Pocopson Township
Chester County, Pennsylvania
 

Board of Supervisors Meeting
Minutes from Meeting of Monday, October 22, 2007, 7:30 p.m.

Public Hearing:

Sellers opened the public hearing at 7:52. p.m.  Supervisors Brutscher and Hubbard were present  Steve Conary, Bill Waddington, Laurissa McNemar, PC Members, were also present.    The hearing was advertised in ‘The Daily Local News.’

Mark Haggerty, court reporter, was present to record the public hearing for the township to purchase a conservation easement at a cost of $6,000 per acre over certain lands in the township located along Corinne Road containing approximately 19 acres of land more or less owned by Samuel A. and Judith F. Cousins and known as Chester County UPI Nos. 63-3-80.1 and 63-3-81.1.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Sellers called the regular meeting to order at 7:38 p.m.

Announcements: 
Brutscher reported she had attended the October 16^th KARPC meeting.  The commission has agreed to move forward with a regional police study.  The commission has also been working on dangerous intersections in the region and looking at various funding sources.  Commission officers will be appointed at the November meeting.  The commission does not meeting in December.

Roundabout/Route 52 Bridge: 
Sellers reported on Oct 10^th Hubbard, Conary, and himself had attended a site scooping view meeting for the proposed Route 52 Roundabout on location.  PennDOT representatives and various other consultants were also present.  Sellers said the township hopes to complete necessary studies by year end, and the project is slated to begin June 2008 along with the construction of a new bridge over the Pocopson Creek at Route 52.  No decisions were made at this meeting.  The scope of this project includes relocation of the Pocopson home entrance.  An archeological study will have to be completed due to the age of the Pocopson Nursing Home.  Brutscher expressed an opinion that the County should be contributing funds to the Gannett Fleming proposal for environmental studies at the nursing home.

Motion: Brutscher moved, Hubbard seconded to accept the proposal from Gannett Fleming dated October 22,2007 to conduct environmental studies at a cost not to exceed $14,183.12. Motion carried.

Motion:  Sellers moved, Hubbard seconded to hire the Cassio Civil and Structure Engineers dated July 31, 2007 for the bridge design services at a cost not to exceed $36,000. Motion carried.

 PR&T Committee:

Hubbard requested the Board to approve the recommendation letter from the PR&T Committee for the Burnett minor subdivision to relocate the trail easement north to the Brutscher and Baily Farms.  The Board discussed the recommendation and Sellers expressed his opinion that the trail did not go anywhere.

The Board agreed a $2,500 contribution will be made to the PR&T Committee in lieu of trails on the Burnett property since the proposed trails do not link to any other trails in Pocopson.

 Stephen & Heather Erb - Lot Line Change:

Heather Erb, applicant, and Jim Fritsch, Regester Associates, were present to discuss their plan for a lot line change.  Fritsch summarized the minor subdivision for the Board.

It was noted there is no proposed construction with the lot line change.  Lot 1A has been deed restricted against any further subdivision.  Fritsch said no topographic survey was completed on this property.  Fritsch reviewed his letter dated September 19, 2007 requesting 7 waivers from the SDLD ordinance.  Fritsch agreed iron pins would be set on the boundaries and concrete monuments will be placed at two interior points on lot 1A. 

Motion: Sellers moved, Hubbard seconded to grant the following waivers requested in Regester Associates’ letter dated September 19, 2007:
Section 190-22 C         Requiring a final improvement construction plan.
Section 190-23            Requiring an existing resources and site analysis plan.
Section 190-24            Requiring a conservation plan.
Section 190-25.F         Requiring certificates of approval to the quality and adequacy of
                                    the water supply prior to final plan approval. 
Section 190-25.G         Requiring septic permits prior to final plan approval.
Section 190-35            Requiring landscape design.
Section 190-40            Requiring concrete monuments to be place at all perimeter corners.
Motion carried.

Motion: Hubbard moved, Brutscher seconded to grant final plan approval of the Stephen & Heather Erb - final minor subdivision plan, drawn by Regester Associates, Inc., plan dated 8/6/07, last revised 10/18/07.

Motion carried. Heather Erb said the final plan will be dropped off at the township for signing in the next few days.

 Brenda White Farm - BHO/Investors:  Tom Pancoast and Jim Fritsch was present.

Pancoast said the legal agreements have been sent to Ross Unruh, and the escrow amount estimate was sent to John Fenn.

Fritsch requested the Board to grant final subdivision plan approval with the associated waiver requests.

Sellers said he had talked with Ross Unruh, and requested the conservation easement be separated from the declarations.  The easement will be granted to Pocopson Township.

Motion:  Sellers moved, Brutscher seconded to grant BHO Investors, L.P., Brenda White Farm the waiver requests as set forth in the letter from Jim Fritsch dated July 23, 2007 excluding the waiver for Section 190-24.B (11). Motion carried.

Motion: Brutscher moved,  Hubbard seconded to approve the final subdivision plan of B.H.O Investors, L.P., Brenda White Farm drawn by Regester Associates, Inc., dated 6/18/07, last revised 10/18/07 with the condition that all legal matters and items on John Fenn’s review dated October 17, 2007 be addressed to the satisfaction of the Board. Motion carried.
 

Benzel Family Trust :   Charlie, Judy, and Ann Benzel, Jim & Deri Gawthrop, applicants; and Jim Fritsch, Regester Associates, were present.  Bob Adams the applicants’ attorney was also present.
Jim Fritsch presented the four lot subdivision to the Board. Waddington, PC member, stated this 4 lot subdivision is very similar to the White property in that it doesn’t easily fit into any of the township’s ordinances.  The PC is recommending this property be subdivided as a cluster one. The PC walked the site last Saturday to discuss lot layouts and driveway locations.  There is no proposed access from Route 842.  A conservation easement already exists on the property.

Sellers said one of the reasons for the zoning ordinance was to preserve agricultural land and 10 acre lots do not promote agricultural land preservation.

 The Board discussed lot 3 and 4 and asked the applicant to come up with a more creative plan.  McNemar, PC member, said her impression was that there are sites for three additional lots that would not significantly impact the view shed.

Brutscher requested Fritsch to do a net out on the proposed lots. Sellers said the applicants should consider donating the eased area that includes woodlands and wetlands to the BVA and creating three smaller lots.  The Board discussed additional pull-off areas for the increasing traffic volume on Bragg Hill Road.

Sellers said the Board has to find a way to deal with the increased traffic on Bragg Hill Road.

Fritsch said the applicant would need a conditional use for the restricted open space to be included with the lots, and the road frontage of the proposed lots does not meet the ordinance requirements.  Mr. Adams stated the Benzel family was under the impression this application would be treated with the same protocol as the Brenda White Farm. 

The applicants said they would review the Board’s suggestions.

Other Business:
Jim Mareno, 645 Locust Grove Road, resident has a storm water run-off issue.  Mr. Mareno said his property is located at the bottom of the hill on Locust Grove Road, and during heavy rainstorms he is experiencing heavy rock dust and gravel debris coming down the road on to his property.  He asked the township if they could assist with this problem.  The Board discussed the problem, and Sellers said the township should have Harwood look at the crown of the road and what could be done to control the run off.  Mr. Mareno said he is available on Monday and Thursday if the Road Master would like to contact him about a meeting.   610-793-1380 610836-1605.  

The Board discussed and agreed to set up a meeting with Pat Rota, a potential daycare provider, and Tom Kessler, Toll Brothers, to discuss a proposed daycare for the Riverside site. 

PC Recommendations - Ordinance Amendments:  PC members in attendance discussed with the Board their recommendations on amendments to ordinances.

Treasurer’s Warrants:  The warrants were approved and signed as accepted.

Personnel:  The Board discussed and agreed that when Public Works employees are working the 10 hour day schedule, a vacation day will be charged at 10 hours.  During the winter when Public Works employees are working the 8 hour day schedule, a vacation day will be charged at 8 hours.

Schoolhouse – Window Replacement: 
Motion:  Hubbard moved, Brutscher seconded to accept the proposal submitted by M.R. Cockerham painting contractors to repair and paint the six windows in the schoolhouse at a price of $2,100 plus paint.

Motion carried.

Minutes of October 10, 2007: At the meeting of May 14, 2007, an ordinance was adopted. 

Minutes of September 14, 2007: 
Motion:  Brutscher moved, Hubbard seconded to accept the minutes of September 14, 2007 as amended.  Motion carried.

Resolution #12:
Motion:  Sellers moved, Hubbard seconded to accept the sewage facilities planning module for the Deanna Kretzschmar property located at 1880 Lenape-Unionville Road, West Chester, Pennsylvania.  Motion carried.

Other Business:  The Board discussed and agreed to set up a meeting with Pat Rota, a potential daycare provider, and Tom Kessler, Toll Brothers, to discuss a proposed daycare for the Riverside site. 

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.

 _______________________                                                  _______________________

Margaret S. Lennon, Acting Secretary                                       H. William Sellers, Chair