MINUTES

PLANNING COMMISSION:                                             LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP

 REGULAR MEETING:                                                      NOVEMBER 17, 2020

The following were in ATTENDANCE:

PLANNING COMMISSION:	TOWNSHIP PERSONNEL:
Brian Wickenheiser, Vice Chairman Jay Blackwell David Clovsky Michael Washburn Jeff Logan Samuel Bashore (via Zoom)	Daniel Flint, P.E., Township Engineer John Eby, Building and Zoning Coordinator Tina Thomas, Recording Secretary

Mr. Wickenheiser, Vice Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. He announced that Proof of Publication was available.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. CLOVSKY moved to approve the minutes from the October 20, 2020 regular meeting. Mr. BLACKWELL seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.

 

OLD BUSINESS

SLD Docket No. 2020-12:  Subdivision Plan for 1604 Main Street and 1608 McCormick Drive

Proposed lot line adjustment between two existing lots.

Mr. Flint provided an overview of the location of the lots being discussed on the overhead projector. They are designated as R-1 Single Family Established Residential.

 

Applicant Presentation

Mr. Randy Shearer of Hartman and Associates spoke about the project. He noted that both lots of the property are adjacent and owned by Dennis and Jeanne Jacobs. He said that with the change in lot line, the Jacobs lot will be approximately two acres and can be subdivided in the future if desired. The remaining lot will be about 0.9 acres. He said that they had received comments from the Sewer Authority as the lot uses gravity sewer down to a pump station. The original plan for subdivision into three lots was changed and each of the two lots has its own sewer connection. Mr. Shearer said the applicant is asking for three waivers from the requirements to provide curbs, sidewalks, and fill-in paving as none of this exists anywhere else in the area.

 

Township Comments

Mr. Flint noted that when the plan was changed from a three lot subdivision to two lots, a lot of the comments no longer applied. He said there were some minor notations for the plan.

 

County Comments

There were none as this was a revised plan.

Public Comment

None.

Commission Member Questions and Comments

There were no comments.

 

Action

Mr. WASHBURN moved to grant the waiver of the requirement contained in Section 192-57.C(9) to provide sidewalks along all street frontage. Mr. BLACKWELL seconded it. Motion carried 6-0.

Mr. WASHBURN moved to grant the waiver of the requirement contained in Sections 192-57.B(2)(h)[2] and 192-57.C(8) to provide curbs on all street frontage. Mr. BLACKWELL seconded it. Motion carried 6-0.

Mr. WASHBURN moved to grant the waiver of the requirement contained in Sections 192.57.B(2)(h)[2]  and 192-57.C(13) to provide fill-in paving. Mr. BLACKWELL seconded it. Motion carried 6-0.

Mr. WASHBURN moved to approve SLD Docket No. 2020-12, Subdivision Plan for 1604 Main Street and 1608 McCormick Drive with satisfaction of comments by the Township and County. Mr. BLACKWELL seconded the motion and the motion carried 6-0.

 

NEW BUSINESS

There was none

OTHER BUSINESS

Proposed Ordinance 2020-07:  Request to rezone

Tax Parcel 13-24-0795-088, a 0.47 acre parcel know as 701 Belmont Avenue, and Tax Parcel 13-24-0795-183, a 0.06 acre portion of unopened Windsor Place Right-Of-Way; from R-1 Single-Family Established Residential to R-3 Multi-family Residential

Mr. John Eby was in attendance at the meeting. He introduced James Grandon, who has a contract to purchase the property. Mr. Eby said that the property is at 701 Belmont Avenue and also includes 20 out of 30 feet of the right-of-way of Windsor Place as well as the parcel with a single family dwelling on it. He said that the Cumberland County Planning Commission would discuss this on Thursday and their comments, combined with comments from the Planning Commission, will be presented at the public hearing.

 

Applicant Presentation

Mr. Grandon spoke about the single family home on the parcel being in poor shape and uninhabitable. He said that currently the property is zoned as R-1 but it is surrounded by R-3 multi-unit properties. Mr. Grandon is proposing using the two parcels to build six upscale rental apartments of approximately 1,000 square feet, similar to Grandon Farms. He said the courts are deciding if the alleyway to the north may be given to the present landowner. He said the lot would be cleared and nicely landscaped. Mr. Grandon is asking that the R-1 zoning be changed to R-3 to be able to do this. Mr. Eby commented that as far as access to the property, Belmont Street is substandard in width but Windsor Place at Linden could become an access road. Mr. Grandon said that he is eager to work with the Township on this project.

 

Building and Zoning Coordinator Comments

Mr. Eby spoke about the area of Harrisburg Manor having been built in a hodgepodge way before building, zoning and subdivision codes, and the current property being blighted. The property is located near businesses and other activities. There are no curbs or sidewalks currently. He could see a possibility of neighbors complaining about impact of the multi-unit housing, but other neighbors might appreciate the redevelopment of a blighted property. If changed, anything allowed in R-3 could build there but the parcel is small. Mr. Eby said that staff will present comments made by the Planning Commission to the public hearing.

 

Township Comments

Mr. Flint said that Belmont Avenue currently serves twelve homes so adding a six unit building would be significant. This is a concern because the infrastructure is already substandard.

 

County Comments

The County Planning Department does not issue comments on zoning amendments until they receive a recommendation from the County Planning Commission, which will occur on Thursday November 19^th.

 

Commission Member Questions and Comments

Mr. Blackwell asked how high buildings can be built in R-3 and Mr. Eby said it is 75 feet with a multiplier applied for the setback. Mr. Logan asked about the parking requirements and he was told 2 spaces per unit and .2 space per unit for visitors. Since there won’t be a clubhouse or something that attracts visitors, that should be adequate. Mr. Clovsky pointed out that the neighbors will probably be happier to have the property improvement considering that currently it contains a blighted home.

 

Public Comment

There was none.

 Action

Mr. LOGAN made a recommendation to support proposed Ordinance 2020-07 Tax Parcel 13-24-0795-088, a 0.47 acre parcel know as 701 Belmont Avenue, and Tax Parcel 13-24-0795-183, a 0.06 acre portion of unopened Windsor Place Right-Of-Way; from R-1 Single-Family Established Residential to R-3 Multi-family Residential. Mr. WASHBURN seconded the motion and the motion carried 6-0.  

 

NEXT MEETING

Mr. Flint said no new plans have been received and there may not be a December meeting. Mr. LOGAN moved to adjourn the meeting and Mr. WICKENHEISER seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.