York Supes Give Nelson's Grant Go-Ahead

By WYDaily Staff Wednesday, April 21, 2010

York County will see its first mixed-use development - an intentional combination of commercial and residential space - built on almost 14 acres at the corner of Route 17 and Battle Road.

After a public hearing Tuesday that drew no comment from citizens, supervisors approved the plan to build Nelson's Grant, which developer Pritchard Miller called a "landmark community."

Supervisors followed the lead of its planning commission, which in February unanimously recommended approval of the project.

When fully built, Nelson's Grant would put a maximum of 112 homes on the property. Townhomes would account for 66 units, with 4 condominiums and eight units above ground-floor commercial space. A tot playlot, clubhouse and covered garages are part of the plan, which calls for about 3.5 acres to remain open space.

Units would start at around $180,000 and top out at $300,000 for the largest properties. The developer's target tenant is the young professional just starting out, or empty nester who wants to downsize but remain in the county.

The developer hopes to attract specialty commercial tenants who do not yet have a presence in the county.

Residents seemed pleased by the proposed project, with two neighbors showing up at the commission's public hearing to offer support.

An earlier proposal by another developer, rejected soundly by vocal neighbors in July 2008, had nearly 60 percent more units on a slightly smaller parcel.

The Nelson's Grant plan incorporates an outparcel that fronts the Patriots Square shopping center, which will provide a secondary entrance to the development.

Steve Miller, representing the developer Pritchard Miller, told planning commissioners the goal was to strike the balance between commercial and residential while creating a neighborhood that would be a good transition between the Patriots Square strip mall and the single-family Settlers Mill neighborhood. Pritchard Miller has developed the Port Myers and Taylor Farms neighborhoods in York County, but Nelson's Grant is their first mixed-use effort.