Present: EAC – Marlou Gregory (Chair), Steve Kunz (ViceChair), Ian Plant, Earl Cram, Steve Frasch and Jerry O’Dell.
Board of Supervisors (BOS): Norman Vutz, Laurie Williams (Liaison to EAC), Lee Ledbetter and Jim Morrisson.
Citizens Environmental Sub-Committee: Rebekah Bowser.
Meeting called to order at 7:30pm.
EAC Meeting Summary: The meeting summary of the previous December meeting was read and, subject to minor amendment, approved.
EAC Organization: Following brief discussion, Mr. Kunz proposed that all current EAC officers should retain their positions and that following the departure of Mr. Kreider, Mr. O’Dell should become EAC Treasurer. The motion was carried unanimously.
EAC Meeting Schedule: Mrs. Gregory announced that the meeting dates for 2009 have been published on the twp web site. All meetings are on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm, apart from November and December which will be one week earlier on the 3rd Tuesday of those months (November 17th and December 15th).
Announcements: Mrs. Gregory advised that due to the forecast of imminent heavy snow, the meeting would only be considering new business and urgent matters arising from old business. All other business was being postponed until the February EAC meeting.
Public Participation: Nil
New Business:
Ink and Coatings property (330 Pawlings Road) – Mr. Dave Faggioli and Mr. Rob Ratosky explained that following discussions with FEMA, they were attending the EAC meeting to gain twp support for their development proposal that could be communicated to FEMA, which was necessary because of the project’s close proximity to the Schuylkill river. They described their desire to demolish the old Ink and Coatings works on the approximately 4 acre site at 330 Pawlings Road and construct 48 residential units, for which they intend to seek BOS and Zoning approval. During their presentation they explained their plan to remove all buildings that currently stand both in the floodway and the floodplain of the Schuylkill river, and erect new buildings that will stand only in the 100 year floodplain. The residential portion of these buildings will be elevated to avoid flood damage, with space for car parking beneath. They also explained that impervious coverage on the site would be reduced from 87% to 27% as a result of the development, and indicated that a traffic study has been completed for which PennDoT have signaled content. Additionally, they proposed that the development could incorporate a trail section along the water frontage to provide a link from the adjacent bridge over the Schuylkill river to an unofficial trail that runs between the water and the rail line, towards Valley Forge, and suggested that a loop trail could be created with the Schuylkill River Trail on the opposite river bank, with crossings over the Pawlings Road bridge and the next bridge downstream. Mr. Plant indicated an intent to investigate further this trail proposal to which Mr. Ratosky responded that EAC members were welcome to visit the site at any time. On completion of the presentation, Mrs. Gregory explained that the EAC was not able to write directly to FEMA to indicate twp support for the project, but would pass on the request to the next BOS meeting with a request for Twp Engineer and Twp Solicitor advice for expediting the way forward. Mr. Kunz asked whether a contamination study had been performed for the site, and Mr. Ratosky said it had. Mr. Kunz requested that a copy be provided to the EAC, and Mr. Ratosky agreed to do so.
Treevitalize: (Levin Property Trees) – Mrs. Bowser explained the procedures that had been followed prior to planting the Treevitalize funded trees within the trail easement within the Levin property on Pothouse Road. She indicated that the trees had been planted without specific authorization from the property owner, but that the then twp solicitor (Sugarman) had advised that the planting could proceed. Following recent threats to cut down the trees, Mrs. Bowser had spoken with Mr. Levin and been advised that although Mr. Levin considers the planting to be trespass, the trees could stay if ownership of the trees was transferred to him. It was noted by the EAC that under the terms of the Treevitalize funding, this was unlikely to be possible. Mr Ledbetter undertook to take the issue to the next BOS meeting for twp solicitor advice.
Open Space Commission Update: No activity reported, but Mr. Ledbetter indicated that a’ proposed trail walk’ was being organized for the Thompson tract, for which EAC attendance would be welcome. Mr. Plant agreed that he would attend, on a date to be arranged by the twp manager.
Clean Energy: Mr. Kunz announced that a new purchase agreement had been received and signed for the twp building to obtain 100% of it’s 2009 electricity supply from Native Energy. He also explained a number of initiatives he is pursuing to solicit additional signups from twp residents, including further meetings with SSHA, a possible project for a Senior Project at the High School, and a possible sign-up effort at EarthMart on Bridge Street in Phoenixville during the next First Friday event, for which he was seeking volunteers to assist.
Environmental Committee: No activity reported. Outstanding Actions: Mrs. Gregory and Mrs. Bowser will discuss further the full scope of activities for the sub-committee. Mrs. Bowser to meet with Mr. Plant to determine a way forward for a Twp Environmental Website.
Grants:
No activity reported. Outstanding Action: Mrs. Bowser to disseminate Treevitalize grant information to HomeOwners Associations.
Old Business:
Whitehorse Road Bridge: No activity reported. Outstanding Action: Mr.Kunz to check with the Twp Manager on the latest developments and advise the EAC at the next meeting.
Trails: No activity reported. Outstanding Action: Mr Plant agreed to discuss the East Pikeland and Phoenixville Borough French Creek trail developments with Mrs. Cohen and also look elsewhere to discover if any formal plans exist from which a course of action for Schuylkill Twp could be determined. Mr. Plant to seek to develop an overlay addition that can identify which lot parcels contain approved trail easements
Rails-to-Trails (RTT): No activity reported.
Toonerville Trolley Trail: No activity reported.
Operation Safe Kids/Rte 29 Sidewalk: No activity reported.
Environmental Overlay: No activity reported. Outstanding Action: Mrs. Gregory to convene a separate meeting of available EAC members to which the Twp Engineer is invited, to address the remainder of the Environmental Overlay review issues.
Pickering Preserve: No activity reported. Outstanding Actions: Mr. Cram to arrange later in the Summer for TreeWrap to be applied to the young trees that have been recently planted, to prevent their destruction (when at the same time the fencing is removed) through ‘Buck Rub’. Mr. Kunz to seek guidance from Mrs. Bowser regarding the long term future for the ‘Rain Garden’. Mr. Cram agreed to seek YMCA approval for the Roads Crew to gain access to the lower Preserve from the YMCA property, in order for the existing pathway to be mown in support of Samuel Stearly’s Eagle Scout project.. Mrs. Gregory undertook to write to the OSC to prompt them to address the issue of placing deed restrictions or conservation easements on the lands of the Preserve (and also the lot containing the Twp building) and make subsequent recommendations to the BOS.
Deer Hunting on Pickering Preserve – No activity reported. Outstanding Actions: Mr. Cram to contact PGC to seek guidance on deer population control.
Trash Pick-Up Project – No activity reported. Outstanding Action: Mr. Cram to e-mail a list of suitable Community Service Projects to the Probation Department.
Northern Federation’s Development of a Regional Park and Recreation Strategic Plan (RPRSP): No activity reported. Outstanding Action: If East Pikeland Twp is found to be a member of the Federation, Mr. Frasch intends to liaise with Mr. Plant to provide a coordinated response to the Federation which takes account of the other concurrent initiatives within Schuylkill Twp.
SALDO Tree List - Outstanding Action: Mr. O’Dell to look at the list and determine whether any changes should be recommended.
Brake Ordinance – No activity reported. Outstanding Action. Mr. Morrisson to check whether the ordinance had yet been passed by the BOS and report back the status to the EAC meeting, including whether any signs are now being produced (if it has been passed)
Old Schuylkill Elementary School (Environmental Showcase Plan): No activity reported.
Treevitalize: Covered under New Business above..
Township Web Site: No activity reported.
EAC Budget: No activity reported.
Developments:
EDC – No activity reported.
Reeves Property – Mrs. Gregory summarized the EAC issues arising at the recent special BOS meeting to consider the Reeves property development proposal. She reported that during the BOS meeting a proposal had been made that the E Philip Drive access road should be classed as a private road. The EAC considered that this would not be detrimental to the intent expressed by Pohlig at the previous EAC meeting to incorporate trail easements into lots 40 and 43, one of which will provide a route from E Philip Drive. Additionally, she reported that the BOS still needed clear guidance in relation to the wetland classification and the associated permits. Mr. Kunz explained his latest strategy to obtain a classification decision from DEP. He produced a draft letter for the twp to send to DEP which after discussion it was agreed should be forwarded to the BOS for release.
Mrs. Gregory additionally raised the question of whether Pohlig may be interested in transferring some of the land to the twp instead of proceeding with development. From the floor, a member of the OSC reported that Pohlig had been invited to talk to discover whether there is any merit in exploring opportunities further.
YMCA – No activity reported. Outstanding Action. Mrs. Gregory to check on the status of the Rain Garden at the YMCA, development of which was a condition of their planning approval for the recent extension to the property, and report back.
Announcements: Nil
Due to accumulating snow and there being no further urgent business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50pm
.