JACKSON TWP — A planned residential development application for Phase 1 of the Londonderry Ridge development was approved for board recommendation by Jackson Township’s planning commission at its Wednesday, Sept. 2, meeting.

Phase 1 consists of 50 single-family lots, 39 townhomes and related infrastructure.

The recommendation passed with a 4-0 vote. Three members of the commission were absent.

The company behind the project, Wee Five Development, is seeking to construct 108 townhomes and 173 single-family lots in total across all phases of development on about 119.12 acres along Route 528 and Lindsay Road.

The board of supervisors will vote on final approval of Phase 1 at a future meeting.

Previously, the development had been the source of discussion at a public hearing during township supervisors’ July meeting. The project, which had been rejected by supervisors in 2025, was tentatively approved at the July meeting after some revisions.

At the July meeting, two residents, Joseph and Betsy Diana, who live across from the potential development, expressed frustration with developers not abiding by stipulations the two sides had previously agreed upon. They said on Wednesday their requests, such as keeping the earth mound under a certain height, have been met since.

The planning commission also discussed a potential change to the township’s ordinance relating to positioning and aesthetics of specific residential developments, including limiting multifamily buildings to mixed commercial-residential zones. Changes could also tighten design standards for townhomes and multifamily units.

“We're looking to dial back multifamily (buildings), townhouses and apartments and relegate them to areas that make more sense,” Nikki Colton, township planning director and zoning officer, said. “We're in the beginning stages of it.”

She said township officials have heard a lot of feedback from residents in favor of reining in multifamily buildings.

“We're still going to allow it,” she added. “It's not restricting them completely out of the town.”

Colton said the changes have been in discussion between township officials for more than a year.

Changes could also address issues with appearance.

At the July meeting, township officials emphasized the importance of aesthetics behind the planned houses at Londonderry Ridge, especially considering a previously approved development which has elicited some disapproval from residents due to the same problem.

Chris Arnold, township supervisor, said while he was not on the board for that approval, he had not liked the decision.

“It gives a bad reflection on Jackson Township,” he said. “We slipped. We're in a growth stage (and) we're facing problems that we hadn't before.”

Arnold said the township is working on correcting those mistakes and the ordinance under discussion seeks to address them.

“We live here. We want things to be right too,” he said. “We want to work with everybody.”