Planning Commission Meeting Minutes

7:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 20, 2006
 

Call to Order:  Waddington called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.

 

Members Present:  Bill Waddington, Steve Conary, Suzy Breiseth, Meg Johnson, Sarah Mims, Gary Summers, Sean Rafferty
 

Schaftlein - Minor Subdivision:  Richard and Maryann Shaftlein, property owners, and Jim Fritsch, Regester Associates, Inc. were present.  Fritsch said the applicants are proposing to subdivide their property located on Wawaset Road.  The Schaftleins will live in the new house on proposed lot #01.   Schaftleins have agreed to shift the proposed house off the steep slopes so a zoning variance is no longer required.   The existing house and the proposed new house will be served by a common driveway.  Fritsch presented a letter dated December 20, 2006 to the PC members containing 8 waiver requests that will be necessary for this subdivision.  Waddington said that wells and septic systems should be located on neighboring properties within 150’ of the property line and tree masses should be located on the plan.  Fritsch said if Route 842 is considered a collector road, the applicant will need a variance on the 500’ minimum sight distance requirement.  Fritsch reported the applicant has met with PennDOT about the proposed entrance, and PennDOT is requiring some clearing and grading for the proposed new entrance.  Waddington said a minimum 250’ sight distance will be required for the entrance because of the classification of Wawaset Road. Waddington said he would prefer the applicant to request a variance for steeper embankment grades (up to a 2 to 1 maximum slope) to preserve as many trees on this property as possible.  Conary noted that the PC needs to confirm whether Wawaset Road is a collector road or a residential road.  Fritsch suggested having Bill Harwood inspect the existing driveway for construction adequency.  Fritsch said the applicant is proposing to use the existing wooden bridge and then branch off with the new driveway.  Fritsch said the applicant will provide storm water management for the new driveway design and buildings.  The applicant does not feel it is necessary to provide storm water management for the existing driveway and structures.  Fritsch asked for a waiver on concrete monuments being placed at all perimeter corners.  Waddington agreed that if 8 concrete monuments are placed on all major corners, it will be acceptable to the PC.  Fritsch said the plans will be revised per John Fenn’s review letter dated November 1, 2006. 

Serum - Minor Subdivision:  James & Marilyn Serum and Jim Fritsch were present to review the revised plan dated December 8, 2006.  Fritsch said the review memorandum from John Fenn dated November 15, 2006 had been reviewed at the last PC meeting in November.  Fritsch said the net tract area issue has been addressed.  Fritsch said the concrete monuments and iron pins are noted on the plan and one is currently missing but will be added.  Fritsch said open space will be discussed with the Supervisors.  Fritsch asked the PC to sign the Request for Planning Waiver and Non-Building Declaration for DEP.  Waddington said the condition and thickness of the driveway are acceptable per Bill Harwood’s inspection.  Harwood had suggested to the applicant a pull-off area before the ruins on the site should be added to the driveway.  

Fritsch requested the PC members to grant Final plan approval with the changes as noted above and the associated waivers from the SDLDO as listed:

190-22.C         Requiring a final improvement construction plan

190-23             Requiring an existing resources & site analysis plan
190-24             Requiring a conservation plan.
190-30.B (2)    Requiring the shared portion of the common driveway to be constructed to township street standards for pavement depth

190-35.A                  Requiring Landscape design

190-40.A                  Requiring concrete monuments to be placed at all perimeter corners Motion:  Summers moved, Breiseth seconded to grant final plan approval  of the Serum property minor subdivision plan, as revised December 8, 2006 drawn by Regester Associates, Inc. with the conditions listed below:

1.  Add one concrete monument not currently shown on plan.

2.  Add street numbers to plan.
3.  Executed shared driveway maintenance agreement.
4.  Address John Fenn’s review dated November 15, 2006.
            Motion carried.

 

Fritsch noted that the applicant is submitting a request for an extension in the review process of sixty days until March 12, 2006 to resolve the unfinished issues.  The PC agreed this extension is necessary.

 

Parks, Recreation, and Trails Committee:  Sandy Retzlaff and Ricki Stumpo were present.  Sandy Retzlaff said the Board of Supervisors have approved their committee suggestion to host a Founders Day to celebrate the township’s history, and the committee is requesting the members’ support.  Retzlaff said the Founders Day event is planned for September 15th, and the steering committee would like a pc liaison to participate in the planning of this event.  Mims reported that the Historic Committee is working on several ideas for the Founders Day.  Breiseth volunteered to be the liaison.


Baily Farm/Corinne Village:  Jim Brandolini; Frone Crawford, Esq.; Frank Smith; and  Scott Semington were present.  The PC had an informal conversation with the applicant.   Frone Crawford said John Fenn’s draft review letter of December 2006 has been mostly addressed by the applicant. Crawford said the applicant is planning to correct the outstanding items except where Fenn has raised new issues.  Brandolini said the landscape plan for the Baily Farm will be submitted for review.  Brandolini said they are hoping to come back for the January PC meeting with a clean plan. 

 

KARPC:  No report for the month of December.


Minutes of November 15, 2006:  Breiseth moved, Conary seconded to approve the minutes of the November 15, 2006 as amended.  Motion carried.
 

PC Recommendation to the Board of Supervisors: 
Motion:  Rafferty moved, Summers seconded to recommend that the Board of Supervisors consider appointing another township engineer for any new subdivision projects in the township.
Motion carried.  

 

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

 

 

_________________________                       __________________________

Karen J. Eckard, PC Secretary                         William Waddington, PC Chair.