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Home»Development Authority Minutes»Development Authority
3-20-17 Minutes

Development Authority
3-20-17 Minutes

MINUTES

DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY                              LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP

REGULAR MEETING                                              MARCH 20, 2017

 

The following were in ATTENDANCE: 

AUTHORITY MEMBERS                                        TOWNSHIP PERSONNEL

Max Stoner, Chairman                                                 Erin Trone, Township Assistant Manager

Peddrick Young, Vice Chairman                                   Mary Ellen Banks, Recording Secretary

John Eby, Secretary                                                      Steven Miner, Solicitor

Edward Black

PUBLIC IN ATTENDANCE

Lou Roth, Delta Development Group

Chairman Stoner called the meeting of the Lower Allen Township Development Authority to order at 6:01pm and announced Proof of Publication was available for review.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 21, 2017

Mr. EBY made a motion to approve the minutes of the February 21, 2017 meeting. Mr. YOUNG seconded the motion. Motion carried, 3-0.

PUBLIC COMMENT: There were no comments from the public.

REMINDER: Ethics Forms are due May 15th.

Mr. Black entered the meeting at this point.

ACTION: APPROVAL TO HIRE BROWN, SCHULTZ, SHERIDAN & FRITZ TO COMPLETE THE 2016 990 IRS FORM FOR $500.

Mrs. Trone explained to the Board that she and Richard Grove normally do the 990 form; however, with the sale of the Hummel Avenue property, it is now more complicated.  Therefore, they felt it would be better to hire Lower Allen Township’s CPA firm to complete the 2016 990 form.  Since this cost will be paid by the Development Authority, she is bringing this to the Board.  Mr. EBY made a motion to hire Brown, Schultz, Sheridan & Fritz to complete the 2016 990 IRS form at a cost of $500.00.  Motion was seconded by Mr. YOUNG.  Motion carried, 4-0.

DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: REVIEW OF AMUSEMENT DEVICES ORDINANCE

Mrs. Trone explained each year a letter goes out to all of the businesses that have these amusement devices.  The Township enacted an ordinance in the 80’s to regulate arcades in order to cover the Township’s extra costs such as police.  Mrs. Trone provided the Board with a copy of the memo from Tom Vernau concerning this ordinance and asking for the Board to review this ordinance and provide feedback as to whether it is fine as is, whether it needs to be updated or if possibly it should be repealed entirely.

Currently the largest business is Monkey Joe’s that has twelve devices. There is a possible new business coming into the township that will have approximately 170 to 200 devices.  The following are suggestions made by this potential business:

  • 6 – Currently the annual license is $75/device; they are asking us to not exceed $100/device
  • 7 (C) – Currently the ordinance states no minor under 18 is permitted to play any device between 11pm and 7am; they are asking us to add wording, “unless accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult”
  • 63.7 (D) – Currently the ordinance basically states no prizes and they suggest the following be added: Coin-operated amusement devices may dispense prizes or other awards, or credits or tickets redeemable for prizes or other awards, subject to the restrictions contained herein.  Coin-operated amusement devices may award the player extended or additional game play.  Prizes or other awards, or credits or tickets redeemable for prizes or other awards, with a wholesale value not to exceed $10.00 per play of a coin-operated amusement device, may be offered or given by any person.  The player of a coin-operated amusement device may aggregate the credits or tickets won from multiple plays of a coin-operated amusement device and redeem them for prizes or other awards.  Prizes awarded by a coin-operated amusement device, and prizes awarded upon the redemption of credits or tickets dispensed by a coin-operated amusement device, may not include tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, cash, or cash equivalents (other than prepared food products or nonalcoholic beverages sold on the premises on which the coin-operated amusement device is located). 

The Staff is looking for direction from this board since it will affect our current businesses and also this new business.  The revenue is approximately $1800 a year and the police have never responded for a problem with any of these businesses due to the devices. Discussion ensued.

Mr. EBY made a motion to recommend to the Commissioners to adopt the three changes proposed by the potential large adult playground at the Capital City Mall and consider making appropriate changes as staff recommends to part 5 to lessen the onerous nature of the application.  After discussion of the motion, there was an amendment that the Board also suggests staff make recommended fee changes.  Mr. BLACK seconded the motion. Motion carried, 4-0.

STAFF UPDATE

Mrs. Trone reviewed the following:

  • Comprehensive Plan – there have been two meetings and things are doing fairly well; there are multiple meetings planned by each focus group. We are going to also have public meetings on April 24th and 28th in different locations.  Overall, the big discussion point seems to be development versus preservation of green space.  They seem to love their neighborhood and love where they live.
  • Indoor Growing Operations Ordinance – previously we had talked about getting support for the indoor growing operations ordinance to help with revitalization and re-development in some of our older warehouse facilities. This has now been presented to the Board of Commissioners. Trone is looking for a vote from this board about supporting this ordinance so it is on record for the BOC. Mr. Eby stated the BOC authorized staff to send the proposed ordinance to the planning agencies; the Cumberland County Planning Department and Lower Allen Planning Commission – this occurred after the BOC meeting on March 13th and this will be discussed in the Planning Commission tomorrow night since their April meeting will be canceled. The Board decided to wait until the planning agencies response comments came back before moving forward so there is no critical timeline on this.  Discussion ensued.  Mr. STONER made a motion to support the proposed amendment to the zoning to allow urban farming in the designated four districts. Mr. EBY seconded the motion. Motion carried, 4-0.
  • Prison Property – Commissioner Black and Mrs. Trone have a meeting scheduled on Friday with Representative Sheryl Delozier and Secretary Wetzel of the Department of Corrections.
  • Gettysburg Road – The utility relocation is required and we need to obtain more right-away; therefore in the process of hiring an appraiser to go thru the Penn Dot process for about 2 extra acres. At one point, they were hopeful to put out to bid in summer and be under construction in the fall; however, now it looks like it will be more likely next year for construction.

Mr. Eby reviewed the following:

  • Capital City Mall – serious demolishing at the Sears location is nearing completion; what is left of Sears is the frame of a little over 60,000 square feet, the store was about 100,000 square feet so this is the part that will be transformed into Dick’s Sporting Goods. As you know, there will be some new stores opened to the parking lot only.  It is now public that one of them will be Sear’s Appliance and Mattress Store.  They have an aggressive plan as Mr. Eby reported last month; so he states we are expecting/hoping to get our construction code planning done in the next couple of weeks; get them a partial permit early in April to get them moving; we do have an August turn-around time to turn over the shell to Dick’s to start equipping.  There are only a couple of stores not occupied right now in Capital City Mall.
  • Pennsylvania American Water Company – as reported previously they are looking to move their headquarters from Derry Township. They plan on partially demolishing the existing regional services building on Wesley Drive and build a new three story office building in front of it and to the north of it. The preliminary plan is going before the Planning Commission tomorrow night.  As you know Wesley Drive doesn’t have curbing and sidewalks so those are two modifications they are asking about; I believe the Commission will recommend a waiver on the curbing because of the storm water management issues and the applicant has proposed a paved bituminous trail instead of cement sidewalks.  This is keyed up for tomorrow night with the two perceived variances; reduction in off-street parking and building height; so it is ready for Planning Commission recommendations.

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION:

When asked, Mrs. Trone explained to the Board concerning a letter that has been issued by Harrisburg Area Transportation Study in reference to the pedestrian and bike trail project behind the Township Building.  This trail has been in planning since 2006 with Southern Norfolk Railroad agreeing access.  This letter went out to all elected officials and eighteen different agencies expressing regret that Southern Norfolk rejected this plan after approving and accepting money from Lower Allen Township previously.  Discussion ensued.   

NEXT MEETING OF THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

The next meeting of the Development Authority is scheduled for Monday, April 17, 2017 at 6:00pm.

ADJOURNMENT

Mr. EBY made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. BLACK seconded the motion. Motion carried, 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 6:46pm.