During its meeting on Thursday, October 8, the Whitemarsh Township Board of Supervisors will consider a proposal from the Whitemarsh Foundation that involves several entities contributing towards the preservation of 67 acres of the Old Corson’s Quarry Site 2 that sits near the intersection of Joshua Road and Stention Avenue in the Plymouth Meeting section of the township.

According to a document prepared by the Whitemarsh Foundation, the property is currently appraised at $31 million, and the property owner, Highway Materials, has offered to sell it for preservation for $20 million (plus $500,000 in fees and financing).

The Whitemarsh Foundation has committed to raising $6 million through private donations ($1.4 million has already been raised) and is seeking a $2 million grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and $500,000 from the Montgomery County Forever Green Fund. $12 million is being sought from Whitemarsh Township through its open space and general fund.

In 2009, Highway Materials sued the township and a bevy of its then-elected officials, employees, and attorneys over a land-use and zoning dispute that had dragged on for several years. In January 2013, Whitemarsh Township’s board of supervisors voted to approve a settlement agreement that, among other things, determined how the land could be developed in the future. Please note that the dispute and settlement involved three properties, one of which was the one involved in the current preservation effort. In the Whitemarsh Foundation presentation, it is stated that this settlement agreement would allow 192 townhouses on the Quarry Site 2 property by right.

On September 9th, the township’s open space committee voted to recommend that the board of supervisors authorize a $12 million contribution towards the preservation of the property.

You can view the full presentation from the Whitemarsh Foundation here.

Image – Whitemarsh Foundation