MINUTES

PLANNING COMMISSION:                                             LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP

REGULAR MEETING:                                                      FEBRUARY 20, 2018

 

The following were in ATTENDANCE:

 

PLANNING COMMISSION:	TOWNSHIP PERSONNEL:
Brett McCreary, Chairman	Daniel Flint, P.E., Township Engineer
Geir Magnusson, Vice-Chairman	Dean Villone, Commissioner
Brian Wickenheiser-arrived 7:04pm	Julie Echterling, Recording Secretary
David Clovsky
Michael Washburn
Jay Blackwell

 

Mr. McCreary called the February 20, 2018 Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 7:00 pm.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Approval of Minutes

Mr. MAGNUSSON made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 16, 2018 meeting.  Mr. WASHBURN seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0.

OLD BUSINESS 

SLD Docket No. 2017-07: Preliminary Subdivision and Land Development Plan for Arcona Phase 2.3. Proposed mixed-use development of 13.331 acres with: 99 attached single-family dwelling units; 18,000 square feet of commercial space; and 1.75 acres of open space.

Applicant Presentation:

Mr. Faranda-Diedrich stated this plan has been brought before the Board three times and he is here to answer questions.  He respectfully requested the Board to take action on the plan.

Township Staff Comments

Mr. Flint stated the comments are detailed in nature.  He stated County doesn’t review revised plans.

County Planning Commission Comments

Mr. Hoffman was not at the meeting tonight.

Commission Member Question and Answer

Mr. Clovsky asked about the following things:

• Were the two pages of zoning concerns addressed? Mr. Flint stated yes.
• The waiver requested at last meeting wasn’t recommended. Flint stated they provided revised truck turning templates and they were reviewed by the fire department. 
• Were the issues with parking addressed? Flint spoke about the general pockets of parking throughout the community.  Mr. Faranda-Diedrich stated they will have 40 parking spaces in this neighborhood.
• Does the proposed parking meet ADA? Flint stated there are not ADA requirements for single family homes.
• How are they going to enforce parking? Flint stated they changed some of the language, so they will mark the areas as fire lanes, so Police can enforce parking.  Mr. Faranda-Diedrich stated they will have a manager and a third-party to help enforce the parking.

Mr. McCreary asked what Charter gave up to allow widening the streets for the trucks.  Mr. Faranda-Diedrich stated they made the streets wider by giving up open space.  Mr. McCreary expressed concern about the amount of open space and will it be the required amount at the end of the project.  Mr. Flint stated they look at it as an overall space versus by plan.

Public Comments:

There were no public comments

Action:  Recommendations on requested waivers and on the Plan

Mr. WASHBURN made a motion to approve a waiver for the modification to the requirement to provide sidewalk on street frontages, to allow a bituminous path in lieu of a concrete sidewalk along the west side of Arcona Road and the east side of Strong Road.  The request is also to allow construction of sidewalk on one side of Market House Lane and Ruth Way, in locations shown, so that no sidewalk would be constructed along the Arcona Green frontage with these streets.  Mr. WICKENHEISER seconded the motion.  Motion carried 6-0.

Mr. WASHBURN made a motion to approve a waiver from the requirement that lots have frontage on streets, to allow access from alleys only.  Mr. MAGNUSSON seconded the motion.  Motion carried 6-0.

Mr. WASHBURN made a motion to approve a modification to the requirements for curb construction, to allow construction of Belgian Block Curb in lieu of Concrete Curb.  Mr. MAGNUSSON seconded the motion.  Motion carried 6-0.

Mr. WASHBURN made a motion to approve SLD Docket No. 2017-07: Preliminary Subdivision and Land Development Plan for Arcona Phase 2.3 pending Township and County comments being satisfied.  Mr. CLOVSKY seconded the motion.  Motion carried 6-0.

NEW BUSINESS 

SLD Docket No. 2017-08: Final Subdivision and Land Development Plan for Arcona Phase 2.3. Proposed mixed-use development of 13.331 acres with: 99 attached single-family dwelling units; 18,000 square feet of commercial space; and 1.75 acres of open space.

Applicant Presentation:

Mr. Faranda-Diedrich stated this plan is the same as the preliminary.

Township Staff Comments

Mr. Flint stated the comments are normal for outside agency approvals.

County Planning Commission Comments

Mr. Hoffman was not at the meeting tonight.

Commission Member Question and Answer

Mr. Magnusson asked how the names of the streets are developed.  Mr. Faranda-Diedrich stated a lot have come from the Lesher family.  Charter develops them and has them approved by the post office and Township.  Mr. Magnusson spoke about the structure of the names and how there are no themes or groups of streets.  He spoke about concerns with Haley Road and Mr. Faranda-Diedrich stated they have changed the name of the adjacent street and he will review his concerns.

Mr. Wickenheiser asked about the HOP and approval.  Mr. Flint stated they can have the plan approved before the HOP is issued.  Mr. Faranda-Diedrich stated the permit has been applied for with PennDOT and they are working through the process with them.

Public Comments:

There were no public comments

Action:  Recommendations on requested waivers and on the Plan

Mr. WICKENHEISER made a motion to approve SLD Docket No. 2017-08: Final Subdivision and Land Development Plan for Arcona Phase 2.3 subject to Township and County comments.  Mr. WASHBURN seconded the motion.  Motion carried 6-0.

OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Flint spoke about the Subdivision and Land Development Plan for Arcona, Phases 2.1 and 2.2.  He stated the plan has been approved and recorded.  They need to revise the plan slightly by lowering the site by 2 feet.  They are working with the Township Authority on these changes as it will impact the sewer.  Stormwater management will remain the same.  The Board of Commissioner asked that the Planning Commission be notified of the change, and they would approve the revised plan, so it could be recorded correctly.  Mr. Clovsky asked about the ground conditions.  Mr. Faranda-Diedrich stated they test them and have a professional on site to help with this process.

Mr. McCreary asked about the black pipe coming out of the ground near the trailer at the construction site.  Mr. Faranda-Diedrich isn’t sure and will check into it and let Mr. Flint know.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 7:00 pm.

ADJOURN

The regular meeting of the Planning Commission adjourned at 8:05 pm.