The Schuylkill Township Planning Commission held their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at the Township hall. Members of the Planning Commission present were Mr. Reading, Mr. Quigg, Mr. Davis, Mr. Keogh, Mr. Lange and Mrs. Potts. Also in attendance was Ms. Mary Lou Lowrie, Township Engineer from Gilmore & Associates as well as Mr. Morrisson, Mr. Parry and Mrs. Williams from the Board of Supervisors.
On motion by Mr. Quigg, seconded by Mrs. Potts, and passed, the Planning Commission retained Mr. Reading as Chairman of the commission and Mr. Keogh was named Vice-chair of the commission for 2010.
On motion by Mr. Quigg and seconded by Mr. Lange and passed, the Planning Commission approved the minutes of November 18, 2009. No meeting was held in December.
Solty Property, Kimberton Road – Mr. Jim Falco and Mr. Bruce Weinsteiger presented different development types for the 3.4 acre property located on the east side of Kimberton Road within the LI-Limited Industrial zoning district. Mr. Ryan Costello representing Mr. Falco and Mr. Weinsteiger stated that they currently have an equitable interest in the Solty property. The property is undersized for the zoning district and located next to an apartment complex that is situated in the Borough of Phoenixville.
Scenario 1) Storage facility- this proposal is the most conforming of the uses that were presented. Per zoning, the property does not have the required frontage. However, it meets all other zoning requirements including parking. The facility would be gated and climate controlled with no outdoor storage permitted. It would be a low intensity use.
Scenario 2) Three-story 110 unit hotel/motel – this proposal would require Zoning Hearing Board approval since it is a use permitted by Special Exception in the LI Zoning District. This proposal would still meet parking requirements. Mr. Falco stated he was not sure if full dining would be provided with the facility.
Scenario 3) Upscale apartments – this proposal would fit into the housing density already existing along the Kimberton Road/Route 113 corridor. An apartment complex is adjacent to the parcel, the Eland Downe development that contains a mixed use of single-family homes and townhomes are further south and Mr. Falco is proposing a redevelopment of the Village of Eland shopping center as a mixed use retail/condo development. Mr. Costello stated that high density residential is not out of context along that corridor. He advised however that the parcel would need to be rezoned to APO-II to accommodate the use.
Mr. Reading stated that the storage facility in Limerick on Ridge Pike that was recently built was an attractive addition to that corridor area; a hotel would create jobs and apartments would need a change in zoning to APO-II. Mr. Keogh stated that apartments are not a ratable use. Apartments add children to the school district. He stated that scenario 1 and 2 are a better use.
Mr. Weinsteiger questioned if the township would consider independent living senior housing. Mr. Costello stated that the ratables are good, the use would create jobs and would not add children to the school district. The parcel would need to be rezoned to allow the use. He advised that there is a market for senior housing. Mr. Costello stated that the best income stream would be a hotel or senior housing.
Mr. Parry stated that a hotel would enhance the entire Phoenixville community and could potentially bring in more commercial uses. Mr. Costello stated that Mr. Falco’s and Mr. Weinsteiger’s choices for development of the lot would be: 1) apartments, 2) independent senior living facility, 3) hotel, and 4) storage facility. Mr. Costello stated that Mr. Falco and Mr. Weinsteiger would ultimately undertake looking into subdivision ordinance issues once the use of the property has been narrowed down.
The consensus of the Planning Commission as to the type of uses for the parcel would be 1) hotel, 2) senior living, and 3) storage facility.
PASD, Phoenixville Area Middle School Land Development – Mr. Ron Miller of the PASD, Mr. Glenn Harris of Renew Design and Mr. Ron Kaylan, representing the school district came before the commission to request final approval for the Phoenixville Area Middle School project. Mr. Harris stated that the plan just obtained final plan approval from the Phoenixville Borough Council. He advised that there was a small reduction in parking on the overall plan but the plan still met the Township’s parking requirements.
A storage facility, new tennis courts and baseball dugouts will be in Schuylkill Township. All three will require building permits. Mrs. Williams stated that the Township should consider waiving the building permit fees. Mr. Quigg questioned if netting would be used along the Rt. 29/State Road side of the baseball field to reduce the possibility of foul balls going into the roadway. Mr. Harris stated that the current baseball field that is parallel to the proposed baseball field does not have netting but does have the same proposed 18’ high fencing that the new field will have.
The fire hydrant location in Schuylkill Township has been reviewed by the fire marshal. Due to water service areas, the hydrant location was moved to the northeast corner of Russell Road and Route 29. Mr. Kaylan stated that the school district does have a will-serve letter from Aqua PA. Mr. Morrisson stated that the future walkway is now located within the legal and ultimate right-of-way of State Road. He felt that issue was resolved.
On motion by Mr. Keogh, seconded by Mr. Lange, and passed, the Planning Commission recommended approval to the Board of Supervisors for final approval of the Phoenixville Area Middle School Plan conditioned on all items in the January 20, 2010 Gilmore & Associates’ review letter being addressed.
Dr. Miller Subdivision Plan – The Planning Commission approved Sewage Facilities Planning Module PaDEP #1-15948-129-1. The planning module will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for approval.
There being no further business, the Planning Commission adjourned the meeting at 9:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary R. Bird
Township Manager
Next Meeting: February 17, 2010