Present: EAC-, Steve Kunz, Ian Plant, Earl Cram and Jerry O’Dell.
Board of Supervisors (BOS): James Morrisson
Citizens Environmental Sub-Committee: None
Meeting called to order at 7:31pm.
Minutes of May’08 Meeting: The minutes of the previous meeting were read and were approved.
Announcements: Nil
Public Participation: Nil
New Business:
Environmental Committee: No activity reported. Outstanding Actions: Mrs Gregory and Mrs Bowser to discuss further the full scope of activities for the sub-committee. Mrs Bowser to meet with Mrs Plant to determine a way forward for a twp Environmental Website.
Grants: Mr O’Dell reported that his investigations have not revealed any projects that could warrant application for a new Treevitalize grant at this time . Outstanding Actions: Mrs Bowser to disseminate Treevitalize information to Homeowners associations.
Old Business:
Brake Ordinance – Mr Cram reported that he has again spoken with the Chief of Police. In addition to proceeding with the Brake Ordinance proposals, the practicalities of enforcing State law in relation to noise are also being investigated.
Clean Energy – No update available. Outstanding Action: Mr Kreider to follow-up on advertising opportunities suggested by Mrs Williams.
Environmental Overlay Ordinance – Mr Kunz introduced the latest draft of the proposed ordinance which had just been circulated to EAC members. All EAC members are requested to review the document prior to the July EAC meeting in order that it can be discussed then.
Rails to Trails Meeting Update – Mr Plant reported that he attended the June meeting of the Rails-to-Trails group at Charlestown Twp. The meeting discussed the outcome of the recent technical feasibility study for a potential commuter rail service on the old Norfolk-Southern rail line that passes through the twp, and the actions that should be taken to ensure that activities aimed at using the route of the line for a trail, either jointly with a commuter rail link or as a stand-alone project, remain compatible with activities elsewhere an in particular with a proposed follow-on study for the commuter rail link to determine commercial feasibility. Additionally, Mr Plant has contacted the Chairman of the Open Space Commission (Bob Cooney) in relation to preliminary identification of a trailhead site, and has been invited to attend their next meeting to advise them of developments.
Toonerville Trolley Trail – Mr Cram reported that there had been recent discussions between the Twp Engineer (John Sartor) and a YMCA representative, where it had been agreed that the route for the trail should go along Pothouse Road to a point where it could tie in with a pedestrian lane on a new bridge to be built over the southwestern end of Pickering Creek Reservoir on Whitehorse Road, rather than the alternative proposal of passing through Pickering Preserve and the YMCA property.
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.
Pickering Preserve:
Mr Kunz reported that the Twp Manager had met with Mr Kreider and discussed a number of issues related to the general tidiness of the Preserve. It was reported that the Twp Roads Crew are able to provide assistance, but that they need guidance in what should be done. For the near term, Mr Cram and Mr O’Dell agreed to review the preserve condition and give guidance to the Twp Roadmaster (Nick Cinciripino) on what needs doing now. For the longer term, it is intended that seasonal guidance on maintenance activities will be provided in the developing Pickering Preserve Management Plan. Mr Cram additionally undertook to arrange later in the Summer for TreeWrap to be applied to the young trees that had been recently planted, to prevent their destruction (when at the same time the fencing is removed) through ‘Buck Rub’, whilst Mr Kunz indicated that guidance from Mrs Bowser will be sought concerning the long term future for the ‘Rain Garden’. Outstanding Action: Mr Kreider to obtain drafts of the nature trail signs produced by Beth Corcoran and forward them to Mrs Bowser for review.
Deer Hunting on Pickering Preserve – Mr O’Dell reported that he had held discussions with Tredyffrin Twp staff and identified that an extensive program of deer hunting activities take place there in various locations. In particular, he had noted that some of these take place on land with public access, for which certain restrictions and safeguards are in place to give a degree of public protection. After some discussion, Mr Morrisson agreed to invite a representative of the Whitetail Association to attend a future EAC meeting to determine a mutually agreed way forward. Outstanding Actions: Mr Cram to contact PGC to seek guidance on deer population control. Mr Morrisson indicated that he would be contacting the Whitetail Association to identify actual numbers of deer killed in the Preserve in recent hunting seasons. Mr Cram to undertake follow-up meeting with the resident who had reported concerns in relations to hunting activities on the Preserve.
Developments:
EDC Property Company (1000 Township Line Road) - Mr Kunz has conducted an initial environmental issues review of the land development plan for a proposed addition to the site and sent an advisory email to the applicant, who has responded with a declaration of intent to prepare an EIA (and withdraw a requested waiver of that requirement) and attend the July EAC meeting.
Brackman Property –Mr Kunz reported that he has issued a letter which rescinds EAC letter of Sep ’07. He also reported that enquiries with the Army Corps of Engineers have indicated that so far they have received no request for a review of the Wetland Determination applicable to the property.
Pasquale Pond – No activity reported. Outstanding Action: Mrs Gregory to conduct an overall environmental review of the proposals and inform the BOS of any issues arising from the review.
Reeves Property – Mr Frasch had provided a written update of his review of the Stormwater Management Report, which was read to those present. His findings so far suggest that the proposed culvert under the access road should not introduce any new drainage problem, and that the previously reported residents’ flooding concerns may be a separate ‘downstream’ issue. Mr Kunz noted that a recently received Letter of Opinion from Kise Straw & Kolodner was to be considered by the Phoenixville Regional Planning Commission on 25 June.
Outstanding Actions: Mrs Gregory to pass the adjacent residents concerns relating to Stormwater Management to the twp Planning Commission. Mrs Gregory to ensure that tree protection zone infringement, including the impact on trees standing in the grounds of adjacent properties, forms part of the EAC report to the BOS. Mrs Gregory to pass the adjacent residents concerns relating to the impact of snow clearance activities to the twp Planning Commission. The EAC to include a recommendation to minimize street lighting as part of its report to the BOS. The EAC to recommend incorporation of trail facilities in its report to the BOS. Mr Kunz to provide an update in relation to validity of the permits issued when he has received a response from DEP to clarify the wetlands classification. The EAC to consider preservation of biological corridors in preparation of its report to the BOS. The EAC will consider whether the 2006 EIA remains valid, and if a new or revised EIA may be warranted.
The developer will be required to provide complete information before the EAC’s recommendations can be finalized.
Meeting Adjourned at 2120pm