Planning Commission Slams "Defective" TND Ordinance; Calls for Delay and Dismissal of Consultants

Cumru Township — In a stinging rebuke, the Cumru Township Planning Commission has recommended that the Board of Commissioners immediately halt all progress on the Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) Ordinance. Citing 5-to-6 story buildings, deceptive density limits, illogical parcel selection, and a complete lack of Berks County Planning Commission feedback, members called the proposal 'defective.' The township has paid Delta Development Group $63,000 last year with $84,000 more budgeted this year — and critics say it's time to fire them. Local engineer Nick Szeredai's volunteer technical review exposed flaws the paid consultants missed.

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The meeting, which took place yesterday evening, laid bare a litany of "technical and conceptual defects" within the proposal — leading many in the room to conclude that the current plan is fundamentally incompatible with the character of the Cumru community. A "Defective" Vision The Commission's assessment was blunt: the ordinance, in its current form, is not a fit for Cumru. Members cited several alarming provisions that they argue would permanently alter the township's landscape for the worse. Defects Cited by the Commission ✕ Out-of-Scale Architecture The plan reportedly allows for 5-to-6-story buildings — a height profile that commissioners argued clashes violently with Cumru's existing architectural aesthetic. ✕ Deceptive Density Concerns were raised regarding housing density limits, which some commissioners labeled as "deceptive" and potentially overwhelming to local infrastructure. ✕ Illogical Zoning The specific parcels selected for the TND designation were described as making "no sense" from a planning perspective. ✕ Lack of Transparency The Commission was never provided access to feedback from the Berks County Planning Commission — a critical piece of the puzzle for any major municipal update. Resident Expertise Saves the Day Local Hero Nick Szeredai — Resident Engineer The tide turned significantly thanks to the efforts of local resident and engineer Nick Szeredai . Szeredai provided a comprehensive, technical review of the ordinance, unearthing many of the flaws that the paid consultants apparently missed. His volunteer efforts provided the Commission with the ammunition needed to push back against a timeline that many felt was being "rushed through." Calls to Fire Delta Development Group The fallout from the meeting has extended beyond the ordinance itself to the firm hired to draft it. Critics are pointing to the Delta Development Group's failure to deliver a workable product despite significant taxpayer investment. Township Spending on Delta Development Group $63,000 Paid Last Year $84,000 Budgeted This Year Unacceptable Results "Delta Development Group has failed and should be fired." — David Robinson, Cumru for Tomorrow The sentiment reflects a growing frustration with the disconnect between the high-priced consulting and the actual needs of the township. Pushback Against the Solicitor The meeting also saw a moment of friction between the Commission and the Township Solicitor. While the Solicitor reportedly urged the Commission to approve the ordinance now and "amend it later," the Board stood its ground. Critics of the "approve now, fix later" approach called it a "bad idea" that would leave the township vulnerable to developers and legal loopholes before any corrections could be codified. What's Next? The Planning Commission's recommendation to delay the public hearing and vote now moves to the Board of Commissioners. For now, the message from the planning board is clear: Cumru is not for sale to the highest bidder, and any development must respect the existing community's scale and integrity. The Mifflin Report will continue to follow this story as the Board of Commissioners responds to these recommendations.