First there was Cardinal Crossing.
Now it's Town Center at Marple Preserve.
Tonight, residents and Marple commissioners will finally get to see the updated plans for the proposed development of one of the last large open tracts in the center of the county, at the former Don Guanella School off Sproul Road.
We're talking about 213 acres of mostly pristine woods.
Bruce Goodman initially wanted to develop the entire site. His massive Cardinal Crossing plan sparked a huge community outcry. Eventually the plan was rejected by the township. Goodman, who had put millions into the project, filed suit.
Now Carlino Development has a different view of how to develop the site, but one that is no less controversial.
Carlino wants to build on what was basically the imprint of the old school operated for decades by the archdiocese, while preserving much of the rest of the tract, and adding in athletic fields for local youth groups.
But how much is too much?
The size of Carlino's development - along with suspicions that there is no guarantee that the rest of the tract will not be developed - continues to dog this project.
The grasroots program Save Marple Greenspace continues to lead the opposition, saying the size of the development - larger than the entire nearby Springfield Mall or Lawrence Park shopping centers - remains too big.
Others, notably youth groups who like the idea of getting new athletic fields as part of the deal, are ready to get behind the project.
You can get all the details here.
And we'll be there tonight for the public hearing, which will take place after the regular meeting of the Marple commissioners. The meeting is being held at the Marple Newtown High School auditorium at 7 p.m.
I played off a number of factors on today's front page, taking a 'Star Trek' theme and branding it:
Open Space
The Final Frontier.
I get the feeling the overline might wind up being more accurate:
The Battle of Don Guanella.
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