Pocopson Township

Open Space Committee
Minutes from Meeting of April 11, 2006   7:30 PM

Attendees:
Sandy Retzlaff, Chair                                       
Tom Bierl                                                         Chris Conaway
Peggy Conaway                                               Zeke Hubbard
Joe Stumpo                                                      Ricki Stumpo

1)  Call to order: Sandy Retzlaff called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM.

2)  Minutes from 3/14/06 meeting will be e-mailed to members by Chris Conaway

3) Announcements – none

4) New Business

a) Park Playground structures: 

Sandy has organized a small group of residents to form a Playground Subcommittee to explore ideas for a community designed and built playground. Township residents Trish Brzostowicz and Kim O’Leary presented a proposal (attached) outlining the group’s plans. The playground would be located at Pocopson Park and could incorporate historic aspects (e.g., trolley from picnic park to Kennett) of the Township.

Discussed how grants could increase the $40,000 earmarked by the Township for a tot lot
      -     Zeke will call a contact at Chester County to discuss potential grant opportunities
      -     Grant cycle timeframe usually requires May or September submissions
     -     Can’t apply to sources with whom the Township has a grant application outstanding

A specific plan must be approved by the Board of Supervisors before a formal Steering Committee is formed, advertising is done, grant applications are completed, etc.

Motion: Zeke Hubbard moved that
      1) the Open Space Committee send a letter to the Board of Supervisors supporting the work of the Playground Subcommittee to date;
      2) the Playground Subcommittee modify their proposal to present different equipment options, depending on available funding ($40,000 plan, $75,000 plan, etc.);
      3) the Playground Subcommittee submit these options to Sandy and Zeke for review (on behalf of the Open Space Committee);
      4) after that review, the Playground Subcommittee make a presentation to the Board of Supervisors to obtain approval to move forward

Motion carried with all in agreement.

b) Review of Trails Map:
Reviewed and marked up maps brought by Sheila Fleming that referenced Open Space document from December 2005 and that were walked within the last year. Revisions were made based on historical knowledge and review of original Vandemark & Lynch trails map.

 Beversrede Trail was added to the map
Trail #2         -  needs repair
Trail #4         -  eased but not installed, and location is off a bit
Trail #7         -  does not exist; remove from inventory
Trail #8         -  relocated a bit on map
Trail #9         -  has been seeded over and therefore needs to be reinstalled
Area near Trail #13      - Ricki to check Windy Hill documentation
Trail #15       -  needs repair
Trail #18       -  trail to be constructed after development finalized
Trail #19       -  to be modified based on more recent data
Trail #20       -Toll Brothers will install along school property; requesting equestrian easement because trail has been moved since earlier plans
Trail #22       -  eased but trail can’t be installed until all lots there are sold
Trail #24       -  location shown is not what Open Space Committee approved
Name of Trail #25        - changed to Scaleby/Winterwood
Trail #26       -  not Lenape Forge but Fence Authority
Trail #35       -  needs to be installed

Will continue updating maps at next meeting in a planned work session.

c)  Coordinated Trails Planning
Discussed need to coordinate trail planning with Planning Commission (PC) and Board of Supervisors (BOS). Originally, subdivision plans went to the Open Space Committee (OSC) first for review; then a member of the OSC would attend PC and BOS meetings to report and to be available for advice.

Options discussed:
      -     1) once or twice yearly work sessions with the BOS and/or PC
      -     2) OSC to propose a formal process to ensure that BOS and PC decisions are communicated to and coordinated with the OSC; will ask that:
                  a)   when possible, modifications to development plans be sent to the OSC for review/comment before plans are finalized
                  b)   member of OSC regularly attend BOS and PC meetings when developments are being discussed
      -     3) Sandy to draft letter to BOS and PC addressing this issue

d) Hipkins Trail:  The trail is due to be installed shortly by the Public Works crew, and several issues of concern were raised:
      -     Renewed easement signed October 2005 does not reflect original plans for trail
      -     Need to check easement language (metes and bounds) to determine why only a portion of the proposed trail is shown; Zeke to call Ross Unruh to clarify
      -     Reports of other possible illegal activities (filling in of wetlands, gate blocking emergency access to Cannon Hill Drive) occurring on property will be reviewed by the new Zoning Inspector; Zeke to call Soil Conservation about wetlands
      -     May need a letter from the OSC to BOS asking for action / support on this issue

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 PM.

_______________________________________                 

Sandy Retzlaff, Chair, Open Space Referendum Task Force

______________________________

Peggy Lennon, Recording Secretary