Cheltenham Township shared updates regarding plans for the Enclave at Melrose Park, located at 7600 Tookany Creek Parkway.

The updates include a Response to Township Arborist Review, Response to Traffic Engineer Review #2, Response to Traffic Engineer Review #3, Response to Township Engineer Review #1, Response to Township Staff Review, and a Response to Montgomery County Planning Commission Review.

Ownership submitted a preliminary land development proposal to the township in February which calls for a Class 3 mixed-use development of commercial/retail, medical office building, assisted living, traumatic brain injury center, 172 single-family townhomes, 158 age-restricted units (134 townhomes and 24 flats), and Township public amenities, including a community center and pool. According to a memo, additional improvements include approximately 45 acres of open space, walking trails, and plazas.

According to a response to the Montgomery County Planning Commission’s review, the pending application is “for the Phase 1 approvals only and further pedestrianized and commercial development will be provided in greater detail in future phases related to the retail, AL/IL, MOB, and potential Township amenity components.”

From the Township Design section of the response:

The townhome layout has been revised to provide for 14-ft driveway openings for each lot, creating individual driveways for each lot, as opposed to the continuous flush curb along townhome blocks that was previously proposed. In addition to eliminating the waiver, the redesign also provides more opportunities for street trees and supplemental plantings to be added along internal road networks. A waiver is no longer being sought for driveway widths.

Although the plan as proposed exceeds zoning requirements for parking, additional on-street parking has been provided throughout the development at the request of the County. However, in an effort to increase efficiencies and maximize parking opportunities in the additional areas, a waiver for parking orientation is now required. If the Township would prefer not to grant a partial waiver for these new parking areas, the parking can be modified to comply (but will result in less additional parking than the County is seeking).

Applicant disagrees that alley-access is advisable for any townhomes in the community. Alleys will significantly increase impervious on the site, are not consistent with the general residential vernacular throughout the Township, and over time tend to become unsightly. However, where possible, the plans have been modified to adjust several townhouse cluster locations to increase the number of townhouses facing onto landscaped greens across roadways rather than onto other townhouses.

The plan also proposes “a 10-ft wide trail section to the western property limits to tie into existing cartways at the Tacony Creek floodplain, and extends new sidewalk along Ashmeade Road with a 10-ft trail extending to the County property limits. Additionally, pedestrian crossing facilities are currently planned at the Tookany Creek Parkway and Ashmead Road intersection. A 20-ft wide easement is provided around the 10-ft Tookany Trail extension within the property on the southern portion of the property.”

The full response is below:

The former Melrose Country Club closed for good on Sunday, December 1. JC Melrose Country Club purchased the property in 2004 then sold the property in 2021 to 7600 Tookany Creek Parkway CRCP, LLC, which is associated with BG Capital, according to property records.

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