Montgomery County · Franconia · MCPC #17-0224-004
Maplewood Expansion (Phase V)
800 Maple Avenue, Franconia, PA · 45 homes, senior living · 92.38 acres
About this project
Peter Becker Community proposes a 30,017 square foot independent living addition to an existing building at Maple Avenue and Schoolhouse Road in Franconia Township, along with supporting site infrastructure. The county planning commission generally supports the plan but suggests capturing runoff in planted parking lot islands and naturalizing the stormwater basin.
County planning commission: Supports, with comments
Issues raised: Capture stormwater in vegetated parking lot islands before the basin, Naturalize the stormwater basin
- Applicant
- Peter Becker Community
- Zoning
- R130
Filing history
- 2024-07-08 · MCPC #17-0224-004 · Land Dev Plan, Prelim Plan · 45 homes
- 2020-08-11 · MCPC #17-0224-003 · Land Dev Plan, Prelim Plan · 30 homes
- 2018-07-05 · MCPC #17-0224-002 · Land Dev Plan, Prelim Plan · 2,052 sq ft
- 2017-09-20 · MCPC #17-0224-001 · Land Dev Plan · 9 homes
County review letters
2024-07-08 · FRANC 17-0224-004r.pdf
The full picture AI research · Nov 1, 2026
Peter Becker Community, a retirement community at Maple Avenue and Schoolhouse Road in Franconia Township, proposes a 30,017 square foot addition to an existing building. The addition would hold independent living apartments, which are for older adults who need little or no daily help. The county record counts 45 new homes. It also covers supporting site work such as stormwater controls. The campus covers about 92 acres.
The county planning commission generally supports the plan. It suggests catching runoff in planted islands in the parking lots and giving the stormwater basin a more natural, planted design.
Township records list this as Phase V of the community's Maplewood expansion. The township supervisors' October 21, 2024 agenda included the plan, and search summaries of the minutes indicate conditional approval. The full minutes could not be read directly. No news coverage or organized opposition was found.
What it could mean nearby
- Stormwater: the county's suggested planted parking islands and a naturalized basin would help slow and filter runoff from the new paving and roofs.
- Housing: about 45 more senior homes on a campus that already exists, so no new neighborhood is created.
- Traffic: township records from an earlier phase say impact fees are set by the trips a project generates. Senior housing usually produces fewer trips than family housing.
Where it stands
The township supervisors appear to have granted conditional preliminary/final land development approval in October 2024, based on search summaries of the minutes. Next, the developer normally has to meet the listed conditions, finish final plan signoffs and permits, and then start construction. Whether those steps are finished could not be confirmed.
- Oct 21, 2024 Township supervisors' agenda includes the Maplewood Expansion (Phase V) land development plan; minutes indicate conditional approval
- Oct 7, 2024 Township planning commission meeting discusses the Peter Becker apartment building as Phase V of the master plan
- Jul 8, 2024 Latest county planning filing for the project
Want to weigh in? The Franconia Township Board of Supervisors decides land development plans. Residents can comment at its public meetings, after the Township Planning Commission has reviewed the plan.
Who's behind it
Peter Becker Community · A not-for-profit continuing care retirement community at 800 Maple Avenue. It offers cottage and apartment-style independent living, along with other levels of senior care.
Around the web
- Board of Supervisors agenda, October 21, 2024Franconia Township · Oct 21, 2024Lists the preliminary/final land development plan for Maplewood Expansion (Phase V) at Peter Becker Community.
- Board of Supervisors minutes, October 21, 2024Franconia Township · Oct 21, 2024Search summaries of these minutes indicate the supervisors granted conditional approval for the plan.
- Planning Commission minutes, October 7, 2024Franconia Township · Oct 7, 2024Summaries say the Peter Becker apartment building is Phase V of the earlier master plan.
Planning terms explained
- Land development plan
- A detailed site plan for new buildings, parking, utilities and drainage that the township must approve before construction.
- Conditional approval
- Approval that depends on the developer meeting a list of requirements before the plan becomes final.
- Independent living
- Housing for older adults who live on their own but share community amenities and services.
- Stormwater basin
- A low area that collects rain runoff and releases it slowly so nearby streets and properties flood less.
- Preliminary/final plan
- A single review that combines the two usual approval stages, which can speed up the process.
Researched by AI from public sources on Nov 1, 2026. It can make mistakes, so check the linked sources and the municipality before relying on it.
Scope estimate for contractors
Estimated construction value: $10.1M
- ~225 roofing squares
- ~45 HVAC systems
- ~45 kitchens / 90+ bathrooms
- ~40,500 sq ft of finished living space
- ~2.9 acres of site work (grading, stormwater, landscaping)
- Independent living addition to an existing building
- Green infrastructure parking lot islands
- Naturalized stormwater basin
- Associated site infrastructure
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