The Schuylkill Township Planning Commission held their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at the Township hall. Members of the Planning Commission present were Mr. Reading, Mr. Claffey, Mr. Quigg, Mr. Davis, Mrs. Potts, Mr. Keogh and Mr. Lange. Mr. Claffey chaired the meeting. Mr. John Sartor of Gilmore & Associates, the Township engineer, was present as well.
On motion by Mr. Claffey, seconded by Mr. Quigg and passed, the Planning Commission approved the minutes of the May 20, 2009 meeting.
Thompson Property - The Schuylkill Township Planning Commission and the Charlestown Township Planning Commission held a workshop session at 7:30 p.m. prior to the Schuylkill Township Planning Commission meeting. Mr. John Thompson and Mr. Bob Showalter were also present. Mr. Showalter stated that Charlestown has suggested an emergency access from Tinker Hill Road off of Union Hill Road in Charlestown to the Tinkerhill road in Schuylkill Township. He stated that the only change made to the sketch plan thus far was the change to the cul-de-sac at lots 8 & 9 to a through road. In Charlestown Township, a connection road would change to a cul-de-sac and lots 4, 5, and 7 would connect to the cul-de-sac via a driveway. This change would save a forested area on the property. Mr. Allen of Charlestown Township stated that the problem with the current layout is that it creates two communities. He advised that the cul-de-sac in Charlestown is an extension of a non-confirming cul-de-sac that would need Zoning Haring board approval. Charlestown had mixed reviews on the plan and there was some concern regarding the desirability of linking the Tinker Hill Roads.
Mr. Claffey stated that the Schuylkill Township Planning commission is going along with the through road to Tinker Hill Road. Mr. Thompson stated that the cul-de-sac concept would save the wooded area. Lots 6, 18 and 19 are situated in both Townships. However, the building envelopes are only in one Township. Parcels located in the Schuylkill Township may have a homeowners’ association.
Mr. Brennan, the Schuylkill Township Solicitor, stated that both Charlestown and Schuylkill Township need to continue to coordinate on the plan. Mr. Sartor stated that in Schuylkill Township there would need to be zoning relief from the Zoning Hearing Board for two roadway stream crossings. Mr. Thompson stated that he is against sidewalks and granite curbs. There will be a significant trail network. Mr. Showalter stated that roads, although private, will be built to Township standards however, they will be narrower. The plan proposes flush concrete curbs to hold macadam in place. There appeared to be agreement that since the development would be private, the granite would not be required. Mr. Sartor advised that flush curbs would require a waiver. Since school buses do not travel on private roadways, it was suggested that a bus pull off from White Horse Road be installed for school buses. It was also suggested that as an alternative the school buses could pick up from the Tinker Hill Road area.
Mr. Keogh stated that he would prefer to see the two Tinker Hill roads connected. He stated that cul-de-sacs were bad planning. They did not provide for emergency access, were not convenient and were not an alternative for congested roadways. Mr. Allen also thought cul-de-sacs were not a good idea. Mrs. Potts stated that the development was not that densely populated and cul-de-sacs fit the development plan. Mr. Reading stated that he liked the interconnectivity of the development with a through road. Mr. Quigg favored the through road at lots 8 & 9 to Tinker hill in Schuylkill Township. Mr. Showalter stated that with the cul-de-sac concept there would be an emergency access from the dead end on Tinker Hill Road in Charlestown Township.
Mr. Claffey was concerned about the approval process for the proposed subdivision located in both Townships and what happened if the plan moved ahead with one Township and not the other. He was concerned if Charlestown Township were to not approve the plan. A representative from Charlestown stated that due to the low density of the development on Charlestown’s side of the proposed plan this was considered a minor development and most likely advance through the land development process.
During the public portion of the meeting that began at 8:00 p.m, the Schuylkill Township Planning Commission on motion by Mrs. Potts and seconded by Mr. Reading and passed recommended approval of the concept layout of the current plan within Schuylkill Township as presented this evening during the workshop session with Charlestown Township and encouraged full and continuing cooperation between both township and the Thompson family.
PASD, Middle School Land Development Plan – Mr. Glen Harris of ReNew Design stated that soil testing for stormwater purposes has been completed. He advised that he was present to night to request that the Planning Commission authorize the Township Engineer to review the plan. On motion by Mr. Quigg and seconded by Mrs. Potts, the Planning Commission authorized the Township Engineer to being review of the preliminary plan. The Township engineer will only review the portion of the development in Schuylkill Township. Mr. Harris stated that the proposed parking deck will be level with City Line Avenue and the current entrance to City Line Avenue will be removed. Mr. Claffey stated that the plan has an open space perspective/view from State Road. Mr. Ron Miller stated that the new middle school facility will be able to accommodate 920 + students and future growth. He advised that the current middle school can only hold 700 students. Mr. John Sartor stated that a cursory review of the plan seems to have incorporated current BMP’s, Township stormwater ordinances and PaDEP regulations. Mr. Miller stated that residents on Carlisle Avenue in the Borough of Phoenixville will be notified via mail and updates on the PASD website.
Valley Forge Sewer Authority – Mr. Martin Goldberg, for the sewer authority, introduced a new ultra-violet system as part of the sewer authority process that would kill micro organisms as part of the last phase before discharge into the Schuylkill River. This system would replace the Chlorine system. Mr. Goldberg stated that the Regional Act 537 has allowed for expansion of the plant and the UV system will help with expansion needs as well as upgrade the energy efficiency of the treatment plant. He advised that that the sewer authority chose to house equipment indoors instead of outdoors. Mr. Goldberg presented the Planning Commission with a picture of a similar building that is in York, PA. Mr. Claffey questioned if the drug companies discharge would be eliminated by the new system. Mr. Goldberg stated no, that it is a question of doing so economically. Mr. Goldberg asked that since the VFSA is located within the 100 year floodplain would the building of the structure to house the UV system need a stormwater control plan and land development approval. Mr. Sartor stated that the proposed structure would require a building permit not a land development plan. He advised that if the construction of the building is over 1,000 square feet it would need stormwater management plans and review of those plans. Mr. Sartor stated that the VFSA could request of the Board of Supervisors a wavier of the stormwater management ordinance. He advised that the VFSA will also need zoning relief from the Zoning Hearing Board for building within a flood plain. On motion by Mr. Reading, seconded by Mr. Claffey, and passed, the Planning Commission recommended to the Board of Supervisors to waive the stormwater management and land development requirements for the construction of the building to house the ultra violet equipment.
There being no further business for discussion, the Planning Commission adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary R. Bird
Township Manager
Next Planning Commission Meeting: July 15, 2009