Whitemarsh Township residents could see $12 million in public funds go toward permanently blocking housing development on a 67-acre quarry site along Joshua Road.

The township's Open Space Committee holds a special meeting Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 6:30 p.m. at the Koontz Park and Recreation Building to hear the Whitemarsh Foundation's pitch. The nonprofit is asking the committee to recommend the spending to the Board of Supervisors, who are scheduled to take up the matter Thursday, Oct. 8.

The parcel at 5100 Joshua Road, known as Old Corson's Quarry Site 2, is part of what the Foundation's presentation materials describe as America's oldest continuously operating quarry. Under a 2012 legal settlement, the site is permitted by right for 192 mixed residential units once quarry operations end and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) confirms closure.

DEP closure is estimated to be more than 10 years away.

The Foundation has been offered a conservation sale price of $20 million for the development rights, plus roughly $500,000 in transaction costs. The property is appraised at $31 million.

Who pays

The proposed $20.5 million price tag would be split among several sources. The Foundation is asking Whitemarsh Township for $12 million from its Open Space and general funds. The remaining $8.5 million would come from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ($2 million), the Montgomery County Forever Green Fund ($500,000) and private donations ($6 million). The Foundation said it has already secured $1.4 million in private pledges.

It is unclear from the agenda materials whether the township's $12 million share would draw entirely from the existing Open Space Fund, require a general fund appropriation, or both.

Since voters approved an Open Space Fund authorized under Pennsylvania's Act 153 in 2006, the township has spent $28.7 million from that fund to acquire or protect 350 acres across 15 transactions, including Erdenheim Farm.

What the land borders

The 67-acre site sits directly next to the preserved Erdenheim Farm Sheep Tract and a planned section of the Montgomery County Cross County Trail, which links to more than 1,000 acres of protected open space. The Foundation's materials note the parcel lies within the Wissahickon watershed.

The Foundation, a nonprofit created in 2001 to help preserve Erdenheim Farm, has partnered with the township on several prior deals. Those include the Angus Tract of Erdenheim Farm in 2008, the Sheep Tract in 2009 and Dixon Meadow Preserve in 2014.

What's next

The Open Space Committee's seven seats include one vacancy. Members listed on the agenda are Howard, Kaufman, Lane, Malloy, Tarry and Williamson, with Supervisor Moy serving as the board liaison.

The Sept. 9 meeting is open to the public. The committee's next regular meeting is Oct. 28 at 7 p.m.