Lower Southampton Township’s plans to build a multi-million dollar community center on 9.65 acres of land at Meadowbrook and Bristol Roads Springmeadow Roads have hit a snag. The current land owner is refusing to sign the sale agreement he now says the Township “misrepresented” during negotiations.
Jack Hagopian agreed to sell the land to the Township for $1,060,000 after the Township Supervisors reportedly passed a resolution stating they were willing to take the land by eminent domain. But Hagopian claims the Township negotiated based on the land being used for a teen center, not a community center. For Hagopian, that changes everything.
Hagopian is afraid the community center will attract more people than a teen center would, thus adding more parking spaces. Those extra spaces, he believes, could cause flooding to surrounding residents because the amount of impervious surface of the parking lot and structure.
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The seller is concerned that “residents will hold me liable instead of the township because I sold the property to the township for storm water retention,” he said. “I want a letter from the township stating that it will take full responsibility for any inadequate water retention system. If the township does that, [Lower Southampton] can have the land tomorrow. I’ll sign the settlement.”
Storm water drainage is a big issue in Lower Southampton Township, so much so that the Township recently “stormed” the homes of Township residents with “voluntary” inspections looking for sump pumps and down spouts that were tied directly into sewer lines.
The Township is reportedly refusing to issue Hagopian any letter taking responsibility for building an inadequate water retention system. They’ve gone straight to bullying.
[Township Supervisor Chairman Michael] Connelly said no such letter would be drafted, adding that if Hagopian doesn’t show up to the settlement, [Township solicitor Michael] Savona will be in court filing a breech of contract.
“That would cost taxpayer money that we hope not to use,” he said.
The sale must be finalized by September 15. Maybe Hagopian’s reticence is in the Township’s best interest anyway, as they currently have no idea how they’ll be paying for the center.
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