Pocopson Township
Chester County, Pennsylvania
 

7:30 p.m., Monday, December 10, 2007

Supervisor Sellers opened the meeting at 8:50 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Supervisors Brutscher and Hubbard were in attendance.

Announcements: Hubbard announced that the 2008 budget has been advertised as being available for inspection since December 5, 2007.  The meeting to adopt the budget will be advertised for Thursday, December 27, 2007, at 8:45 a.m.

A public information meeting on the roundabout project will be held at 7:30 tonight.

Wastewater treatment plant at Riverside: Sellers met with Aqua regarding operation of wastewater treatment plan. NPDES permit for stormwater would go to the Homeowners’ Association at Riverside. Sellers will talk to Castle Valley about pros/cons of this. Estimate is $800/year from Castle Valley, including capital reserve. Hubbard spoke with Artesian and they will submit a proposal. Agreement would leave us with the PECO bill for operation of system and Artesian would bill back to homeowners. Billing process would be handled by contractor.

Serum subdivision, 899 Denton Hollow Road: 3 plans have been received. Stormwater management plan to be revised with locations for recharge facilities perked by 3/15/08. Will need to review escrow account to ensure adequate funds for Township Engineer’s review of new stormwater management plan; everything else has already been approved.. Motion: Sellers moved to issue building permit on 12/11/07 subject to this condition on stormwater management; Brutscher seconded. Approved by all in attendance.

Ordinance Hearing

Motion: At 9 a.m., Hubbard moved to close the public meeting and open the hearing on amendments to zoning and subdivision and a new ordinance on Stormwater management; Brutscher seconded. Approved by all in attendance. Acting Secretary showed proof of advertisement of ordinance hearing.

1) Stormwater Ordinance: Required by EPA, DEP and Chester County Conservation District, this is a long-term stormwater management plan. Sellers outlined significant features, including ability to recharge or re-use stormwater runoff from two-year storm; clarifies operation and maintenance responsibilities because not all basins have been well-maintained and recharge facilities are even more precarious; spells out what’s approvable in this Township (not the same as the County’s or DEP’s models); requires more structural facilities rather than just natural management; purpose is to keep us safe and secure from flooding and ensure adequate groundwater for drinking water. This is part of MS-4 and includes provisions for pollution control in some areas, monitoring storm drains, requirement that commercial facilities have oil separators and other measure to manage stronger runoff from parking lots. The ordinance will bring the Township into compliance with State requirements. Motion: Brutscher moved to pass Ordinance #7 to add the new stormwater management provisions to the Township code; Hubbard seconded; approved by all in attendance.

 2) Ordinance amending certain sections of Chapter 190 of Code: Sellers explained that these revisions ensure that subdivision requirements match the Ordinance #7 (just passed).

Motion: Brutscher moved to pass Ordinance #8 amending certain sections of Ch 190 of Code; Hubbard seconded; approved by all in attendance.

 3) Ordinance clarifying definitions of yard, side yard, lot line, etc.: Sellers explained that the new ordinance specifies where buildings can be put within these locations; amends conventional development options that did not specify minimum side yard setbacks; revises general cluster ordinance to require that restricted open space made part of a lot shall be a minimum of 20 acres; ensures that lots proposed for accessory dwelling units must meet minimum lot size requirements and that properties shall not be eligible for accessory dwellings if they do not meet this standard; detached accessory apartment requires minimum lot size of at least 3 net acres, which had been implied but not specified; specifies setbacks for storage/utility structures and privacy fences and standards for materials and door openings; specifies pool and tennis court setbacks at a minimum of 50 ft -- although if underlying zoning district is more restrictive, then those requirements will apply.

Motion: Sellers moved to pass Ordinance #9 as outlined above; Hubbard seconded; approved by all in attendance.

 Sellers noted that the Chester County Planning Commission had recommended approval of the previous three ordinances.

 4) Ordinance regarding activities which constitute land disturbance within woodland or hedgerow. Sellers explained that this ordinance makes an exception for agricultural uses by permitting removal of a hedgerow or woodland in a designated agricultural district to increase field size or make farming operations more efficient. Owner has to commit to certain standards; if property is proposed for development of more than 1 house per 20 acres within 7 years, owner has to replant to recreate original woodland or hedgerow.

Motion: Sellers moved to pass Ordinance #10 as outlined above; Brutscher seconded; approved by all in attendance.

 Motion: Brutscher moved to close the ordinance hearing at 9:25 a.m. and reopen the public meeting; Hubbard seconded; approved by all in attendance.

 Public meeting was reopened at 9:25 a.m.

 Brandolini / Corinne Village – Conditional Final Approval

Frone Crawford was in attendance to discuss the latest requirements of the Township Engineer. A survey will be done of the north boundary of Corinne Road to ensure that grading does not go across onto private property. Easement areas that were taken off the record plan at the request of the Township Engineer will now be added back but without metes and bounds. To ensure that potential buyers are aware of easements, will record the three or so pages of easements and note on the cover page that easement details are outlined on those other sheets.

 Crawford said that other comments by the Township Engineer were being addressed. Discussion included the fact that individual mailboxes were previously approved by the Board in 2006; several non-municipal permits need to be obtained; documentation regarding the Homeowners’ Association (HOA) was submitted to the Township Solicitor in September, 2007 and to the Township Engineer in November, 2007, and is under review. Sellers noted that the HOA documents have to address responsibilities for stormwater management. Crawford confirmed that they do. Other conditions include $150,000 payment in lieu of intersection work at 52 and Locust Grove.

A question about alignment to south on Corinne Road has been taken care of; the right of way for Corinne Rd will move 10 feet closer to the Schoolhouse and Locust Grove will move farther away, so the Schoolhouse will gain parking area.

Brutscher asked that Crawford forward to the Township a detailed list of conditions rather than the handwritten list provided.

Motion: Brutscher moved to grant conditional final approval for Corinne Village after reviewing with the Solicitor the conditions specified in Crawford’s letter; Hubbard seconded; approved by all in attendance.

Resolution #14: Authorizing regional study of police services at no cost to Township. A study was done ten years ago and residents have been asking about current needs. Copy of resolution will be forwarded to New Garden, who is spearheading this effort.

Motion: Brutscher moved to approve Resolution #14, Hubbard seconded; approved by all in attendance.

 Resolution #15: Authorizing signature of conservation easement by any one Board Member. Resolution #11 of 2007 initially approved this easement.

Motion: Sellers moved to approve Resolution #15, Hubbard seconded; approved by all in attendance.

 Escrow Release #5 for Toll – Revised

Township will release $395,959 and will retain $124,800 from the original escrow release request until the trail is correctly located.

 Roads: No report

 Public Comment: None.

 Other Business:

Roundabout and 52 Bridge projects: Hubbard commented that the Board should consider employing a project manager to ensure that these projects progress in a timely fashion and according to budget; and that our local legislators are kept in the loop.

 Motion: Hubbard moved that the Board consider employing a project manager for these projects; Brutscher seconded; approved by all in attendance.

 Painting of office: Board agreed that the paint in the office should be touched up by Public Works seasonal staff and that the back wall should be repainted to match the rest of the room. No need for complete repainting at this time.

 Committee Appointments:

 Parks, Recreation & Trails (PRT) Committee: Lawrie Bolger, who has been heading up a litter initiative, would like to join the PRT Committee.

Motion: Brutscher moved that Lawrie Bolger be appointed to the Parks, Recreation & Trails Committee; Sellers seconded; approved by all in attendance.

Open Space Advisory Committee: Paul Haldeman is interested and has negotiated easements for Pennsbury Land Trust. Sandy Retzlaff, who headed up the Open Space Referendum Task Force, is also interested and well qualified. Steve Conary will be leaving that Committee when he becomes Supervisor in 2008. Could appoint two people and bring membership count to ten, vs. the current nine.

Motion: Sellers moved that Paul Haldeman and Sandy Retzlaff be appointed to the Open Space Advisory Committee; Hubbard seconded; approved by all in attendance.

Planning Commission: Will need 2 new members to replace Steve Conary and Bill Waddington. Board would like to see a representative from Waterglen, Courts at Longwood, Red Bridge, or Beversrede.

Other: Sellers announced that he has nominated the Township for a sustainability award for our long term development and support of environmental programs.

 Treasurers’ Warrants: Approved

Approval of Minutes from Meeting of November 19, 2007: Sellers moved, Hubbard seconded, to approve the minutes as submitted.

 Approval of Minutes from Meeting of November 26, 2007: Sellers moved, Hubbard seconded, to approve the minutes as submitted.

Chester County Minor Subdivision Motion: Sellers moved, Hubbard seconded, to give final approval to the Chester County Minor Subdivision, authorizing the documents to be signed outside of a public meeting. Brutscher had left the meeting and so did not vote.

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

 _________________________________                  _____________________________

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