UPDATE Feb 2022
After controversy, Fenton Mill housing can proceed
A preliminary plan for a hotly contested housing development in upper York County’s Fenton Mill area has been approved.
Unlike the developer’s previous proposals, which at one point wanted to build more than 836 homes, the latest plan calls for 292 homes. That’s the “by-right” number of homes allowed under zoning regulations and an amount that is agreeable to residents who mounted a fight against a proposal to rezone the area.
The preliminary plan submitted by Fenton Mill Associates was approved in January 22 by the York County Department of Planning. The approval allows the developer to proceed with a detailed development plan, which will eventually result in a new subdivision with a slew of recreational amenities.
County residents fought the rezoning petition from the start, leading the developer to drop the number of planned homes from 836 to 599 and eliminate 40,000 square feet of commercial space. But that proposal still didn’t sit well with residents, who claimed such a large development would not only affect the natural beauty of the area, but also strain schools, public safety and roads already too narrow for traffic.
The York County Board of Supervisors denied the rezoning petition, echoing the planning commission, in March 2020. Within a few months, Fenton Mill Associates submitted a plan that would put 292 homes on the property, leaving a large portion of the land alone.
The preliminary plan approved last month calls for a development with homes clustered together, leaving lots of open space. It also includes amenities such as a clubhouse, a swimming pool, playgrounds, open play fields, a dog park, nature trails and a 9-hole disc golf course. In addition, the plan calls for picnic shelters, community garden plots and a multi-purpose bike trail.
A Yorktown developer wants to build as many as 836 homes on undeveloped land south of Newman Road in York County, between Fenton Mill and Barlow roads.
The mixed-use development would be worth more than $300 million, generating some $1.3 million in taxes for York County, according to the developer’s application to rezone the land.
Fenton Mills Associates LLC, whose owners include Lamont Myers of Mid-Atlantic Communities, is planning a mixed-use development that would include 506 single-family houses, 230 townhouses and 100 age-restricted quadruplexes “active adult” units, + 40,000 square feet of commercial space according to its rezoning application.
Prices for homes will range from $250,000 to $600,000 and would average $370,000.
Planned amenities include walking trails, garden areas, pool, parks and a clubhouse. The developer would also set aside 16 acres for a new school, noting that it estimates the development would add 358 students to the county school system.
Proposed features for the Neighborhood Parks are:
• Tot lots
• Game lawn and open space
• A Youth U8 Soccer Field
• Seating and gathering area
• Shade and picnic shelters
The Fenton Mill Clubhouse will be a 4,000 – 5,000 square foot facility featuring:
• Community meeting space
• Pre-packaged food preparation area
• Fitness center
• Supportive pool facilities
• Porch and outdoor living space
The pool will be designed to support a fully accessible program by providing beach entry and lounging areas. Other features such as shade structures and picnic facilities will be provided to encourage length of
stay.
The Fenton Mill development is a Planned Development Residential (PDR) community that consists of single-family homes, townhomes and age-restricted housing nestled in a woodland setting. Associated community amenities are provided throughout to enhance a cohesive and attractive benefit for the community’s health and connectivity. Special emphasis has been placed on the design and layout of the community elements to provide preservation of the site’s extensive natural areas. Public access walkways and a series of trails will connect within the community, providing access to parks, trails, recreation centers, and future County facilities.
The most valued resource in a good community is its open space. The proposed open space, including areas left undisturbed will take full advantage of the topography and natural features while maintaining existing vistas and viewsheds. The open space offers a variety of programs and functions for the residents by providing small pocket parks that combine both passive and active recreation.
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