PALMER TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION

JULY 9, 2002

The regular monthly meeting of the Palmer Township Planning Commission was held on Tuesday, July 9, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. with all members in attendance except Fuller and Stoneback. Chairman Grandinetti convened the meeting and led those present in the Pledge to the flag after which minutes of the June meeting were approved as written.

RESIGNATION – Christopher Hess has resigned his position as a member and secretary of the Palmer Planning Commission. On motion by Young, seconded by Wilkins, Robert E. Smith was nominated as Secretary. Nominations were closed and Commission approved the appointment of Robert E. Smith as Secretary for the remainder of the year.

Solicitor Bruno stated that due to the quorum that the Commission has all votes must be unanimous in order to pass. There are only four members present out of the six person Commission.

THE CHILDREN’S HOME OF EASTON – S. 25^TH ST. AND LEHIGH DRIVE - Mr. Joseph Black, representative of the Children’s Home and Tom Buss from Liberty Engineering were present with a plan for the proposed cottages. Buss noted he did not have a problem with most of the engineer’s comments but would like to review a few. As far as the storm water management discharge this will have to be approved by Wilson Borough as the detention facility is located in that municipality. Discussion centered on the walk path from the main campus to the proposed cottages. This would be a blacktop path that would enable the students to walk to the cottages from the main campus. The township bike path is also going to be in this area. It would be approximately 600-800 feet and will be 12’ wide. Ted Sales noted that the township does not expect to pave it for a length of time and asked if this section could be paved when they were doing theirs. Mr. Black did not have a problem with this. Young also asked if they could check on lighting in the area of the bike trail. In the winter hours there will probably be students/pedestrians on this section. Black noted they would have lighting on their property and will check into the cost for the township section. There will definitely be public water for these cottages and will be an 8” water line which will be extended from the far east property. The waivers/deferrals were then discussed and Dillman noted he did not have a problem with the deferral of the sidewalk along Lehigh Drive but felt the deferral for the curbing should wait until such time as the design of the storm water detention is submitted. Buss noted that the plans were submitted to Wilson Borough, LVPC, Northampton County Conservation District and the Water Authority for review. Bruno then stated that Jeff Young is on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Home and if there would be a vote on this item, he would have to abstain from voting. Therefore, the motion would fail since there is only the four members present. If the motion would be to table this item, there would not be a problem for Young to vote on. Commission felt there was quite a few items that had to be revised. On motion by Wilkins, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Commission voted to table action on this plan until such time as the plan is revised and resubmitted.

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KEYSTONE SAVINGS BANK - Mr. Michael Mox was present along with a representative of the Keystone Savings Bank with a proposed final plan to construct a Keystone Savings Bank on a 1.2 +/- acre lot located at the northwest corner of Nazareth Road and Newburg Road. This building will replace the existing Palmer Nursery building. The engineer’s comments were reviewed and there was discussion on the entrance ways into the bank property off Rt. 248. There will be a right turn only into the bank off Rt. 248. Traffic traveling north would have to make a left onto Newburg Road and then a right into the bank. Commission asked for them to review having a left turn into the bank just north of the Newburg Road intersection. There may not be enough room to have two left turns right after each other, but they were asked to research this. There should be driveway aprons at the entrances as well. The lighting plan has already been submitted and is being reviewed by the lighting consultant. Young asked that this be reviewed to see if there are dome type lights or recessed type lights. The dome lights have a very strong glare and not the type to use at a bank with residences surrounding the building. The signage will be submitted and they were encouraged to take into consideration the overlay district requirements. The buffering line of trees between the properties to the west will remain and fencing was discussed. Young and Wilkins felt fencing should be installed on the north side of the property as well as around the radius. There are a few variances that are needed by the Zoning Hearing Board. Also, a short version traffic analysis was requested. There were quite a few comments to be reviewed and variances to be obtained. Grandinetti asked if there were any questions or comments from the audience and Bob Rogers asked what the comment was on the left turn into the bank from Rt. 248 was. Young stated they were requesting them to look at this to see what Penn Dot would advise. Rogers felt this is a very dangerous area. On motion by Young, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Commission voted to table the Keystone Savings Bank preliminary/final land development plan.

ST. JANE FRANCIS DE CHANTAL – Hartley Avenue – Mr. Dennis Connell, Greg Chrin, and George Tomaino were present with a sketch plan of the proposed athletic fields to be constructed on the church grounds. Solicitor Bruno noted that in the past and on present occasions he has represented the church on legal matters. He also is the representative for the township and asked if either group had a problem with him sitting in on this and was told no, neither had a problem. The proposed plan is for the construction of four soccer fields, a pavilion with restrooms and a stone access driveway on the north end of the tract. This will be for emergency vehicle access only and there will be a gate installed at the entrance. There was discussion on pedestrian traffic crossing the swale and walking to and from the parking lot/fields. There was suggested a footbridge being erected but it was also noted that if there is a storm the children would not be on the fields anyway. It is a ruling that during church services there will not be any activity on any of the fields so therefore the parking spaces would be used for either church service or field use. The detention pond will now be fenced. This was a deferral that was granted previously. There will not be any lighting for the fields as they will be used only in the daytime. There will also be a 15 foot high chain link fence along the

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northern border of the fields to protect the fields as well as any balls from entering Rt. 22. This fencing would have a nylon netting along the top. They have to get variances from the Zoning Hearing Board for the fencing and parking situation. On motion by Young, seconded by Wilkins, and agreed by all, the Commission voted to send a letter to the Zoning Hearing Board recommending they look favorable on the fencing along Rt. 22 and the non-simultaneous parking at the church. Commission thanked the gentlemen for appearing before them and look forward to working with them in the future.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN – Grandinetti then stated that the Comprehensive Plan is before the Commission again to review the changes that were made from the last meeting. Lammi stated that he wanted the Commission to be comfortable with the changes before they made a decision to pass it onto the Board of Supervisors. Jeff Young then reviewed all changes that were made and discussion was centered on each individual change.

Craig Weintraub stated he strongly objected to the change that added open space be made a part of the light industrial requirement. He feels this is a big policy change and that light industry could reserve open space for their own use but now the government is going to require it. He stated again he strongly objected to this proposed change as it would affect the company he represented enormously in the northern end of the township. Young responded by saying it could be earmarked as an overlay or preserving open space along natural settings, something of that nature.

Twin homes were taken out of the MDR district years ago and the planning consultant and LVPC suggested that they be put back in. Commission did not have a problem with this. Mr. Moran, resident in the audience felt that twins would fit in well in a cluster-type arrangement and you would be able to obtain open space this way.

Other changes in wording were made and these will be revised and resubmitted. Young stated there was a paragraph change on the EMS service which summarized that Suburban EMS serves three communities. When the north end of the township gets developed there will have to be a sub-station and at that time the Board of Supervisors will address this as to what will take place then. Weintraub stated he has spoken with Barry Albertson, Director of Suburban EMS and they have discussed that there will have to be housing for emergency services, i.e., emergency squad, fire truck, police vehicles.

Robert Rogers questioned the item in the industrial/future development stating that the roadways would be widened. Asked if this would be Wilson or Palmer side. Grandinetti read the new section that was to be replaced and it was agreed that a section of this was to be taken out.

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Weintraub noted they have communicated and cooperated with all municipal officials in the past and would like to comment that adjoining municipalities will have the “big box” warehouses built in their municipalities when Palmer is restricting this. Also stated that the new requirement in rural future, states that an interchange must be provided before any construction could take place. This is a regional issue and feels that there will be an interchange in the future but does not feel that this should be a requirement.

The Commission was asked if the township was going to adopt an official map and Lammi responded that the township already had an official map and that this would be a map that would be put together with certain information on it. Lammi also stated that when this comprehensive plan is put together he will put on the Web Site where and when it will be available.

Mr. Moran noted that the map states a small portion of HDR district on William Penn Highway. This is to be changed.

Weintraub stated despite their objection on the one item, they feel okay with the plan and feels it should move onto the Board of Supervisors.

There are numerous changes that have to be addressed and the Commission feels that two members should meet with the planning consultant to get them completed. Smith motioned, and Young seconded, to approve the comprehensive plan after changes are made in a meeting with the planning consultant and two members who will be Smith and Young, and move onto the Board of Supervisors for their approval. Grandinetti agreed with Wilkins voting no. Motion failed at this time. Wilkins felt that there were too many changes and he would like to see them again before they get passed onto the Board. He was asked if he would like to sit in on the meeting with the planning consultant and he said yes, but he still wants to see it at a Commission meeting.

On motion by Wilkins, seconded by young, and agreed by all, the Board voted to table action on the Comprehensive Plan until the August 13^th meeting at which time changes will have been made and distributed to all.

On motion by Young, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at 10:50 p.m.

Diane Grube, Corr. Sec.