Jul 31, 2014 2 min read

Habitat for Humanity is on track to construct two new homes in North Franklin Township to be donated to economically disadvantaged families. But some members of the community are hesitant about the nonprofit organization’s plans.

A planning commission meeting Wednesday regarding the site plans was attended by about 10 residents who were “concerned with what Habitat was doing,” commission Chairman Matt Keith said Thursday.

The commission recommended the site be approved, but not without some confusion. The project was initially delayed because the commission thought a variance was needed to build two individual homes on two West Palm Street lots. But that conclusion was drawn from inaccurate county tax maps provided by Habitat for Humanity, and the commission determined no variances or special exceptions were required.

While Keith said no one was upset or hostile at Wednesday’s meeting, the property owner who donated the land to Habitat said his experience was different.

Joseph Waldrop said previous meetings on the topic were “so contentious” he decided not to attend Wednesday’s meeting. He said he and his wife decided to donate the unused property for a good cause, and he never anticipated residents would object to the construction of homes.

Waldrop said some residents approached the state Department of Environmental Protection in regard to a nearby creek to see if the department could stop the project.

“They just don’t want anything that they don’t want,” he said of community resistance. “It’s a piece of property that’s been lying there for probably the last 25 years. There’s no reason you can’t develop it.”

To address public concerns, Habitat for Humanity will hold a meeting at the township building, tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 6.

“Given the confusion, concerning, (a) the lot size issue and (b) the quality and integrity of the Habitat for Humanity program, we voluntarily offered to meet with families from the neighborhood to both educate them about Habitat for Humanity and help facilitate a smooth introduction into the community for our partner families,” executive director Mark Twyford said in an email.

Twyford said Habitat could move forward with construction, but the organization volunteered to postpone the project until public concerns are addressed. He said they hope to “both inform and even possibly recruit new volunteers” by discussing the organization.