Present: EAC – Marlou Gregory (Chair), Steve Kunz (ViceChair), Ian Plant, Earl Cram, Doug White and Jerry O’Dell.
Board of Supervisors (BOS): Laurie Williams (BOS Liaison to EAC), Jim Morrisson and Lee Ledbetter.
Meeting called to order at 7:35pm.
EAC Meeting Summary: The meeting summary of the previous August meeting was read and, subject to minor amendment, approved.
Announcements:
Mrs Gregory advertised the Municipal Assistance Program that has been developed by the Brandywine Conservancy’s Environmental Management Center.
Public Participation: Nil
New Business:
Valley Forge Meadows: A preliminary development plan package containing drawings and a stormwater management plan for the 30 acre Valley Forge Meadows tract adjacent to Pawlings Road had been received for review. The package contained no Environmental Impact Assessment – Mr. Kunz undertook to determine from the Twp Manager whether this is a formal application ready for review, and to request that an EIA and wetland delineation be provided.
Open Space Commission Update: Mr. Bob Cooney of the OSC was present for the meeting and contributed to the discussion about Valley Park. He indicated that he would soon be organizing the intended walk around the Thompson tract and invited Mr. Plant to attend the next OSC meeting to deliver a presentation on the previously reported potential trail from Valley Forge Park to the Schuylkill River Trail at Oaks, passing by the American Ink and Coatings property. Outstanding Action: Mr. Plant to participate in a OSC organized trail walk through the Thompson tract on a date to be arranged by the twp manager.
Clean Energy: Mr. Kunz reported that an unexpected additional sign-up rebate of $160 had been received and passed to the Schuylkill School and Home Association. He also reported that installation of the solar system to the twp building has been scheduled for November 4, with a switch-on ceremony likely to be arranged soon thereafter.
Grants: Mr. White undertook to investigate what grant resources could be tapped for support to produce a combined management plan for Pickering Preserve, Valley Park and the Twp Building tract.
Old Business:
Whitehorse Road Bridge: No activity reported.
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): Mr. Plant reported that the RTT group had met in September and were joined by Mr. Paul Kusko of Phoenixville Iron Canal and Trails Association (PICTA) who updated the group on recent trail developments made by PICTA and discussed potential links from that network to the proposed trail along the route of the Devault rail line. Additionally, a letter from Norfolk & Southern to Pennsylvania Utilities Commission had been sighted that indicated that the rail line was to be filled in at the point where it crossed Morehall Road near Charlestown twp building, which the group believes may indicate that abandonment of the line may be approaching and that a railbanking application should be prepared.
Toonerville Trolley Trail (TTT): Mrs. Gregory indicated that following discussion with Mrs. Cohen, increased EAC representation at the TTT coordinating meetings had been agreed. Mr. Plant undertook to attend future TTT meetings, commencing 10 November. Outstanding Actions: Mr. Plant to confirm exactly where the trail should be in the peripheral areas of the Fernleigh and VFW developments and then address action to remove overgrowth and blockages through the Twp Manager. Mr. Plant to investigate development of a common sign to be erected to indicate trail locations within the twp, with a design consistent with the twp ‘historical site’ sign.
Operation Safe Kids/Rte 29 Sidewalk: No activity reported.
American Ink & Coatings: Mr. Plant outlined the potential trail for the benefit of the OSC member present and agreed to deliver a fuller presentation to the OSC soon. Outstanding Action: Mr. Plant to generate a feasibility study proposal by Feb 2010 to determine whether a trail link from VFP to the Schuylkill River Trail at Oaks could be constructed, possibly using funding from next year’s EGGS program, once he has determined whether the land owners (Valley Forge Park and Norfolk & Southern Rail) and other stakeholders would be supportive of the proposal. Mr Plant to share his observations regarding trail potential with the Open Space Commission and the Historical Commission.
Environmental Overlay: Mr. Kunz reported that development of the overlay is close to completion and queried what action should be taken next. Mr. Ledbetter suggested that the overlay should be presented to the Planning Commission next, preferably in ‘bite sized chunks’. It was agreed that a series of powerpoint presentations should be developed that would, for each section of the overlay: explain its purpose, provide examples of why it is needed, summarize the restrictions introduced and explain the balance achieved.
Pickering Preserve: Mr. Cram reported that due to uncertainty about the Toonerville Trolley Trail access requirements, the YMCA management had been reluctant to authorize additional access to the Pickering Preserve through the YMCA property. Regrettably this meant that the Eagle Scout project proposed by Samuel Stearly could not proceed. Outstanding Actions: Mrs. Williams to ask for the PP deed restriction issue to be included in the agenda for the next OSC meeting. Mr. O’Dell to liaise with the Roadmaster to schedule cutting back of invasive species that have overgrown the area of backfill soil beside the car park.
Deer Hunting on Pickering Preserve – It was noted that the deer hunting season has commenced and that hunting is only allowed by Whitetail Association members possessing twp issued permits.
Valley Park: Mr. Ledbetter reported that transfer of ownership of the property to the twp was completed on September 16. Mrs. Gregory reported discussion at the previous BOS meeting (September 2) plus subsequent related e-mails and a discussion with Mrs. Cohen which had culminated in general agreement that the EAC will lead facilitation of development of the park. Prior to this occurring, however, a prerequisite meeting is required with representatives from OSC, Twp Historical Society, TTT and BOS to map out the constraints, easements, deed restrictions….etc that apply to the property in order that any plan produced is fully informed. Public consultation regarding development of the plan is also desired. Mr. Cram suggested that it may also be appropriate to develop a joint management plan to cover all twp parks (Pickering Preserve and the twp Building tract) and that it may be appropriate to seek a grant for this work. (See Grants section above).
Mr. Morrisson, accompanied by Jim Bradley of the Whitetail Association raised the issue of deer hunting in the park and suggested that there was a need for a cull of deer. In support of their assertion, Mr. Morrison produced a chart detailing numbers of reported deer accidents on Valley Park Road and Rte 23 within the twp over the past 6 years, which indicated an increasing trend. Mr. Plant reported that he has often walked his dogs around the border of the park and frequently seen groups of deer. He estimated that up to 20 deer could sometimes be present in the park, a figure that was supported by Mr. Bradley’s own observations. Mr. Plant was also concerned that as the deer are currently free to roam in and out of the park onto neighboring properties, then the views of the park’s neighbors should also be considered when debating the need for deer removal, both from an environmental impact perspective and, noting the proximity of the adjacent properties and their access routes to the potential hunting area, from a safety perspective. It was agreed that the deer hunting issue should properly be addressed within the proposed park management plan, taking all intended uses of the park into consideration along with the views of the owners of neighboring properties. For the immediate future, however, it was agreed that a recommendation should be made to the BOS that the Whitetail association be allowed to hunt in the park during the 09/10 season. (Action: Mrs. Gregory)
The issue of whether ATV’s (principally believed to be from adjacent properties) would be allowed continued access to the trails around the tract was raised, to which Mr. Ledbetter indicated that they would not. During the meeting, Mrs. Williams sent a request to the Twp Manager, asking that she write to owners of adjacent properties to advise them of the twp’s acquisition of the park and that use of the property as an ATV trail was no longer allowed, to inform them of the near-term intent to allow deer hunting on the property and to invite them to attend the next BOS meeting where matters concerning the park would be discussed.
Following-up on Mrs. Gregory’s report of discussions with Mrs. Cohen, Mr Plant enquired as to whether the route of the Toonerville Trolley Trail across the park tract had been set. Mrs. Gregory indicated that this was yet to be decided, and that although the latest TTT plan showed it to be alongside Valley Park Road, now that the whole property was twp owned and that the Pasquale Pond was due to be restored, then the way was now open for the TTT coordination group to compile a set of options to determine the optimum route.
Northern Federation’s Development of a Regional Park and Recreation Strategic Plan (RPRSP): No activity reported. Outstanding Action: Mr. Frasch to attend the next meeting of the Federation at which the RPRSP is discussed.
Lyme Disease: No activity reported. Outstanding Action: Mr. White to discuss with Mrs. Williams a proposal to publicize the Lyme Disease public health risk, via an information page on the local public service cable tv channel.
NPDES Permit: Mrs. Gregory reported that following receipt of an extension notification for the current permit, no further action is required until late 2010.
SALDO Tree List – No activity reported.
Brake Ordinance – No activity reported.
Old Schuylkill Elementary School (Environmental Showcase Plan): No activity reported.
Treevitalize: No activity reported.
Township Web Site: No activity reported. Outstanding Actions: Mr. Plant to generate a set of suitable MWO reference links for addition to the twp website. Mr. White to gather opinion about web site development from other twp bodies such as the Planning and Historical Commissions, investigate what could be done to meet any proposed improvements, and if appropriate, propose suitable budgetary input for the 2010 twp budget.
EAC Budget: No activity reported.
Developments:
Sue Ellen Masters Property (100 Ferry Lane) – No activity reported.
Reeves Property – Mr. Kunz reported that following submission of an appeal in relation to the previously reported withheld information, an exchange of letters had occurred with PADEP, from which it appears that contrary to the statements made by Secretary Hangar in his letters of March and May 2009, PADEP have made no formal, recorded determination of the quality of the wetlands connected to Pickering Reservoir, assessed against their own regulatory criterion/definition. A decision by the Office of Open Records on whether any additional documentation will be supplied by PADEP is due by 20 October. Mr. Kunz indicated that because the issue was not raised within the required 30 day period at the time of Reeves’ application for a General Permit, the most likely way forward is for the EAC to raise the issue at the time of Reeves’ application for a NPDES permit. Additionally, Mr. White advised that he understands that the USF&W permit previously issued in relation to the proposed development has now expired.
Pasquale Pond – Mr. Ledbetter reported that the bid document for the pond work had been issued.
Ink and Coatings – No activity reported.
Phoenixville Middle School: Mr. Ledbetter reported that a revised plan, incorporating EAC recommendations, had been presented to the Planning Commission.
Miller Property – No activity reported.
Announcements: Mrs. Gregory advertised a forthcoming concert performance by the Bacon Brothers at the Colonial Theater to support the causes of culture and conservation in our region, to be held on October 10. Details are available at:
http://www.thecolonialtheatre.com/?m=20091010&cat=3&ec3_listing=events
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:25pm.