The Concord Township Board of Supervisors postponed their meeting until March 10. The board was expected to review the preliminary plans for Vineyard Commons, a housing development proposed for a chunk of land bordering First State National Historic Park.
Eastern States Development, of Wilmington, Del., and McKee-Concord Homes LP, of Springfield, seek to construct 163 houses on a 230-acre parcel being sold by Woodlawn Trustees, a nonprofit real estate company dedicated to preserving open space, orderly development and affordable housing.
Several community groups have fought the project for nearly three years, wanting to see the land — which is open to the public — preserved for generations to come.
The property is part of Beaver Valley, a scenic area straddling the Delaware and Pennsylvania borders. Thousands of acres in the valley were owned by Woodlawn, including 1,100 preserved by the national park. For decades, Woodlawn has permitted the public to recreate on the open space.
The region has served a hotspot for hikers, bikers and horseback riders, who enjoy the valley's pastures, forests, streams and historical structures.