OK is still elusive for project
A developer who built 110 homes in Harrisburg's Providence Manor subdivision a few years ago tried again this week to get the town to approve 300 more houses on farmland next door. That riled up more than a dozen Providence Manor residents, and they showed up at a town Planning and Zoning Commission meeting Tuesday. Residents have tried for years to halt the new development, complaining that the builder did a poor job of designing the roads, green space and amenities in their neighborhood.

OK is still elusive for project
Harrisburg delays making decision, again, on controversial Manor Ridge development
SHARIF DURHAMS

Harrissiburg -- A developer who built 110 homes in Harrisburg's Providence Manor subdivision a few years ago tried again this week to get the town to approve 300 more houses on farmland next door.

That riled up more than a dozen Providence Manor residents, and they showed up at a town Planning and Zoning Commission meeting Tuesday.

Residents have tried for years to halt the new development, complaining that the builder did a poor job of designing the roads, green space and amenities in their neighborhood.

They also say the builder, Lester Shelton of Concord, and the firm he represents, C.P. Morgan of Indianapolis, have not done enough to fix problems such as flooding in their back yards.

"I literally have 3 feet of standing water in my back yard," said Mindy Henderson, president of the Providence Manor homowners organization. Henderson is one of several residents who have complained of drainage problems.

Jerry Newton, a consultant on the new development, told planning board members the new subdivision meets most of the town's requirements for approval, and he pledged to work out other details.

But Tuesday, planning commission members voted unanimously to delay considering the project until their May meeting, saying the developer must meet some added conditions.

Last year, the commission delayed the project three times at meetings where Providence Manor residents complained.

Eventually, Shelton's option to buy the land expired. He had to start negotiations over.

Since then, the developer has changed the name of the new subdivision from Providence Manor II to Manor Ridge and made some changes in the plan.

Shelton and some residents had been in negotiations. Residents said they would endorse the new project if the developer let them use walking trails and other amenities planned for it. But those talks broke off recently, residents said.

Newton said Wednesday he was brought on as a consultant and didn't know about the problems in Providence Manor. He said he was willing to act as a mediator between residents and the builder.

But Henderson, who moved to the subdivision about two years ago from University City, said residents have talked to several representatives of the developer. The talking hasn't helped, she said.

"They have continually promised things, and they never deliver," Henderson said.
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