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Pocopson Township
Open Space Committee
Minutes from Meeting of June 13, 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 7:30 PM. Bill Haaf, who moved into the Township about
six months ago, was in attendance.
2) Review of Minutes from April 11, 2006 –
Approved.
3) Announcements – The Open Space Referendum
passed on May 16.
Barnard Baily attended and had questions about what happens next on this
issue. Tom Bierl discussed the presentation that was made by the Open
Space Referendum Task Force to the Board of Supervisors on June 12
recommending:
- 1) Re-charter existing Open Space Committee as Parks and
Trails Committee. The Parks & Trails Committee would not be responsible
for open space easements, land acquisition or monitoring/enforcement;
these would shift to new committee
- 2) Create a new 7-member Open Space Advisory Committee
(looking for large and small landowners; development and non-development
residents, geographic diversity)
- 3) Have Township Solicitor prepare and advertise ordinance to
implement the tax, including 5-year sunset provision
The procedure to value a particular piece of land
includes considering the value if fully developed vs. the the value with
an easement limiting development. It was recommended that Mr. Baily speak
with the other five large landowners and have at least one apply to be a
member of the new Committee.
4) New Business
a) Hipkins Trail – Trail has been surveyed and marked, but has not
been installed, and a fence still blocks emergency access to Cannon Hill.
Zeke will speak to Bill Sellers about why the Public Works crew has not
yet installed the trail. Ricki, Joe and/or Peggy will be prepared to
attend the next Supervisors’ Meeting (June 26) if the issue has been
addressed by then.
b) New 80 acres of open space from Juvenile Justice Center
- Trail details being worked out by Brandywine Conservancy
(stream crossings coordinated with DEP)
- There may be a need in the future to use the top part for
playing fields, especially since it’s unlikely that future open space
acquired via the new Open Space Advisory Committee could be used for
active recreation. The majority of Committee members want the 80 acres to
remain as open space / passive recreation and not be designated for future
use as playing fields until that need arises
- The Township will install trails there (grant-supported
activity).
c) Tree planting grant
- Grant received from Chester County Conservation District
- Plan is to plant $13,000 worth of saplings on the new 80
acres, mainly to repair buffers
d) Continuation of trails review – Trails
review process was begun in April; Sheila Fleming of Brandywine
Conservancy will attend meeting on July 11 to continue this effort
e) Playground
- A presentation was made to the
Board of Supervisors about community-built playground at Pocopson Park.
They recommended that initial idea be scaled back (in terms of size and
price)
- Zeke suggested making concrete plans to use the $25,000
initially set aside for the project (and perhaps up to another $25,000 if
available); consider using the community-built model, but the main point
is to get a good basic set constructed that could be expanded later if
demand and financing are there
- Because residents have requested a visible location (isolated
area seems less safe) and proximity to ball fields so that playground can
be used while siblings are playing soccer, softball, etc.; the flat area
between the baseball and soccer fields may be good location
- Committee members should check out that area of the park in
the next month and determine if they think it’s a good location; size of
playground can be determined from there
5) Township Meetings Reviews
- Task Force presentation was well received
- BOS reviewed preliminary maps for prison property to see if
connection to Red Bridge Trail is feasible; this Committee will look this
map at the July meeting if map is available
- Township has purchased a skid loader to work on trails
- May want to sponsor a community-wide hike, especially since
there hasn’t been a community event since the Park – maybe a dry
Oktoberfest? Pocopson Day? Picnic in the park? Founders’ Day?
- Walking tour in the Fall– if in Spring, historic house tours
could be part of the event
- Gazebos might be a nice addition – members should look for
good sites when walking park to look at proposed playground location
- Event could include some of the same things as last time (moon
bounce, pony rides, food, music, etc.) – but planning time may be
insufficient for Fall 2006
- So plan on an annual event, likely in early October, with the
first one schedule for 2007
Subcommittee Reports
Trails -- none
History --none
Open Space Referendum Task Force: addressed
under #3 above
New Business: Planning Commission and
Historic Committee do not meet in August. Motion made that this Committee
follow suit and cancel the planned meeting for August 8, 2006. Passed with
all in agreement.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:15
PM.
_______________________________________
Sandy Retzlaff, Chair, Open Space Referendum Task
Force
______________________________
Peggy
Lennon, Recording Secretary
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