Country Meadows Retirement Communities based in Hershey, Pa., has dropped its plans to build a retirement community at 560 Old Mill Road, Gettysburg.
Country Meadows, owned by the family of former Pennsylvania Governor George M. Leader, planned to build a retirement community on the 29-acre site to provide independent and assisted living accommodations as well as care for persons with Alzheimer’s disease.
The decision to drop the project was not made lightly. According to Country Meadows President & CEO Michael Leader, “We had great support from many neighbors who attended meetings and received some great input. However a small group of neighbors opposed our project and when we examined our legal and engineering fees associated with responding to this group’s claims, and the escalating cost of quarterly fees for reservation of sewer capacity, we decided to cease our planning for this community.”
In September, the Cumberland Township board of supervisors unanimously approved Country Meadow’s application for conditional use of the property following six public hearings, which lasted more than 15 hours combined.
The planned community would have provided nearly 100 job opportunities when complete, and housed seniors in 202 units including apartments and cottages.
“When we initially announced this project, it quickly became apparent that the services we provide at Country Meadows are needed for seniors in the Gettysburg community. In fact, we’ve already received more than 100 requests for information from interested prospects,” says Leader, who adds that many interested persons are hoping to age in place in their own neighborhood without moving out of the area.
In addition to the many potential residents for the planned community, Country Meadows’ leaders are moved by support from many Gettysburg residents.
Leader says, “We received much support from over 100 neighbors who had signed a petition in favor of our project—some of whom attended all six hearings and spoke on our behalf. We are most appreciative of their support.”
At this point, no decision has been made on the future of the property.