The Montgomery County Planning Commission (MCPC) has reviewed the most recent land development proposal for the Enclave at Melrose Park (formerly Melrose Country Club), located at 7600 Tookany Creek Parkway in Cheltenham Township.
Applicant Melrose Development, LLC submitted a Preliminary/Final Plan for Phase 3 of the redevelopment to the county in June. According to an August 20 letter sent by the MCPC to Robert Habgood, the township’s assistant director of planning and zoning, Phase 3’s planning documents include 351 townhomes and 12 twins in the new plan.
A 2024 version of the plan had included 306 townhouses, 24 age-restricted apartments, and no twins, Thursday’s letter notes.
“It appears from the plan set that the new total is 12 twin houses and 351 townhouses, in two sizes, some of which will be age restricted,” the MCPC wrote. “The institutional uses consist of 80 assisted living apartments and 30 traumatic brain injury care living units. The applicant also proposes a medical office building, commercial retail in two buildings, and three outdoor
swimming pools with an accessory building. Several public plazas are included, totaling 1.58 acres. Phase 3 of the plan includes 52 townhomes at the corner of the site near the intersection of Ashmead Road and Front Street, the two retail buildings, and the community pools.”
The MCPC “generally supports the applicant‘s proposal” but recommended several changes in the seven-page letter. The suggestions range from missing require plan elements, mix of uses, plaza design, vehicle circulation, parking, trails, stormwater management, and landscaping.
County planners criticized the removal of apartments and some commercial space.
“We are sorry to see the loss of the previously proposed small apartment building on this site. Housing variety benefits communities by providing more options for price points, size, and configuration of dwelling units,” the planners wrote, and the reduction in retail space “conflicts” with Cheltenham’s goal of boosting its commercial tax base.
“A stronger commercial area would make the proposal an even better fit with the future land use vision from Cheltenham’s new comprehensive plan,” planners wrote. “There is still some potential for synergistic commercial spaces that are compatible with the elementary school, residential uses, and the pool.”
Township solicitor Edward Diasio told Glenside Local on Friday that the MCPC “looked favorably upon [the plans].”
“This is a very well thought out project and is receiving quite a bit of support,” he said.
Construction at the 116-acre golf course property began in February. Residential construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
You can review the MCPC’s review in full here.
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Renderings: Kimley-Horn