The Schuylkill Township Planning Commission held their regular meeting on Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at the Township Hall. Members of the Planning Commission present were Mr. William Brennan, Mr. Dan Keogh, Mr. Morris Quigg, and Ms. Jan Potts. John Sartor and Mary Lou Lowrie of Gilmore & Associates were present as well as Township Manager Mary Bird. Mr. Jim Reading and Mr. Jack Claffey were not present.
On motion made by Ms. Jan Potts seconded by Mr. Morris Quigg and passed, the Planning Commission approved the minutes of the May 21, 2008 meeting.
Reeves Property – Mr. John Snyder appeared on behalf of Pohlig builders. He acknowledged receipt of Gilmore & Associates sixty-six page review letter dated June 17, 2008. He stated that he briefly reviewed it prior to the meeting and did not notice any new issues. Some of the issues in the review letter have already been sent out to the townships historical committee, EAC, etc. for their input. Mr. Snyder also noted that most items in the review letter can be matched to the Matrix that they presented previously to the Planning Commission. Mr. Brennan stated that he feels that some of the issues will have to wait to be determined until the Zoning Hearing Board makes their decisions on issues that may set precedent. Mr. Snyder feels that they don’t need to wait for the Zoning Hearing Board decisions. Mr. Snyder advised that they will thoroughly review the review letter and revise the Matrix accordingly. Jim Morrisson, Supervisor and audience member brought up the issue of the cartway width again. He stated that he was driving through a development in Charlestown Township and he measured the cartway width to be 24’. Mr. Morrisson stated that he thought Pohlig had mentioned reducing the cartway width from 28’ to 24’ and felt this would create a lot of positives, example less impervious coverage and more lot space. Mr. Morrisson stated that Tredyffrin Township is considering reducing their minimum to 26’, Pohlig builders is showing 28’ cartway. Mr. Morrisson wants Pohlig to reduce their proposed cartway width to 24’. Schuylkill Township Ordinance requires the cartway to be 32’. Ms. Jan Potts stated that the Planning Commission has previously made their recommendation for the cartway width to be 28’. This was confirmed by looking in the minutes of the May 21, 2008 meeting. Mr. Snyder stated that Pohlig will do whatever the Township wants, whether it be 24’, 28’, 32’, they are experienced in working with all widths.
EDC Property – Mr. Kevin Mohn from Systems Design Tech., and Mr. Rowland, owner of EDC Property came before the Planning Commission to inform them that all variances they requested before the Zoning Hearing Board (setbacks, parking, non-conforming, etc) have been granted. Mr. Mohn stated that they do need zoning relief due to the Stormwater Management. The location of the underground detention basin is underneath the truck turn around area, it may not meet flood hazard requirements. A discussion about the paving the parking lot was brought up. According to Township ordinance requires that parking lots be paved. Mr. Rowland wants to keep it stone, due to financial reasons. The loading dock area will be concrete. They will install concrete bumpers to delineate parking spots. Mr. Sartor stated that he doesn’t have a problem with a stone parking lot, they have designed the SWM as if it were to be paved. Mr. Sartor stated that the only issue would be to make sure they are ADA compliant. Mr. Sartor advised to check the UCC to see if it requires handicapped spots to be paved. Mr. Sartor said this was the first review, and they will need to get with Yerkes & Associates on the other outstanding zoning issues.
Non-Agenda Items:
DEP/Valley Forge Sewer Authority - Township Manager Mary Bird advised the Planning Commission that DEP has met with Valley Forge Sewer regarding the Township’s ACT 537 EDU Plan. The Townships EDU’s do not match up to the Regional plan ACT 537 EDU’s. The Township is 9.36 EDU’s off up to the year 2035. DEP wants all townships to match the Regional ACT 537 EDU numbers. The township will not be changing zoning to increase our EDU’s. Mr. Norm Vutz, supervisor, stated that this is a state mandated process that DEP is doing. Mr. Brennan asked what’s the difference in EDU’s. Ms. Bird said that we’re about 2500 gallons per day off. Ms. Bird also stated that DEP is insisting that townships create an ordinance that requires residents to have their septic tanks pumped every 3 years. Currently the township refers all septic tank issues to the County. There was much discussion regarding this new DEP requirement. There are currently many residents within the Township that have on site sewer. To enforce an ordinance that requires pumping every 3 years, the township will have to have a sewer enforcement officer. There would also be a fee that the township that would pay to the county that would then be reimbursed by DEP. Discussion about the fairness of this proposed requirement ensued. Mr. Quigg gave as an example would an elderly single person be required to pump their tank as much as a large family.
Bicycle Friendly Township – Mr. Sartor stated that he works with another client who is interested in becoming bicycle friendly. Mr. Sartor stated that with the cost of gasoline rising more people are starting to ride bicycles. Mr. Quigg stated that we have many bicyclists already in our township that on weekends it seems like there’s more bicyclists than cars. Mr. Sartor stated that the Township might want to think about putting in bike lanes if the roads are going to be repaved. The Township can also be designated “bicycle friendly” by The League of American Bicyclists. Mr. Sartor will look further into that.
Pending – No discussion – Exxon (Rt. 23 & Whitehorse Rd), Brackman Property, Magic Memories Daycare, Ratoskey & Trainor/Faggioli 330 Pawling Rd.
There being no further business for discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kimberly Yocom
Township Clerk
Next Meeting Wednesday July 16, 2008