Vartan’s newly-named Susquehanna Union Green project enters land development phase

Susquehanna Township-based Vartan Group Inc. has submitted a preliminary land development plan for the nearly 59-acre Susquehanna Union Green project, a mixed-use development CEO H. Ralph Vartan first unveiled in 2014. 

Union Green was the original name of the tract when it was deeded in the late 18th century.

Earlier this year, township commissioners voted to create a traditional neighborhood development zone, or TND, within the township’s zoning and subdivision and land development ordinances. That approval paved the way for Vartan’s project, which calls for a mix of single-family homes, a senior-living campus and a variety of commercial buildings, including retail shops, office space and restaurants as well as a 110-room hotel.

The planning commission has the preliminary plan for the entire site on its Oct. 31 agenda. The commission meets at 6 p.m.

Updated: The planning commission meeting was originally slated for Oct. 23, but was recently rescheduled by the township.

Process

If recommended for approval, the plan would come before the board of commissioners. A final land development plan for the project would follow and individual construction phases would then be approved separately. There are five total phases planned.

The first phase would be on- and off-site infrastructure improvements, including additional road lanes to accommodate the expected traffic flow in and out of the development. It also would include utility infrastructure, stormwater management and development of parks and community green spaces.

The commercial area, or Union Green town center, which will occupy about 28 acres, would follow along the front of the site. More than two dozen commercial buildings would be spread along Progress Avenue and Linglestown Road, with a hotel planned for the center of the tract.

The retail and office buildings in phases two and three total about 300,000 square feet, according to Vartan. The hotel would be part of the second phase.

The two residential phases at the rear of the site would be the final pieces of the development. The senior housing and community center component would occupy five buildings and include more than 200 age-restricted units.

There also are 32 single-family homes on the land development plan.

Vartan said he hopes to clear the approval process over the next six to eight months and break ground on the site next year. He did not disclose any potential tenants, but said he expects announcements will be tied to land development approvals for each phase of the overall project.

Development costs have not yet been finalized. Harrisburg-based Reynolds Enterprises Inc. has been hired as the pre-construction consultant on the project to help advise the design team and finalize construction costs.

Other early partners include Pittsburgh-based landscape architect LaQuatra Bonci Associates, Raudenbush Engineering Inc. in Middletown and. Lancaster-based Tono Architects, who designed the site plan.

Another view of the proposed development project

Another look at what’s coming soon to the corner of Progress & Linglestown. #LEEDND #UnionGreen @LaQuatraBonci @tonogroup @LandmarkCommer1 pic.twitter.com/DNjZYjn4lo

— Vartan Group, Inc. (@vartangroup) October 11, 2017