Carroll Township residents raise concerns about unfinished homes

They claim the Irey Plan structures haven’t been maintained, resulting in high grass and other issues.

More than a year after a zoning dispute brought construction to a halt, two homes in Carroll Township’s Irey Plan are again drawing complaints from neighbors, who are questioning how the unfinished properties can be listed for sale while maintenance issues and construction concerns remain unresolved.

Residents raised concerns during Tuesday’s Carroll Township supervisors meeting about the Black Lotus Group homes at the corner of Briarwood and Cedarwood drives, where construction remains incomplete after the structures were relocated to comply with township setback requirements.

The properties became the focus of public controversy in late 2024 after residents challenged their placement on the lots and questioned whether the homes complied with approved plans. Construction was halted after township officials determined the structures did not meet setback requirements and differed from plans originally approved by the township.

After a zoning hearing board denied a variance request that would have allowed the homes to remain in their original locations, Black Lotus Group submitted revised plans and obtained approvals to move the structures and continue construction.

Early last year, the company received phased approval to proceed with the project under updated township regulations adopted in response to the dispute.

While the setback issues have been addressed through the relocation process, residents said the properties remain unfinished and have become an eyesore.

Resident John Panseri told supervisors he recently spoke with contractors who toured the homes and questioned how construction had pro- gressed given concerns they allegedly observed inside the buildings.

“I guess I’m just going to jump forward to say, where do we go from here?” Panseri asked.

Chairman Ken Hillman said the township’s current enforcement action involves property maintenance, specifically overgrown grass at the site.

“They’ve been cited for the grass and stuff out there because that’s the outstanding code violation,” Hillman said.

According to Hillman, the owner has been issued a citation and the matter is going through the legal process.

“It’s a citation, and so now they will go to court,” Hillman said. “He has so many days to abate the problem.”

Hillman said the citation was sent several weeks ago, but noted the enforcement process can take time.

“By the time they play the whole game, it can be about 45 days,” he said.

Hillman also discouraged residents from attempting to address the maintenance issues themselves. Because the property is privately owned, township officials said residents should not enter the site to cut the grass or perform any other maintenance work.

While the township cannot maintain the private property, Hillman said officials plan to cut grass within the public right-of-way bordering the site because the overgrowth has begun creating visibility issues for motorists traveling through the area.

Resident Anthony Massari said the condition of the property has become increasingly concerning for nearby families.

“We all see the grass is over three feet, it’s probably almost four feet tall,” Massari said. “There are a lot of kids that are now on our street and playing across the street.”

Massari also questioned the condition of the homes themselves, claiming portions of one structure appeared to extend beyond its foundation and expressing concern that erosion along the rear of the property is worsening following recent rainfall.

“The rear of the property is starting to collapse,” Massari said. “The dirt is going down into that stream because of all the rain that we’ve had.”

Hillman said the homes remain far from receiving occupancy approval and that numerous inspections and corrective actions must still occur before either property can be occupied.

“They don’t have an occupancy permit, and they won’t get one until they do all the corrections and everything that needs to be done to the house to bring it up to standards to pass for occupancy,” Hillman said.

Hillman said the township’s building inspector, Harshman GE Group, continues to oversee inspections, but supervisors do not receive detailed reports while that process is ongoing.

“He has numerous things that need to be addressed, and he has numerous steps that he still needs to do before final occupancy would be ever issued,” Hillman said.

Panseri questioned what would happen if the homes were sold before construction is completed.

Hillman said any future owner would still be required to satisfy all inspection and permitting requirements before occupancy could be granted.

Both properties have been listed for sale by Howard Hanna Simon Real Estate Services.

Each home is listed for $330,000 and marketed as being approximately 95% complete. The listings describe the properties as a “rare opportunity” for either investors or homeowners and state the homes have been appraised at $400,000 in their current condition, presenting what is described as an opportunity to gain equity by completing the remaining work.

According to the listings, the homes feature metal-frame construction, metal siding, open floor plans, large bedrooms, modern flooring and spacious kitchens.

The listings state the majority of construction has been completed, leaving what are described as final finishing touches.

Those remaining tasks include completing porch decking, installing shutters, finishing landscaping, completing fencing, trim work and custom kitchen shelving.

The listings also state the seller is unable to complete the project because he is deployed and is motivated to sell. Buyers who purchase both homes would receive an additional lot behind the properties, bringing the total land in the sale to more than 1.25 acres. The homes were listed May 11.

Township officials emphasized Tuesday that neither property has received an occupancy permit.

Hillman said numerous items still must be addressed before final inspections can be completed and occupancy approved. He added that those requirements would remain in place regardless of ownership, meaning any future buyer would be responsible for completing the work necessary to bring the homes into compliance before they could be occupied.