WEST VINCENT TOWNSHIP
PLANNING COMMISSION

August 21, 2008                     7:30 PM

Attendance:  Chairman Peter Rodgers, Vice Chairperson Jean Warrick, Sara Shick, Bob Kaiser, George Martin, Township Manager Jim Wendelgass and Township Secretary Tammy Swavely.

Chairman Rodgers called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM.

The minutes of July 17, 2008 were unanimously approved as submitted on a motion by Shick and a second by Warrick.

Correspondence:

The Open Space Advisory Committee Minutes, the Environmental Advisory Council Minutes and the Board of Supervisors Minutes that were previously distributed by e-mail were acknowledged as received.  The Erosion & Stormwater Control Inspection Reports and Earth Disturbance Reports distributed by e-mail were acknowledged as received. 

SUBDIVISION/LAND DEVELOPMENT:

Wilkinson:  Nothing new with this application.

Burch/Woodstone:   A review letter has been received from Carroll Engineering dated August 13, 2008.  The Applicant plans to come discuss the plan at the September 18, 2008 Planning Commission meeting.

Weyl:  There has been a motion to dismiss the Appeal on this Conditional Use Decision by the Applicant’s attorney due to no brief being filed. 

St. Andrews Church:  A Conditional Use Decision is planned to be given by the Board of Supervisors on August 25, 2008.

Wetherhold/Remington:  A review letter has been received from Carroll Engineering dated August 5, 2008.  The Applicant plans to come discuss the plan at the September 18, 2008 Planning Commission meeting.

PLANNING/ZONING:

Ludwigs Square:  Jim Wendelgass stated that the Applicant apparently wants to rename this development “The Promenade at Chester Springs”.  Sara noted that the area is better known as Ludwig’s Corner.  The Applicant met with Kise, Straw and Kolodner, the consultant who helped the Township write the Ludwig’s Corner Master Plan for a better idea of the concept.  Wendelgass stated that they were generally receptive of some of the concepts but at this time the setbacks will be an issue.  A new sketch plan might be forth coming.

Collie Construction:  This Zoning Hearing has been postponed indefinitely. 

Becker:  The Zoning Hearing has been continued until September 9, 2008.  The pool has been removed from the plan.  They still need a hearing to construct structures in the setback from the creek. 

Abram Realty/PNC Bank:  Nothing new with this application.

Tummillo:  Wendelgass has been in contact with Mr. Tummillo several times on different issues.  The Applicant needs a Zoning Amendment the substance of which has been included in the revisions to the ZO currently under review by the BOS.

Holderness/Davis:  The Hearing is continued until September 9, 2008. 

Old Business:

The Zoning Ordinance revisions have been prepared and given to the Board of Supervisors for review.

Residents on Red Fox Lane and others nearby hear the skeet shooting from the Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show property.  It is on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings.  The direction of the shoot has changed and can be heard in different directions.  Rodgers recommended that the Township use a decibel meter to determine the level of noise.  Once that is established, the Planning Commission could consider drafting an ordinance to regulate this activity.  

New Business:

Fred and Ann Hoelzle, 562 Red Bone Road, Tax Parcel 25-7-87.1L came before the Planning Commission to propose an ordinance limiting the number of unrelated persons that are allowed to live in the same residence.  The Hoelzles stated that the people renting the house next to him the last three (3) years have done much property damage to his side of the shared driveway and along the grass.  They have also left trash cans out and their yard is a mess.  They drive recklessly and have shot fireworks off at 2:00 AM.  He has contacted them about this several times but they do not listen.  He also has contacted the property owner who does not respond.  He feels if the number of unrelated tenants was set at a specific number (less than 5) that this would not happen.  Shick stated that there are homes in the Township that house unrelated residents in group homes and would have a concern on how these properties would be worked into that type of ordinance.  Rodgers stated he feels that there might be state legislation that would prohibit this type of ordinance.  Martin stated that he understands the Hoelzles problem, but it is a behavior problem, not because they are unrelated.  Martin stated that you could have bad neighbors that are related.  Even though talking with them has not helped the Township should not get involved with this type of ordinance.  Kaiser stated that it would be very difficult to regulate it.  The Planning Commission was sympathetic to the Hoelzles problem and suggested that they contact the West Vincent Police Department to see if they could help.

Ken Yerger, Township Engineer, has reviewed the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance of 1999 for necessary updates and suggested some specific revisions.  The Planning Commission will ask Mr. Yerger to come to their next workshop to go over the suggestions on September 11, 2008.

Shick informed the Planning Commission that at the last Board of Supervisors meeting Wendelgass informed the public that a new gas pipeline will be coming through West Vincent Township through much of the preserved land.  This company, Dominion Transmission, Inc. (DTI), will require a 150’ right-of-way.  The Township needs to stay on top of this to make sure all environmental issues are addressed.  It is probable that it will go through Township Open Space and to determine an appraised value will be a challenge.  Members of the Planning Commission expressed concern that as a result of the township’s efforts to preserve open space, i.e. preclude future development on such lands, that the pipeline people will reap a financial windfall because these lands will most likely appraise at a lower value than they would have if future development were still permitted thereon.  There is no Application filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC at this time.  It was suggested that information regarding this issue be included in the next Township newsletter to make residents aware of this situation.

Jim Wendelgass informed the PC that at a recent BOS meeting, Michelle Thomas alleged that she had a previously approved (from the 1950’s), but not recorded, six lot subdivision on one of her lots on Weidener Way.  She apparently submitted an old plan to the county tax assessor’s office  and was issued separate tax bills for the six alleged parcels.  The township was able to correct the record and the tax assessor’s office reversed itself on this issue since Michelle was not able to produce a signed approved copy of alleged subdivision.

Martin made the motion to adjourn, Kaiser seconded the motion. 

Meeting adjourned 8:55 PM.