NORTH WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION
3256 LEVANS ROAD, COPLAY, PA 18037
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OF MARCH 23, 2010
Meeting brought to order at 7:30 p.m., on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 by Chairman Richard Celmer.
Attendance:
Chairman Richard Celmer |
John Barto III |
Vice Chairman Brian Horwith |
William George |
Secretary Bruce Stettler |
Leonard Nuss |
Attorney Lisa Young |
Joanne Guth |
Planning Administrator Jane Kelly |
Jeff Johnson |
Minutes of the February 23, 2010 meeting were approved after correction to Community Fire Co #1 of NWT Request for Rezoning – K – should state – Planning Commission member John Barto III question of the 52 acres how many of that is usable and how will the land be used? Lew Rauch of Lehigh Engineering stated approximately 28 acres are usable. Attorney Charles Stopp stated 2 ½ acres will be recreational and 25 ½ acres will be parking for the Schnecksville Fair, there are no short term plans made for the additional acreage. Daniel Wehr; President of Schnecksville Fire Company stated there is a possibility that some of the land will be used to grow hay for revenue for the Fire Company.
NWT 08-009 – Land Development, 4525 Education Park Drive, 153.39 acres, AR-1 zone,
Parcel ID 5469 1293 3619-1, 90-Day Deadline starts 1/17/10, 90-Day Deadline 4/18/2010. The plan was presented by Scott McMackin; Cowan Associates, Carl Pickett; LCCC and Larry Ross; LCCC.
Planning Commission has recommended the following conditions:
Bruce Stettler motioned to approve the Final plan in accordance with SALDO guidelines for turning radii at intersections, subject to all conditions noted above, seconded by Brian Horwith, all agreed.
Presentation from Samuel D. Darrohn; Lehigh Engineering, Traffic Engineer, regarding the traffic for the 2.55-acre parcel.
Mr. Darrohn’s research has described a specialty retail center at the 2.55-acre parcel and the traffic related to this center. The 2.55-acre site could provide 20,000 sq ft of retail development. Mr. Darrohn also compared the 2.55 acre site developed for retail and the 52 acre site developed for Single Family Homes, the 2.55 acres site developed for a specialty retail center would have a minimal impact on traffic compared to the development of the 52 acre site.
Planning Commission Chairman Rich Celmer questioned Mr. Darrohn’s research, why wasn’t the combined parcels reviewed, which included, the 2.55-acre parcel and the 3.687-acre parcel, currently owned by Mr. Johnson? Mr. Darrohn stated the review was only completed on the parcel in question for the rezoning.
Planning Commission member Leonard Nuss questioned the 52-acre parcel, if the Fire Company would decide in the future to rezone it, would they have to come back to the Township to request a rezoning?
Township Solicitor Lisa Young stated yes, the Fire Company would have to come back to the Township to request a rezoning for that parcel, as they are doing for the 2.55 acres.
Planning Commission member Jeff Johnson is concerned about the nonconforming lot that would be created once the 2.55-acre lot is rezoned; it would create an “L” shaped lot. Mr. Jeff Johnson is also concerned about the lead arsenic. Has there been any testing done, will testing be done and what will it cost? “We need to take care of the kids “.
Mr. Jeff Johnson is also in favor of a guarantee time restriction to not develop the 52-acre parcel.
Planning Commission member John Barto III stated he does not want to see any more commercial in this area, but he is for the Fire Company. Mr. Barto is in agreement with Ms. Guth’s idea on the rezoning of the 52-acre parcel to CR.
Comments from the Floor:
Bob Johnson; Western Lehigh Valley Corporation stated he had nothing to do with the relocation of Old Packhouse Road, but he was shown design plans. The relocation of Old Packhouse Road is how his property became an odd shaped lot.
Emory Minnich; Schnecksville Community Fair President stated if the rezoning and land swap does not happen the Fair may have to be cancelled. If the Fair is cancelled the Fair Organization would have to pay back $59,000 in grant money. The Fair Organization is trying to gain parking spaces lost to development with the proposed rezoning and land swap.
Nancy Braymer, 3532 Apple Road, Orefield, questioned what was the Fair’s back-up plan for the parking since the land was sold to Wal-mart?
Emory Minnich; Schnecksville Community Fair President stated there were 3 back-up plans, one to discontinue the Fair, two to have the parking on the streets and three to bus the people from other lots. These options would involve additional costs.
Nancy Braymer, 3532 Apple Road, Orefield, also questioned when the North Whitehall Township Comprehensive Plan was discussed at the Planning Commission in 2007 and at a meeting in March 2007 there was a discussion involving possible rezoning the Fire Company parcel, but no one from the Fire Company suggested a problem with the Fair parking at that meeting. Why wasn’t the Fair Organization more prepared?
Daniel Wehr; Fire Company President stated the Fire Company Board changes on a yearly base; the Board in 2007 might have had a different view.
Planning Commission Chairman Rich Celmer stated maybe the Fire Company never thought this was an issue due to using neighbor’s properties for parking. Now some of those neighbor’s properties are sold for development.
Samantha Neas, 4410 Route 309, Schnecksville, stated she would rather see 28 single-family homes; maybe a 30-year deed restriction is a good thing. She just doesn’t want to have another MacArthur Road!
Joan Casari, 4209 Iroquois Street, Schnecksville, questioned why Mr. Bob Johnson just doesn’t give the Fire Company the land?
Barbara Burke, 4617 Debbie Lane, Orefield, questioned how many acres does the Fire Company need for parking for the Fair?
Emory Minnich; Schnecksville Community Fair President stated the Fair Organization needs all 52 acres, 2 ½ for the ballfield and 25 ½ for parking and the rest is not useable, too steep.
Karen Solt, 4530 Daisy Ave, Orefield, asked for an explanation of the transaction, Ms. Solt also questioned if Wal-mart was not on the table right now, would this land swap be such a big deal? Ms. Solt suggested the Planning Commission members look at the rezoning issue in this manner.
Mark Hill, 5149 River Drive, Slatington, if this property would have belonged to Western Lehigh Valley Corporation in 2009, when the Comprehensive Plan was being reviewed would this property have been rezoned to PC then?
Brian Neas, 4410 Route 309, Schnecksville, questioned who is providing the new baseball field?
Ricky Harring; Head Trustee of the Schnecksville Fire Company stated the Fire Company is giving the land to Schnecksville Playground Association, but the Association must provide the ballfield.
Jeff Carlson, Schnecksville Playground Association President, stated the Association has a lease on the current ballfield until November 1, 2011. At that time, the Association must vacate the ballfield of baseball related items. There is no lease agreement after November 1, 2011.
Ricky Harring; Head Trustee of the Schnecksville Fire Company stated the Fire Company can not draw up a lease to land they do not own.
Planning Commission member John Barto III questioned Emory Minnich regarding the Fair parking, once the land swap is completed; will the Fair need to go elsewhere for parking?
Emory Minnich; Schnecksville Community Fair President stated yes, the Fair will still be using LCCC maybe on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Brian Neas, 4410 Route 309, Schnecksville, questioned other improvements on Fire Company land. Do they meet with the Township Zoning Ordinances and SALDO? Is the Fire Company in the correct zone for a racetrack?
Planning Commission Chairman Rich Celmer suggested Mr. Neas visit the Township Zoning Office regarding this issue.
Nancy Braymer, 3532 Apple Road, Orefield, commented on the North Whitehall Township Comprehensive Plan adopted July 17, 2009; please keep the plan in mind when making your recommendation.
Bruce Stettler motioned to recommend approval for rezoning, Richard Celmer seconded after releasing his chair to the Vice Chair, a vote was taken, vote was 4 to 4. Motion failed.
John Barto III motioned to recommend approval for rezoning, also giving restriction for a period of time or a rezoning to the 52-acre parcel to CR, Brian Horwith seconded, all agreed.
Community Fire Co #1 of NWT – Final – Lot Line Adjustment, NWT-10-009, 3 Lots, Parcel ID’s 546839774252, 546839774252, 546838342969, south of Ritter Court, west of Route 309 and north of Old Packhouse Rd. 90-Day Deadline starts 1/26/10, 90-Day Deadline 4/25/10. The plan was presented by Douglas White; Lehigh Engineering, Daniel Wehr; Schnecksville Fire Company President and Bob Johnson; Western Lehigh Valley Corporation.
Planning Commission has recommended the following conditions:
Comments from the Floor:
Jeff Carlson; Schnecksville Playground Association President, stated the Playground Association would like to inquire as to whether testing will be done on the land, who will do the testing, who gets the results, what can be put on the land safely and who would be responsible for funding the testing.
Ricky Harring; Head Trustee of the Schnecksville Fire Company stated he believed there already was testing done on that property by the Township and the Township should have those results.
Brian Horwith motioned to approve the Final Lot Line Adjustment, John Barto III seconded, all agreed.
Planning Commission Chairman Rich Celmer will distribute a prioritized list of guidebooks for the next meeting to start discussion. The first book to discuss will be Woodlands.
The Planning Commission would also like to revisit the Driveway Ordinance. Copies to be distributed.
John Barto III motioned to adjourn, Jeff Johnson seconded, all others agreed
Meeting Adjourned: 9:55 pm
Jane K. Kelly
Recording Secretary
Planning Administrator
North Whitehall Township