Schuylkill Township
Environmental Advisory Council
MEETING DATE: September 23, 2008
Present: EAC - Marlou Gregory (Chair), Steve Kunz (ViceChair), Ian Plant, Earl Cram and Jerry O’Dell. Board of Supervisors (BOS): Laurie Williams (BOS Liaison to EAC) and Barbara Cohen. Citizens Environmental Sub-Committee: Nil.
Meeting called to order at 7:36pm.
EAC Minutes: The minutes of the previous August meeting were read and approved.
Announcements:
Mrs. Cohen gave public thanks to Mr. Kreider for his assistance in publicizing the successful Thinking Green forum. Mrs. Williams added that she sent Mrs. Cohen’s PDF via email to various Citizens for Open Space (COS) supporters, Schuylkill School and Home Association (SSHA) leaders and other parents who wanted to attend Heidi Kunsch’s presentation but had prior family commitments on September 7th. Mrs. Williams also secured Principal Dr. Garritano’s approval to distribute the PDF and Mr. Kreider’s Clean Energy fliers at the August New Student Orientation and Parents’ Back to School Nights on the community events table.
Public Participation: Nil
New Business:
Trails Mapping: Ms. Kim Dunn, a member of East Pikeland Twp’s Open Space and Planning Commissions, gave a very informative presentation. Kim described how East Pikeland’s Trails Subcommittee consists of members of four formal committees: Parks & Recreation, Open Space, Historical & Planning. Kim brought her laptop (she has GIS software through work and uses it for trail planning & open space evaluation), and showed us East Pikeland’s efforts to produce a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) overlay that shows the existing and planned Twp trails. She indicated that their priority trail for development is along French Creek, which they hope can eventually be extended from its Schuylkill Twp. boundary to provide a link to the Schuylkill River Trail. This boundary point is close to the route of the proposed trail being developed under the Rails-to-Trails agenda item below. Rick Bulotta of their Parks & Rec Committee did a lot of the ground work on trails and the proposed new Township Park, and offered to attend a future Schuylkill meeting. Kim focused on the basic concepts for trails in East Pikeland that evolved from a trails plan developed in the 1990s.
Rails-to-Trails (RTT): Mr. Plant indicated that he and Mr. O’Dell attended RTT’s meeting at Charlestown Twp. building on September 15th and described the general topics discussed surrounding the project to deliver a trail linking Phoenixville to the Chester Valley Trail. In particular, he described two topics that need Schuylkill Twp. assistance. In an attempt to generate a more formal footing for the project, RTT requested a formal letter of support from each municipality through which the proposed trail will pass. These will then form part of a body of evidence of multi-municipality commitment, whenever required in support of grant applications etc. Mr. Plant agreed to draft a letter for, and discuss the topic with, the BOS Chairman in advance of the Oct 1st BOS meeting. Secondly, he explained the need for a map which identifies existing and planned trails within each municipality served by this trail, along with identification of other locations from which residents may seek access to the trail, such as schools, churches, sports venues etc. This reinforced the value of East Pikeland’s presentation (referenced above), and it was agreed that a proposal should be made to the BOS during the Budget Process to consider authorizing an expenditure to GIS map the twp trails (Mrs. Gregory for action).
Toonerville Trolley Trail: In continuance of the trails discussion, some route problems have been identified due to a lack of easements through several Valley Park properties. This was seen as disappointing in view of the fact that the properties in question only recently were developed and sit upon the route of the ‘priority’ trails identified in the extant twp Open Space, Recreation and Environmental Resources Plan (OSRERP).
Operation Safe Kids/Rte 29 Sidewalk: Mrs. Williams explained that the Phoenixville Area School District (PASD) Board voted 8:1 on September 18th against granting an easement for Schuylkill Twp/PennDOT to build a trail on its portion of State Rd (Rte 29) and described two possible alternatives. Mrs. Cohen’s Toonerville Trolley Trail plans aim to extend the Operation Safe Kids Trail around the Y across to Schuylkill Elementary School. Additionally, the EAC noted that the route plans produced by the Twp Engineer for these trails showed different routes around the YMCA property. It was believed that the latest route proposal passes along the front of the YMCA property, but a reported recent PennDOT directive to widen Pothouse Road at the YMCA entrance may render this proposal unworkable.
Trails (All): General discussion took place on the apparent mismatch of several twp trail schemes, including those covered by the OSRERP, those established by twp development homeowners associations and other new initiatives. It was particularly noted that there is an urgent need for development of a twp trail overlay for GIS, as proposed under the RTT agenda item, to be used at future EAC meetings whenever trails, or developments within the vicinity of proposed trails, are discussed. It was considered that several trails are presently at various stages of development, for which the EAC and BOS need to understand: where, when, for what purpose, who served, associated environmental impact, amenities required/provided… etc. The EAC recommended that there should be a moratorium on expenditure for further trail development within the twp until a GIS overlay has been produced which identifies existing and proposed trails, and the respective environmental impact considered for each proposed trail (Mrs. Gregory for action).
Clean Energy – Mrs. Gregory presented a written report from Mr. Kreider which summarized recent developments: The SmartPower presentation proposed at the previous EAC meeting will take place in the twp building on Friday September 26, for which representatives from London Grove, East Vincent, East Bradford and Tredyffrin Twps. have been invited in addition to Schuylkill participation; work is ongoing with PECOWind to develop a twp-wide mailing to promote SmartPower during October; Native Energy has sold out of PA-generated clean energy. Alternatives were proposed from which the EAC agreed to recommend that, subject to acceptability of cost, the twp purchases 20% of its clean energy from PECOWind (the minimum target) and 80% from non-PA generated Native Energy.
Open Space Commission Update: No activity reported.
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:
PADEP Local Government Greenhouse Gas Pilot Grant Program: No activity reported.
Outstanding Action: Mrs. Bowser to disseminate Treevitalize grant information to HomeOwners Associations.
Old Business:
Pickering Preserve:
Mr. Cram reported that ongoing discussions with Samuel Stearly in relation to his Eagle Scout project to create an extension of the lower pathway through the Preserve. 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. 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’.
Deer Hunting on Pickering Preserve – Mr. O’Dell produced a copy of a new sign that has been produced to warn preserve users of potential hunting activities. He agreed to arrange for the twp Roads Crew to erect the signs at locations agreed as: at the parking lot beside the mown path entrance to the upper preserve; adjacent to the entrance to the lower preserve from the YMCA site. Outstanding Action: Mr. Cram to contact PGC to seek guidance on deer population control.
Northern Federation’s Development of a Regional Park and Recreation Strategic Plan (RPRSP): No activity reported. Outstanding Action: Mr. Frasch to review the draft plan and then liaise with Mr. Plant to provide a coordinated response which takes account of the other concurrent initiatives.
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.
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.
Old Schuylkill Elementary School (Environmental Showcase Plan): No activity reported.
Treevitalize: No activity reported.
Township Web Site: Outstanding Action: Mr. Kreider to prompt the Twp Manager that some updates to the Twp Web site are needed to reflect current EAC membership positions.
EAC Budget: Outstanding Action: Mr. Kreider undertook to provide a statement of the status of funding available within the EAC budget.
Developments:
EDC – Mr. Kunz presented a draft letter produced following his review of the development plans that had been passed to him. Noting that revised plans had subsequently been produced which affect the amount of tree retention on the site, it was agreed that the letter should be sent once it had been amended to reflect the impact of the revised plans.
Reeves Property – Mr. Kunz reported that since the previous EAC meeting, PADEP had not been responding to any of his communication. It was agreed that Heidi Kunsch (a local resident and PADEP employee) should be approached for assistance. Outstanding Action: 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.
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.
Announcements: Mrs. Williams provided details of an upcoming Sustainable Planning forum and Mr. O’Dell reminded members that the previously advertised Tree Tender training course commences on Thursday 25 September. Mrs. Gregory indicated that a review of the Environmental Overlay will be on the agenda for the next EAC meeting and encouraged everyone to familiarize themselves again with the latest draft.
Meeting Adjourned at 11:15pm