Pocopson Township Planning Commission Meeting

7:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Members Present: Gary Summers, Suzy Breiseth, Meg Johnson, Steve Simonson, Rob Miller, and Sean Rafferty. Member Absent: Rob Costello. Guests Present: James W. Hatfield, P.E., Township Engineer; Barry Stingel, RLA, Vice President of Hillcrest Associates, and Jack Becker, Applicant.

1. Call to Order: Summers called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

2. Public Comment: none.

3. Becker Subdivision/East Side Pocopson Road/Parcels 63-4-148 and 63-4-148.1: Stingel, Becker, and Hatfield reviewed project particulars presented on the Sketch Plan – Revised Final Plan prepared by Hillcrest Associates, Inc., dated October 13, 2010. Planning Commission (PC) members reviewed correspondence from Stingel dated October 13, 2010 and Hatfield comment and review letter dated October 18, 2010. Applicant proposes reconfiguration of the Final Land Development Plan dated April 30, 2009 and last revised March 11, 2010. Becker explained that the reconfiguration will not limit additional parking area to compact cars. In addition, the Sketch Plan depicts adjustments to the total square footage of office space with a reduction to required number of parking spaces due to the adjustment. Hatfield’s comment and review letter provides a comparison chart of the Floor Area Ration (FAR) for revised calculation in accordance with the C-1 Zoning Requirements. Project retains original six residential dwelling units – 3 existing and 3 proposed. Rafferty noted that the Plan should include detail regarding restricting parking in front of the residential garages limited to occupants of the residences only.

Discussion ensued regarding the August 24, 2010 PennDOT review letter regarding deficiencies that must be addressed regarding the Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) in order for the PennDOT review to move forward. Hatfield noted that going forward the Applicant should be prepared to address with the Township how these deficiencies should be addressed with PennDOT in consideration of any affect they may have on the proposed Site Plan. PC noted the Sketch Plan depicts two driveway entrances and a left-turn lane for both requiring a widening of Pocopson Road. Becker noted that most issues described in the August 24^th PennDOT letter were resolved during a recent on-site meeting with a PennDOT Representative.

Summers and PC members asked the Applicant to address issues with the landscape plan as a result of the reconfiguration and parking lot redesign. Applicant will provide a new set of landscape plans with the changes.

Summers noted that the PC agrees generally with the elements of the Sketch Plan as discussed tonight and recognize that the project remains a work in progress. For this reason, the Applicant should resubmit the Plan to the PC after incorporating the technical changes. The Plan should also be resubmitted to the Township Engineer for comment and recommendations. The PC thanked the Applicant for his continued due diligence regarding the project.

4. Comprehensive Plan Update: Breiseth and Simonson reviewed the Implementation and Recommendation Tables from the 2001 Comprehensive Report. PC tabled discussion to a special work session in January 2011 for the sole purpose of reviewing the Plan Update.

5. Ordinances Update: Hatfield noted a lack of clarity in certain provisions of the Township Code. He will provide the PC with a running list of recommendations for a Code Update. Secretary will contact New Castle County, Delaware, for the text of landscape plan provisions. Summers contacted Lancaster County Planning Commission regarding clarification on zoning provisions for family cemetery plots. Secretary will re-circulate fence/wall draft ordinance revisions as well as forward to the County Planning Commission for review.

6. Correspondence and Announcement: Summers reported that the Township received written notification from Conditional Use Hearing Applicant Mark Bergkvist to withdraw the hearing request; therefore, the hearing has been cancelled. PC discussed the administrative process and agreed that due to a number of circumstances, the Applicant should be refunded the conditional use fee. Secretary discussed expenses incurred by the Township in conjunction with the hearing particularly legal advertising fees and hearing set-up costs.

Motion: Breiseth moved, Summers seconded, to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that the Township reimburse Conditional Use Hearing Applicant Mark Bergkvist the full conditional use fee; Johnson abstained; motion carried.

7. Other Business: Rafferty and Breiseth indicated they will not be available for the November 17^th meeting.

8. Approval of September 15, 2010 Minutes: Breiseth moved, Rafferty seconded to approve the September 15, 2010 Minutes as corrected; motion unanimously approved.

9. Adjournment: Summers moved to adjourn at 9:20 p.m.; motion unanimously approved. The next regular scheduled Planning Commission meeting is Wednesday, November 17, 2010.

___________________________ ___________________________________

Susan Simone, Secretary Gary Summers, Chair