During a meeting at Springhouse Middle School on Oct. 30, South Whitehall’s planning commission voted 4-1 to grant conditional use approval to Kay Builders for the Ridge Farm development.

Board member Diane Kelly cast the negative vote after she read aloud a directive from the ordinance stating an applicant should provide for general welfare, safety and public health.

“A development of this magnitude should have gone before the public safety commission,” Kelly said.

The Ridge Farm project includes development on the north and south sides of Huckleberry Ridge, and the east and west sides of Cedar Crest Boulevard, between Walbert Avenue and Huckleberry Road.

The current plan proposes 780 housing units on the east side of Cedar Crest Boulevard, plus commercial and restaurant space, a medical office, clubhouse, and 16 acres of active open space.

Additional housing is planned for the west side of Cedar Crest Boulevard but was not a part of the conditional use application.

South Whitehall Solicitor Joe Zator said the purpose of this meeting was a continued review of the conditional use application and a report on traffic matters on Huckleberry Road.

Zator said although a conditional use is already permitted on the site, the applicant must prove standards have been met.

“The planning commission must determine whether requirements have been met by the applicant,” Zator said.

Attorney Jim Preston, representing Kay Builders, reported professional engineer Jason Englehardt and traffic engineer Rob Hoffman designed the project in accordance with rules of the township ordinance.

South Whitehall planner Gregg Adams, of the Community Development Department, stated township staff recommended the planning commission grant conditional use approval.

Board members departed for an executive session which lasted about a half-hour before returning for the vote.

Board members Chairman Alan Tope, David Dunbar, Brian Hite and Vincent Quinn voted to grant conditional use approval.

Hite said Kay Builders’ presentation at this meeting was “horrible” for the project which is a “game changer” for the community.

He concluded, however, the applicant met the requirements.

The next step for Ridge Farm will be a public hearing before commissioners at Springhouse Middle School 7 p.m. Nov. 20.