N. HEIDELBERG TWP., Pa. — Once a place to ski, a property in North Heidelberg Township could become a place to live.
A developer wants to build 160 apartments at the former Blue Marsh Ski Area. The project is called “The Howard.”
“There was concerns about the water supply because the existing supply up here over the last few years has been strained due to droughts,” said Reading Area Water Authority Executive Director Bill Murray.
Murray came to explain the water supply to township supervisors and a room full of residents.
The big question at Wednesday night’s meeting: Is there enough water for 160 new apartments?
“We were in the process of getting another well permitted, and during that process, we hit a lot of water, and that will solve the long-term sustainability for our existing customers, plus add plenty of water for expansion and easily provide water to that development and maybe even make it available for other people if necessary down the road,” Murray said.
He’s talking about a third well — one Murray says the authority needs regardless of the apartments. But first, testing must show it won’t hurt nearby wells.
“They measure five surrounding, six surrounding wells, and see if there’s an effect on them,” Murray said.
“And if there’s a bad effect on them, they’re not going to issue the permit to let you do it.”
Getting that well ready could take at least another year. At the meeting, township supervisors approved a time extension for the apartment proposal.
“They’re in the stage of getting their stuff in order, and then they’ll come to us, and they’ll have to meet what we want,” Murray said.
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