CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Zimmerman called the workshop meeting to order at 7:03 p.m., followed by the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL

Gloria J. Zimmerman, Chairman

Robert R. Jones

Stephen L. Millard

WORKSHOP BUSINESS FOR DISCUSSION

Development Improvements – Townes at HersheyRoad. Larry Troutman, Jeff Staub, Vicki Molinari, and Jack Hurley were present to answer questions.

Mr. Hurley said that he requested to appear before the Board of Supervisors for the purpose of providing an opportunity to discuss the status of the plans and possible alternative procedures for obtaining final approvals.

Mr. Hurley said that the Townes at Hershey would be modeled after the townhouses in the Whisper Wood development in Lower Paxton Township. He said 79 homes were proposed to be built on a 24-acre tract of lane at Route 39 and Manor Drive. He said the property was currently zoned R-3 and Village.

Mr. Hurley said one of the concerns voiced by the Township was that on the original plan, the center turn lane proposed for Hershey Road was not centered because a right-of-way could not be obtained from the veterian hospital. He added that the Township had requested that the developer explore the possibility of somehow centering the turn lane. He said that concern was revisited and it was decided to shift the entrance 300 feet to the north and center the turn lane, as the developer could obtain a right-of-way from the property owner further up the road.

Mr. Hurley said the plan was to submit the revised preliminary plan as well as the Final Phase I plan to the Planning Commission and then the Board of Supervisors for approval. Mr. Hurley said he was proposing that the developer not be required to go through the application process again as the revised preliminary plan that was submitted reflected changes that were made based on comments made by the Township Engineer to make the development safer. He added that the changed resulted from straightening the job in the center lane.

Discussion ensued as to whether or not there were significant changes to the plan as to warrant that it be treated as a new plan rather than a revised plan. Mr. Millard asked Mr. Brulo outline the changes that were made in the revised preliminary plan. Mr. Brulo highlighted the following changes that were made:

· The main entrance was moved to the north.

· Changes were made to the drainage and stormwater plans. One detention basin was being proposed rather than two.

· The number of lots remained the same; however, lot lines were reconfigured on 16 or 17 lots.

Mr. Millard said he believed the plan should be treated as a new application since so many changes were made to the original plan. Mr. Hurley reiterated that the changes were made because the developer was trying to address the concerns of the Township and he went forward in good faith. He pointed out that if the plan had to be submitted as a new application, the plan could not be developed based on the current ordinances unless the developer went before the Zoning Hearing Board.

Mr. Rimer said that under the new ordinances the following problems would be encountered:

· Open space requirements could not be met.

· There have been buffering changes that could not be met by the developer.

Mr. Rimer said that the former zoning officer had a different interpretation of the issues from the current zoning officer. Mr. Rimer said that in light of the fact that the Board of Supervisors did approve the preliminary plan, the plan could proceed as it was originally submitted.

Further discussion ensued. Mr. Jones said that he thought the plan should go forward. Mr. Millard disagreed saying that he believed the plan should be treated as a new application and should go through the approval process again.

Mr. Hurley said that the developer had agreed to contribute $20,000 to off-site improvements for Manor Drive and that the developer had offered $50,000 to the Park and Recreation Board for fees in lieu of. After further discussion, no definite decision was made as to how the plan should proceed. It was noted that the plan was scheduled to go to the Planning Commission on November 15, 2001.

Mr. Hurley asked the Board to allow the developer to reserve the right of the original preliminary plan in the event that plan would have to be used for the development. By consensus, the Board agreed to Mr. Hurley’s request.

Developer Improvements – Vartan Bank. Mr. Rimer said that no one was present to answer questions about the plan or to negotiate off-site improvements. Mr. Rimer said that the deadline was approaching whereby action on Mr. Vartan’s plan had to be taken. Mr. Rimer added that Mr. Vartan’s representatives told him that Mr. Vartan was not willing to contribute anything for off-site improvements nor was he willing to dedicate a right-of-way along Clover Lane. Mrs. Zimmerman suggested that Mr. Rimer send Mr. Vartan a letter. Mr. Rimer said he would do so. Mrs. Zimmerman also requested that Mr. Rimer be sure to provide the Board with the necessary information in the event the plan had to be denied. Mr. Rimer assured the Board he would provide the information.

2002 Budget Information – Schedule Workshop Meetings. Mr. Rimer called the Board’s attention to the notebook he had distributed prior to the meeting. He said the budget was divided into six sections. By consensus, it was agreed that the Board would begin work on the budget during the regular meeting scheduled for November 19, 2001.

Comprehensive Plan Review – Community Facilities Planning Policies. Mr. Rimer referred the Board to the copy of the Comprehensive Plan he distributed prior to the meeting. He specifically referred them to page 28 of the Comprehensive Plan wherein Mr. Rimer indicated that it appeared that schools had been taken into account when the Comprehensive Plan was developed. Mr. Millard said that therefore there would be no updates required because schools were already part of the Comprehensive Plan.

Mr. Jones asked about the intersection at Route 39 and Piketown Road. Mr. Brulo responded saying that the traffic study had not yet been received but he said the concept of aligning Piketown Road would be explored.

Mr. Jones also asked about the possibility of moving the creek close to the Kelemen property on Piketown Road. Mr. Brulo said that would involve modifying floodplains and that it could prove to be time consuming if not impossible.

Beth Carricato, 699 Knight Road. Mrs. Carricato encouraged the Board members to make the school a conditional use rather than a permitted use so the Township could maintain some control over the project.

Mrs. Carricato suggested that the public be made aware that the Comprehensive Plans are available at the Township Office for sale. Mrs. Zimmerman asked Mr. Rimer to put a note in the Newsletter to that effect. Mr. Rimer said he would so providing there was space available.

Discuss Pilot Oil Project – Road Inspection Status. Mr. Rimer advised the Board members that the traffic controls at Jonestown Road and Linglestown Road were damaged on Saturday and had to be removed. Mr. Rimer said that a tractor trailer attempting to make a right turn off Linglestown Road on to Jonestown Road to enter the Pilot Oil property from the rear caused the damage. Mr. Rimer said he spoke with Cathy Adkins, the project manager for Pilot Oil, and advised her that the signage was not proper and that it had to be noted that trucks were not to enter the property from the rear.

Mr. Brulo said he had met on-site with PennDOT on October 30, 2001 and PennDOT agreed that the pole at the corner of Linglestown Road and Jonestown Road had to be moved back. He said Pilot would have to develop plans to pull back the pole and extend the radius. Mr. Brulo said that currently the traffic light still belonged to Pilot Oil and it would be their responsibility to remedy the problem and reinstall the signals. PennDOT has been requested not to turn back any security funds to Pilot until the problems were resolved.

Considerable discussion ensued as to the status of the road wherein Mr. Millard said that he did not believe the road was constructed according to the specifications agreed upon. Mr. Brulo said that Joe Miller from HRG was not able to attend the workshop meeting but that Mr. Brulo had discussed the situation with Mr. Miller. Mr. Brulo said that Mr. Miller had been on-site inspecting construction each and every day and that his notes reflected that the road was constructed properly. Mr. Brulo said that Mr. Miller had a lot of experience and that he was an excellent inspector. Mr. Millard said he believed the Township should look for a written guarantee from someone that the road would last 20 years, since Pilot had agreed to construct a 20-year roadway.

Mrs. Zimmerman thanked Mr. McCahan and Mr. Harman for helping with the situation on Jonestown Road following the accident on November 10. Mrs. Zimmerman said that the Fire Police helped with traffic control.

Discuss Hiring of New Public Works Department Employee. Mr. Harman said he hoped to hire a full-time employee for the road crew prior to the end of 2001 so that person could be prepared to help with plowing during the winter months. Mr. Rimer said he would advertise the position as soon as possible.

Road Inspection. Mrs. Zimmerman said that road inspection would have to be changed from November 17 as several members had schedule conflicts. She suggested that the Board meet at the Township building on Saturday, November 24, 2001 at 9 a.m. to conduct the road inspection. It was agreed by consensus to change the date for road inspection.

ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to adjourn the meeting. The motion was unanimously approved. The workshop adjourned at 9:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Gail A. Martin

Township Secretary