Residents Flood Meeting with Concerns Regarding Creek Restoration

Approximately 30 residents filled the audience of the Upper Southampton Township Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday evening.

Despite an abbreviated agenda that contained only one new item for consideration, the meeting rolled on for nearly two hours. A good portion of that time was spent listening to the concerns of community members.

The majority of those who spoke were homeowners with properties in the area surrounding the Southampton Creek, which flows through the southwestern portion of the township.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has designed a plan they say will “restore bank stability, improve the ecological habitat and improve the flow of the Southampton Creek.” 

And, according to township officials, the Army Corps has not only deemed this project important enough to design and to implement, but they have also deemed it important enough to pay for more than half of the total cost.

“This is a win-win,” said Board Chairman Lola Biuckians. “If we don’t go forward with this, neighbors will wind up responsible for their own stream bank restoration projects.”

Township Manager Joseph Golden said all of the homeowners who own a parcel of land that contains a portion of the creek were notified of the restoration plans via a letter mailed to their home.

However, some residents of Charles Street, whose properties abut the properties the creek flows through on both Toll Drive and Fern Road, were annoyed that they did not receive the same type of communication from the township.

“I’ve lived for 34 years in that house,” said Katherine Gerstle, a resident of Charles Street. “And the first time I heard of this plan was from a neighbor after they received a request for an easement.”

Gerstle said no one on her street was notified of the plans to restore the creek, even though several of the properties are only a few feet from the flowing waters.

Biuckians said the township has held several public meetings on the matter, as well as advertised public notices in the newspaper, on the cable access station and in the parks and recreation newsletter.

Charles Street resident Todd Mehler told the board he was frustrated as he bought his home just a little over a year ago, particularly for its setting.  He said he was afraid that setting was now going to be destroyed.

“I realize there is already a lot invested in this and there is no way to stop it,” he said. “But going forward, I would like to know that we have a little more voice in what is happening.”

Biuckians assured the residents they would always have a voice at the board of supervisors meetings.

“And if we can’t answer your questions, we will get the answers for you,” she said.

All that is needed to get the project moving are easements from the property owners along the path of the creek.

These easements would grant access to the creek in order for the necessary work to be performed, and possibly limit activities on a portion of the parcel in order to maintain the future integrity of the project. The original property owner would still retain ownership of the land.

Golden said the township has received consent from approximately 5 of the 28 homeowners that the current plans would require permissions from in order to move forward.

He said the township hopes to begin work on the project this summer.

You can view a detailed outline of the plans for the Southampton Creek Restoration Project on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website.  Copies of the real estate planning maps for the project are also available for viewing at the