Present: EAC-, Steve Kunz, Ian Plant, Earl Cram, Jerry O’Dell and Steven Frasch.
Board of Supervisors (BOS): Laurie Williams (BOS Liaison to EAC), James Morrisson
Citizens Environmental Sub-Committee: Rebekah Bowser
Meeting called to order at 7:35pm.
Minutes of April’08 Meeting: The minutes of the previous meeting were read and were approved.
Announcements: Nil
Public Participation: Nil
New Business:
- EDC Property Company (1000 Township Line Road). A land development plan for a proposed addition to the site has been received. Mr Kunz will conduct an initial review of the plan to determine whether there are any environmental issues which need to be addressed.
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: No activity reported. Outstanding Actions: Mrs Bowser to forward PECO Open Space Program grant report to twp manager. Mrs Bowser to disseminate Treevitalize information to Homeowners associations. Mr O’Dell to investigate whether any other opportunities exist within the twp that would warrant applying for a new treevitalize grant.
Old Business:
Brake Ordinance – Mr Cram reported that he has spoken with the Chief of Police who endorsed the brake ordinance proposals. Requirements for signs at several entry/exit points surrounding the twp have been established, for which suitable wording is being developed.
Clean Energy – No update available. Outstanding Action: Mr Kreider to follow-up on advertising opportunities suggested by Mrs Williams.
Environmental Overlay Ordinance – to be addressed at a future meeting.
Rails to Trails Meeting Update – Mr Plant has contacted the Chairman of the Open Space Commission (Bob Cooney) in relation to preliminary identification of a trailhead site, and is awaiting a response.
Eagle Research/Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) Submission – Mr Frasch has spoken with Pennsylvania Game Commission ornithologist Doug Gross, who considered that it was likely that any eagles spotted at the Nolan property would be the same ones known to be nesting near the reservoir. Discussions with the property owner had also suggested that there had been no recent sightings of eagles on the property. Unless there becomes positive evidence of a nest being constructed, no PNDI submission is required.
Trash Pick-Up Project – Mr Cram has spoken with the Chester County Probation Department and identified that they have a need for Community Service Projects that can be undertaken in the Northern Portion of the County. If Schuylkill twp can identify suitable projects, primarily related to parks type work such as litter picking, grass cutting, tree planting, hole filling etc, Mr Cram will e-mail a list to the Probation Department. It should be noted that any projects taken up will need to be supervised by an official from within the twp. Working teams normally consist of a crew of 3 community workers for each project. One issue still to be clarified is that of ‘Insurance’. This is being worked with the county Probation Department.
Pickering Preserve:
Mr Cram and Mr O’Dell have commenced work to develop a Pickering Preserve Management Plan and an initial draft has been circulated to EAC members for high level comment. 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 Morrisson presented the EAC with a proposal for a sign to be reproduced and placed around the Preserve, which advises users of the Preserve of the inclusive dates for which the twp has authorized bow-hunting on the Preserve. The format of the sign was reported to have been copied from a similar one used within Tredyffrin twp. EAC members questioned Mr Morrison on the background to the issuance of permits for hunting in both Tredyffrin and Schuylkill twps. Whilst it was recognized that there could be a need for control of deer numbers within the preserve, there was concern that permitting hunting at any time of day or night throughout a three month period in the fall is not compatible with the general aim of unrestricted public access to the Preserve. When questioned about the current procedure for issuance of permits for hunting within the Preserve, Mr Morrisson indicated that verbal permission had been given to the Whitetail Association, who had exclusive rights to hunt there. He also suggested that they had been authorized to remove up to 100 deer, largely because there had been a growing problem of roadkill deer within the twp, but was unable to quantify any actual recent numbers taken. EAC members generally felt that any requirement and timing for deer culling from the Preserve should be articulated in the Preserve Management Plan, having first taken guidance from the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) in relation to the optimum deer population for the preserve, and the best timeframe for deer removal. It was also felt that a system for restriction of general public access to the Preserve may need to be established whenever culling is authorized. This point was further reinforced when Mrs Williams indicated that she understands that the YMCA may soon be introducing new activities for children that will be taking place adjacent to the Preserve property line. Mr Cram undertook to contact PGC to seek guidance on deer population control. Mr O’Dell undertook to seek guidance from Tredyffrin twp on their current deer management and hunting permit procedures. 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. Outstanding Action: Mr Cram to undertake follow-up meeting with the resident who had reported concerns in relations to hunting activities on the Preserve.
Developments:
Dr Piskai – Mr Kunz reported that at their most recent meeting, the Board of Supervisors accepted the EAC recommendations and the development has been approved.
Brackman Property –Mr Kunz reported that the development plan lodged with the twp differs from the plan shown to the EAC by the property owner at a recent EAC meeting, and also differs from the plan upon which the EAC passed comment in Sep’07. Accordingly, he now believes that the Sep’07 letter is invalid. Mr Kunz intends to issue a further letter to rescind the Sep’07 letter. He also intends to further check on the status of the outstanding Army Corps of Engineers wetland survey. Mrs Williams produced a recent letter of opinion from the Zoning Hearing Board which suggested that development of the property in the manner under consideration is unlikely to be permitted
Pasquale Pond – Mr O’Dell reported that he has conducted a vegetative review of the plans and considers them to be good proposals. Outstanding Action: Mrs Gregory to conduct an overall review and inform the BOS of any issues arising from the review.
Reeves Property – The EAC has received a box of revised plans from the applicant, for use in preparation of the EAC review letter. Mr. Frasch took from the new plans, and will review, the Stormwater Management Report. 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 2145pm