Pocopson Township Planning Commission Meeting

7:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 18, 2008

 

Call to Order:  The regular meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order at 7:30 p.m., at the Pocopson Township Building.

 

Members Present:  Summers, Chair; Breiseth, Johnson, R. Miller

 

Members Absent: McNemar, Rafferty, Costello.

 

Announcements: None.

 

BVA Sketch Plan: Jim Fritsch, P.E., Regester Associates, Inc., and Jim Jordan and Duncan Allison from the Brandywine Valley Association (BVA) were present to discuss a sketch plan for the construction of a 40' X 80' storage building for equipment used by BVA for routine property maintenance. Fritsch presented a composite plan showing the location of the building and the property which is comprised of four (4) tax parcels. Building proposed for parcel 63-3-8.  Jordan provided a brief background of the history of the BVA and its current education and advocacy programs.

 

Fritsch reviewed the architectural rendering noting the overhang and the concrete apron. Parking will tie into the existing stone parking and drive area and grass pavers will be utilized for the driveway. Subsurface drywell with seepage tanks proposed as best management practice for stormwater management. Chester County has given preliminary approval for sewage tie into the existing septic system. Breiseth asked for location of storage building in relation to administrative offices. Fritsch explained it is well buffered behind the office and to the right minimizing the flat area behind the office in order to preserve the field.

 

Applicant seeks two (2) waivers: 190-12 Requiring a Preliminary Plan Submission and 190-14 Requiring a Final Plan Submission. The reason for the request is that Fritsch believes that due to the small scope of the construction project it can be reviewed as a building permit plan. Summers asked why it would not be looked at in that fashion anyway. Fritsch explained that the building is part of a commercial nonprofit.

 

Motion: Summers moved that the Planning Commission supports the request of Brandywine Valley Association for the construction of a 40' X 80' equipment storage building and suggests the matter go before the Board of Supervisors; further, the Planning Commission recommends that the Board of Supervisors grant waivers to Sections 190-12 and 190-14 of the Pocopson Township Code. Breiseth seconded, unanimously approved. Fritsch requested to be included on the Board of Supervisors Agenda for the Meeting of June 23, 2008.

 

Benzel Family Trust Subdivision: Jim Fritsch, P.E., Regester Associates on behalf of the Benzel Family Trust Subdivision discussed the Township Engineer Review Letter dated February 20, 2008 and the follow-up response notes dated June 5, 2008. Additional parties in attendance included members of the Benzel Family Trust and Jim and Derie Gawthrop.  Fritsch reported that the Applicant attended the Pocopson Township Park, Trail, and Recreation Committee meeting on March 11, 2008 and that conditional use approval was granted on April 28, 2008 following a hearing on March 31, 2008. Fritsch noted that no other planning issues remain other than outside agency letters and legal documents that currently represent works in progress.

 

Fritsch noted the purpose this evening is to respond to Township Engineer Review Letter dated June 5, 2008 as follows:

 

ITEM # per Fenn Letter 6/5/2008

Discussion/Comments/Decision

#1,2,3

Sections 250-23.B(1)(d), 250-23.D(3), 250-24.A(6), 250-24.A(4), 250-24.D(4) – items have been addressed to satisfaction of Township Engineer.

#4

Fritsch read plan note #37 from plan dated 10/16/2007 and last revised 5/19/2008. PC members believe that the text of the note adequately references the Brandywine Conservancy Easement.

#5

Applicant believes criteria met for 250-98.A.(2) and SLDO Section 190-43 based on size and number of lots; PC agrees; decision is up to the Board of Supervisors (BOS).

#6,7,9

Bob Adams, Counsel for Applicant, is working on the Final Open Space Management Plan and Easements.

#8

Applicant is waiting for response review from Longwood Fire Company.

#10,11,12

Applicant clarified the waiver request as 190-23-E(2)(a) to reflect a general request for the contour waivers. BOS must decide on waiver of 290-23.E(1)a regarding 2-foot contours.

#13

Applicant responds that no project benchmark because data is GIS information. PC agrees with Township Engineer review and requests concrete monument be set.

#14

Applicant added plan notes 34 and 35 based on meeting with the Township Trail Committee to reference proposed trail and 10' wide bike trail easement.

#15

Applicant awaits final letters of certification from DCNR in order to clarify septic and water supply system issues.

#16 and #17

PC heard Applicant’s concerns regarding the effect of meeting the right-of-way requirement of 25 feet from the centerline of Bragg Hill Road. PC agreed that waiver of Sections 190-25.H and 190-27.B should be decided by the BOS.

#18

Bob Adams is finalizing the Declaration of Covenants and Easements.

#19

Applicant notes that the first portion of #19 is a request for a waiver depicting proposed driveway locations on the plan; the second portion goes back to #15 above. Applicant anticipates letter from the PA Fish and Boat Commission regarding feasibility of location of improvements on Lot 3 in order to avoid further revisions to the plan.

 

Fritsch noted that the remainder of the Fenn Review Letter summarizes waivers as previously discussed.

 

 

Motion: Summers moved that the Planning Commission recommends final minor subdivision approval of the Benzel Family Trust Subdivision with the associated waivers and that the Planning Commission supports a recommendation that no additional road improvements be required for Bragg Hill Road as previously approved during the regular meeting of the Planning Commission on January 16, 2008.  Breiseth seconded, unanimously approved. Fritsch requested to be included on the Board of Supervisors Agenda for the Meeting of June 23, 2008.

 

Draft Ordinances – Review and Comment: Summers, on behalf of McNemar, asked for comments from PC members regarding the Waste Management and Burning Ordinances. Breiseth commented that burning within twenty (20') feet from a building seems too close. Following discussion, the PC asked the Secretary to submit a copy of the Burn Ordinance to Chief Joe Watson at Longwood Fire Department for comment. PC Members will continue to review the draft ordinances and plan to exchange comments during the July meeting. Breiseth will have a second draft of Keeping of Animals Ordinance. The second draft will include agricultural performance based language to reflect the keeping of small and large animals.

 

Home Occupation Registration: Rafferty was not in attendance to discuss.

 

Comprehensive Plan Update: Miller contacted Carol Stauffer at the Chester County Vision Partnership Program. Generally, the Partnership Program thinks of updates in terms of regional areas. Pocopson Township is part of the Kennett Area Regional Planning Commission. Stauffer mentioned to Miller that Pocopson Township is in fairly good shape considering that conservancy work completed by the Township has a lot to do with updating the plan. Miller learned that the current Comprehensive Plan was produced around old census data. Therefore, it is logical to update the Township Comprehensive Plan based on upcoming 2010 census data. Additionally, the County will be looking to initiate updates through a Landscapes 2 program. Stauffer indicated that to be part of the Partnership Program the Township will have to have a professional consultant. The County Planning Commission can assist or the Conservancy. The County will reimburse 75% of the consultant cost.  The Secretary was directed to contact Stauffer regarding a presentation during the September 17, 2008 PC meeting.

 

BOCA/Township Ordinance Update: Costello was not in attendance to discuss.

 

Minutes of May 21, 2008: 

Motion: Johnson moved to approve the Minutes of May 21, 2008 as submitted and amended; Summers seconded. Motion carried.

 

Adjournment:  Summers moved to adjourn at 8:30 p.m.; Breiseth seconded.  The next regularly scheduled Planning Commission Meeting is Wednesday, July 16, 2008.

 

 

___________________________                  ___________________________________

Susan Simone, Secretary                                  Gary Summers, Planning Commission, Chair