The State College Borough Water Authority would like to reiterate and clarify our position on the proposed Toll Brothers development along Whitehall Road. The Authority’s role is not to support, approve, or deny land development projects. We do not have the legal standing to make land use, planning, or zoning decisions. However, the Authority is always willing to participate in these discussions during the development stages. Our mission is to provide clean, safe water.
When the Toll Brothers development was first proposed, the Authority was not asked to participate in the review process, as it was not our role. As the review process moved forward, Ferguson Township as well as the public requested that the Authority review the proposed development. Through this review process, the Authority staff and consultants prepared a list of items that we thought should be addressed. Over the course of the review process, 27 items of concern were brought to the attention of the developers and the township. These items included: obtaining local geophysical information necessary for planning, design, placement, and construction of retention and infiltration ponds; establishing a no-blasting policy; limiting the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides; and provisions for the Authority to participate in construction and post-construction monitoring. Geotechnical and engineering services were provided to Ferguson Township and Toll Brothers at a cost of approximately $50,000 to the Authority. The developer and the township have included all of these requests in their plans. As a result, the Authority staff and board are comfortable with the development as planned and believe that risk to the source water has been reduced.