoning ordinance by requesting a curative amendment that would allow it to develop about 80 acres zoned low-density residential for multifamily use, plus another 55 acres for residents 55 and older.It wants to build a massive mix of duplexes, townhomes and three-story apartment buildings totaling 800 units — 711 in Allen Township, and the remainder in Northampton and North Catasauqua.The plan also calls for shrinking the Willow Brook Golf Course from 18 holes to 9, and repurposing many buildings on the property.Supervisors previously expressed concern over the density of the proposal, which would result in increased traffic and dramatically increase the amount of living units in the township.Vice Chairman Dale Hassler, who serves as fire chief for the township, also opposes having three-story apartment buildings due to the challenges he said those heights would pose for firefighters.Kevin Duffy is a freelance writer for The Morning Call.
Source: Morningcall