It was a full house at the Oct. 1 Upper Milford supervisors meeting, as residents of Salem Ridge and Mink Estates turned out to learn more about the future of the 32-acre Kohler tract adjacent to their developments.

Some 50 to 60 people listened as supervisors discussed the options for the land, on which there is currently an agreement of sale with Kay Builders. Kay is proposing residential development of the land and has brought two sketch plans to the planning commission– one with 98 single-family homes, the other with 118 townhomes and twins.

Residents are concerned the development would increase traffic in an already congested area and could have a negative impact on their property values.

Supervisors explained the land is designated on the township comprehensive plan for recreation or conservation use, but the township would have to buy it in order to use it in that way.

Several years ago, Supervisor Daniel Mohr said the township was very close to getting Mrs. Kohler, who is now deceased, to turn over the property to the township to be preserved as open space, but her lawyer convinced her not to.

“The lawyer was looking out for her best interests,” Supervisor Robert Sentner said.

Sentner, using figures which he emphasized are very rough estimates, reviewed what the financial impact might be of either seeing the land developed or the township purchasing it.

He compared what it might cost the township to buy the land, using a figure of $2 million, to what a development could cost in increased school costs for the number of new students the development might generate.

“A bond (to buy the land) would be a huge tax increase for Upper Milford residents,” he said, but it would probably cost even more in increased school taxes to educate an estimate 189 additional students. And that doesn’t even take into account the costs to the township associated with a new development, or the possible need for a new school, he said.

Supervisors Chairman George DeVault explained whatever the township decides to do, “the genie is out of the bottle.” The land will be developed in some way, if not with townhouses, as a park which would also generate some traffic and activity.

Resident Phil Casey warned, “That property was available for many years. Now [the township] would be paying a premium.”

Supervisors have until April of next year to decide whether to buy the land. One thing they agreed on, however, is they won’t condemn it.

Mohr said when they attempted to purchase it several years ago, they would have had to condemn it at that time, which he said he is opposed to.

Solicitor Marc Fisher noted even if supervisors condemn the property, they would have to pay what a court determines is ‘fair market value.’

Supervisors thanked the residents for their interest and said they will continue to discuss the issue.

In other business, supervisors discussed further two issues debated at the last meeting– a burn ban and whether to go to a single trash hauler for the township, rather than residents privately hiring their own.

Assistant Township Manager Tim Haas provided supervisors with information on how neighboring townships handle both issues, but Sentner said he wasn’t going to change his opinion just because of what other townships do.

He still favors a burn ban, saying, “I’m sick and tired of smelling people’s garbage burning.”

Mohr was opposed to it, arguing it would be “one more right that will be taken away.”

DeVault said he has mixed feelings.

Resident James Krippe said, “You should look at how to enforce [a new ordinance] before you enact it.”

Sentner said since Haas has been appointed assistant zoning officer, there will be more manpower to enforce ordinances.

There was similar debate on the single trash hauler issue, with Sentner saying 17 different haulers serving the township has a negative impact on the roads, and Mohr saying “I’m still for free enterprise.”

The board will send the burn ban issue back to the fire department steering committee for more information and ask other townships for costs of having a single trash hauler.

Two proposed ordinances on lock boxes and a fine for false fire alarms, which were also proposed by the steering committee, are progressing toward enactment. The lock box ordinance has been advertised and will be acted on at the next meeting and the fire alarm ordinance has been sent to Fisher for review.

In other action, Haas informed supervisors all the vacancies on the zoning hearing board have been filled. Bennett Kohler, a former member, has accepted the regular seat on the board, and Dannelle Macilwraith, Lawrence Butler and Peter Lucier will serve as alternates.