Pocopson Township Planning Commission Meeting

7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 19, 2008

 

Call to Order:  The regular meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order at 7:35 p.m., at the Pocopson Township Building.

 

Members Present:  Summers, Chair; Johnson, McNemar, Miller.

 

Announcements:  McNemar reported on four topics of interest recently discussed at a meeting of the Chester County Association of Township Officials as follows:

1.                            Elevating the legal status of township comprehensive plans by providing language that gives the plan “teeth”;

2.                            The County is in their 10-year review process for updating the County comprehensive plan and will be looking for Township input submitted electronically;

3.                            A Chester County Greenhouse Gas Task Force headed by Steve Fromnick will develop initiatives for greenhouse gas management;

4.                            The National Association of Home Builders Green Building Standards will become part of the building code. McNemar suggested these standards be considered for adoption on the Township code level.

 

Burnett Subdivision:  Christopher Della Penna, P.E., Jim Burnett and Pat Burnett were present to discuss particulars of the letter from John Fenn of VanDemark & Lynch dated March 12, 2008 for the Burnett Minor Subdivision. Fenn’s comments are part of a previous review of the Plans in a letter dated December 14, 2007. The Planning Commission addressed the following particulars from the March 12, 2008 review letter:

 

#31. ­Section 250-17B(7). Mr. Burnett and Della Penna argued that a fracture trace analysis need not be performed because of the availability of eleven (11) acres of open space for installation of replacement septic facilities. Johnson and McNemar acknowledged that the Ordinance allows the Township Engineer discretion in requesting the analysis. Summers agreed the request is subjective on the part of the Township Engineer. He noted that the requirement per the Ordinance is critical for larger subdivisions.

 

Discussion then ensued regarding granting a waiver for the fracture trace analysis and the importance of requiring the deeds for the lots to include language allowing use of the open space to replace septic and stormwater management facilities.

 

#20. Section 190-30.B(2). Johnson recalled PC previously reviewing and recommending approval for waiving the 1.5" thickness of the wearing course for the shared driveway beyond the first 50'.

 

Motion:  McNemar moved to recommend the Board of Supervisors grant final approval to the Final Minor Subdivision Plan Application dated June 18, 2007, last revised January 17, 2008 on the Burnett Minor Subdivision Plan conditioned upon meeting the requirements of the letter submitted by John Fenn dated March 12, 2008 with exception of the following items:  (a) the Planning Commission recommends the Board of Supervisors grant a waiver of item #20 allowing the cross section of shared driveway construction as shown on the plan to be adequate; (b) the Planning Commission recommends the Board of Supervisors grant a waiver from the fracture trace analysis requirement (item #31) provided that the deeds for lots 1, 2, and 3 include easements for the installation of replacement septic or sewage facilities and stormwater management infiltration systems to each of the owners of lots 1, 2, and 3. Johnson seconded; unanimously carried.

 

The motion will be presented to the Board of Supervisors during their regular meeting on March 24, 2008.

 

Bell Subdivision: Summers reviewed the notes from the recent Bell site walk noting that what was presented by Regester as woodland is actually transitional meadow. A summary of the site walk was sent to John Fenn, P.E. Summers also acknowledged receipt of the Chester County Planning Commission review notice. The County recommendations coincide with those of the Planning Commission. The PC noted that the first review of Bell was February 20, 2008.

 

Ordinances:  McNemar reported that the Sewer Ordinance has been advertised noting that it will amend Chapter 170 of the Township Code. This Ordinance will go before the Board during their regular meeting on March 24, 2008. Discussion then ensued as to the ownership of the sewage treatment facility for Riverside.

 

Following discussion and citing specific recent issues with the Dwyer property, the Planning Commission agreed to the following motion:

 

Motion: Summers moved to recommend the Board of Supervisors grant a waiver of the 20' septic setback from the property line per the Subdivision and Land Ordinance Section 190-36(B) for the Nick Dwyer property. Alternatively, the Planning Commission recommends the Board of Supervisors consider allowing this change to be approved at the administrative level through issuance of the building permit for this property. McNemar seconded; unanimously carried.

 

McNemar briefly reported on the following items from the “Running List of Potential Ordinance Changes or Planning Process Clarification Issues” for ongoing discussion and/or completion:

     

  1. SALDO 190-23 – resource and site analysis plan. Concern was the required minimum 250' distance from property line for assessment of the resources, and if we had the discretion to require an analysis on only part of, or a shorter distance of an adjacent parcel if we were concerned about only one natural resource item.
  2. Ordinance reviews re: promoting renewable or alternative energy projects. No prohibition in current Township ordinances for building green.
  3. Recycling/leaf pick up: working with Harwood in reviewing surrounding township ordinances. State standards must be met regarding leaf composting in order to qualify township leaf pick up program for state grants. Current leaf composting process does not qualify for grants. The Township does not have a mandate for citizens to participate in recycling. Efforts will continue to explore grant applications for various recycling initiatives, including recycling containers for the park and the trail system. Township Secretary recently circulated an offer from County Recycling Coordinator for a grant for recycle containers. Container maintenance will have to be coordinated through the public works department.
  4. Pocopson-Lenape Study Area 537: comprehensive plan to be updated and submitted to PADEP for review.


Minutes of February 20, 2008:  Summers moved to approve the Minutes of February 20, 2008 as submitted; Johnson seconded. Motion carried.

 

Adjournment:  Summers moved to adjourn at 9:20 p.m.; McNemar seconded.

 

 

_________________________                                              __________________________
Susan Simone, PC Secretary                                                    Gary Summers, Chair