Homes eyed for Dunhams

Township officials want to extend water lines at Dunhams Corner Road as part of a proposed development plan.

By: Joseph Harvie
   Township officials say a proposed development for Dunhams Corner Road should include plans to extend water lines to the area.
   Fire officials, the Board of Health and the Utilities Department say extending the water line is possible, and would improve fire safety and possible health risks associated with well water in that section of town.
   Country Communities of Skillman is proposing to build 23 single-family houses on a 60-acre parcel on Dunhams Corner Road The property is an active corn farm, according to an application on file with the Planning Department, and is zoned rural residential, which allows for the construction of one house per 2 acres.
   The land is not connected to township sewers and septic systems would have to be installed for each house.
   The applicant is seeking preliminary and final major subdivision approval from the Planning board. A May 18 hearing on the application was postponed to a yet to be determined date, said Planning Board member Joe Spataro said.
   The application originally called for a public water main to be extended to the development. According to the application, the plans were changed and currently call for private wells for each house.
   According to a memorandum in the application, Township Director of Utilities Larry Merk said the safety of well water in the area is questionable. He also said the wells were unnecessary because a water main could be extended to the area.
   In addition, the township Department of Fire Safety also had concerns about the wells. Fire officials said in a memorandum that a community has not been built in the township for 20 years without water service for home use and hydrant use and that the township doesn’t have firetrucks that can pump water from wells.
   Also in the memorandum the Health Department recommended that the water main be extended and single-house wells not be used in the development.