7:30 p.m., June 16, 2004
Members present: Bill Waddington, Steve Conary, Judy Cousins, Suzie Breseith and Meg Johnson. Absent Sarah Mims and Sean Rafferty
Supervisors Present: Bill Sellers
Call To Order: Chairman Waddington called the meeting to order at 7:40 P.M..
Minutes: The minutes from the May 19, 2004 meeting were tabled until the July 21, 2004 meeting because there was not a quorum of members attending that meeting present.
Announcements: None
Zoning Hearing Board: Curtis McCray Property
Mr. McCray owns a house on Corinne Road that has deteriorated front steps. He requested approval to build a deck that would protrude into the front yard, 27 feet from the ROW line. Sarah Mims said that the Historic Committee would like to see this area maintained as a village streetscape. The Planning Commission recommends approval of a front yard variance for a covered porch that is in keeping with the traditional neighborhood feel and is in keeping with the Corinne Road streetscape rather than a front deck.
Pocopson Community Trails Grant Proposal
Bill Sellers introduced Sheila Fleming and gave a brief introduction about the proposal. Pocopson Township will apply to both the State of Pennsylvania and the County of Chester for grants to create and complete several trails in the township. We would construct bike trails with State grants and would complete and create several new trails throughout the park and several neighborhoods including the Chester County Prison property with a County grant. Bill also reported that the township had received money from the developer to complete the trails for the Windy Hill development.
Sheila Fleming (Senior Planner at Brandywine Conservancy) spoke about the Pocopson Community Trails Grant Proposal.
Sheila outlined the proposal, which consists of six main components.
1. Bikeway Trail - paved - Rt 52 from Haines Mill Rd to Denton Hollow Rd (approx. 3 miles)
2. Bikeway Trail - paved - Rt 52 to trailhead at Pocopson Park
3. Prison property trail - stone/dust - loop around Chester County Prison property
4. Pocopson Home trail - stone/dust - loop from Prison trail around Pocopson Home property
5. Larkin Bailey Rd Trail - stone/dust - loop including Larkin Bailey Rd to Corrine Rd to Locust Grove Rd to Rt 52
6. Trails internal to Pocopson Park and other neighborhoods - stone/dust - connect Windy Hill development to Corrine Rd and Red Bridge development and complete some trails in the park
Sheila outlined the costs for each component and requested that the Planning Commission write a letter supporting the proposed trails for submission with the application for each grant. Steve Conary said he would work on the wording of the letter then email it to Bill Waddington for final approval since the application deadline is June 25, 2004. If all the grants are approved, the township must contribute $50,000 to cover our part of the construction costs.
West Chester Regional Planning Commission – Suzie Breseith
Most of the meeting was wrapping up the April public hearing on the traffic study. The budget was also discussed and as of May 2004, there was a balance of $32,000. Meg Johnson will attend the June meeting.
Kennett Area Regional Planning Commission – Bruce Yelton
The KARPC has finished the revisions to the traffic study and is applying for funding for three intersection improvements and synchronization of lights through Kennett Square Borough. The final figures are $850,000 for the project and $150,000 as the Borough’s share. A discussion of scenic byways and a complaint from Vince (West Chester representative) who did not agree with the proposed route - north on Rt 52 to road in front of Chester County Art Association then west on Rt 162 (at Daily Local News building) into Marshallton to connect with existing scenic byway. In addition, the Delaware County Regional Planning Commission had problems with the scenic byway going south on Rt 52 to connect with existing trail on Rt 52 in Delaware. The KARPC approved a recommendation that regional townships levy a 0.25 mil tax for fire and ambulance service. Kennett Township is pushing for a deer management forum in early September - more information to follow.
Open Space Committee Report
No one was present to give a report.
Bruce Yelton – Minor Subdivision
Bruce Yelton filed an application on June 8, 2004 and requested the Planning Commission recommend approval to the Board of Supervisors by the July Planning Commission meeting. John Fenn, Township Engineer, had reviewed the April 12, 2004 plan for this subdivision and recommended the application not be accepted as it was missing required documentation as outlined in John's June 16, 2004 memo. Bruce Yelton feels this change to his original subdivision is grandfathered because of specific wording in the original subdivision approval. He feels that since he is only moving lot lines and not changing density that the new plan should be granted under the rules governing the original subdivision. Bill Waddington suggested that John Fenn probably did not have this information when he reviewed the application and Bruce should forward him a copy of the original agreement. Bruce stated he would also review the new ordinances to see how they would impact his proposal. Bill Waddington feels that this change to the lot lines would fall under a re-subdivision and that the Planning Commission would also need to see the original copy of the previous subdivision and the legal agreement for changing lot lines without submitting a plan that complies with the current ordinances. Bruce stated that he would contact John Fenn to discuss his concerns and the Planning Commission agreed with this action. The Planning Commission agreed that the application, as presented, is incomplete and therefore is not accepted.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Meg Johnson
Member