PALMER TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION

MAY 13, 2003

The monthly meeting of the Palmer Township Planning Commission was held on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. with the following in attendance: Chairman Smith, Vice Chairman Grandinetti, members Wilkins, Fuller and Grube. Also in attendance were Planning Director Sales, Solicitor Bruno, Engineer Dillman, Zoning Administrator Embardino and Supervisor Lammi. News media was represented by the Express/Times.

Chairman Smith opened the meeting by leading those present in the Pledge to the Flag. Minutes of the previous meeting were approved on motion by Grube, seconded by Grandinetti, and agreed by all.

PROLOGIS – RT. 33 – Final Plan – Attorney Stan Margle was present with Engineer Brian Evans and stated they have been to the Lower Nazareth Planning Commission and have received conditional final approval. They are slated to be on the Board of Supervisors agenda for May 28^th in Lower Nazareth for approval. Margle stated there are two items that they will discuss with the Board of Supervisors which are the extension of the box culvert and the recreation/traffic fee. The applicant is questioning the extension of the box culvert to the right-of-way. If this is to be done, they would like to receive credit towards the recreation/traffic impact fees that they will be required pay. Engineer’s comments were reviewed and applicant did not have a problem with them, except the two previously discussed. Wilkins stated he felt the township should stick with the request to have the box culvert extended the additional 16 feet. Smith motioned to recommend approval of Prologis Final Plan to the Board of Supervisors, conditioned that the box culvert is extended the 16 feet, the total fees are paid for recreation and traffic and not reduced towards work done, and also conditioned that all comments by the township engineer of their letter dated May 6, 2003 are complied with. Wilkins seconded this motion. Fuller stated he cannot agree with a motion that burdens an applicant to do work in an area that is not theirs. Motion was 4 yea, Fuller voting no.

CARL & THERESA SCALZO – Newlins Mill Road – Minor Subdivision – Mr. and Mrs. Scalzo were present with plans for their minor subdivision. The plan proposed to subdivide the existing 2 acre lot owned by the applicants, into two 1 acre lots. Applicant’s engineer has submitted a letter of a deferral and two waivers. Township engineer’s review letter was reviewed and the applicant does not have a problem with them. The deferral was for the installation of sidewalk, street trees and concrete driveway aprons along frontage. Dillman stated they would support this deferral and the one waiver for iron pins in place of concrete monuments but noted that all corners must be marked. The waiver for the USGS Datum was not supported by the township engineer. Mr. Scalzo agreed with these recommendations. On motion by Grandinetti, seconded by Wilkins, and agreed by all, the Commission voted to recommend approval of the Scalzo minor subdivision on Newlins Mill Road, to the Board of Supervisors conditioned that the comments by the township engineer in their letter dated May 8, 2003 be complied with and that the deferral and one waiver regarding the concrete monuments be approved, but the waiver for the USGS Datum not be approved.

NORTHWOOD INDUSTRIAL PARK – Lot #14 – Mr. Robert Toedter was present with the final plans for the warehouse/office development plan. Bruno stated the Commission should hear the request of the Conditional Use first and then go into the development plan. Mr. Toedter stated this warehousing was for promotional products to be delivered, taken out of the container, unpacked and repacked into gift sets and shipped out by UPS, Fed Ex, small vehicles such as these. There will be a tractor trailer delivery once a month, but no overnight parking. There will not be any outside storage or no manufacturing at this site. Fuller motioned to recommend approval of the conditional use request, seconded by Grandinetti, and agreed by all. Bruno stated they have to have a public hearing for this conditional use request. It will be scheduled in June. The Board of Supervisors planning meeting is June 24^th so we would like an extension of time to submit both plans to the Board of Supervisors on that night. Mr. Toedter agreed with this and will get something in the mail on Wednesday.

NORTHWOOD INDUSTRIAL PARK – Lot #14 – Development Plan – Engineer’s comments were reviewed. A written request for the sidewalk installation deferral must be submitted. There were no other questions regarding the engineer’s comments. On motion by Grube, seconded by Wilkins, and agreed by all, the Commission recommended final approval of the Land Development plan to the Board of Supervisors conditioned that comments by the township engineer in their letter dated May 6, 2003 be complied with, that the deferral for sidewalk installation be approved and that all recreation fees be paid.

PALMER NORTH, L.P. – North wide of Corriere Road – Mr. Bob Johnson and J.B. Reilly, owners of the tract of land located on the north side of Corriere Road along with Engineer Larry Turoscy and Lou Roche were all present with the request of zoning change for a portion of this tract of land. The total tract is 100 acres which is zoned PO/IP. They are requesting that 63 acres of this land be rezoned MDR. They stated they would like to continue the active adult community which they are now developing, on the south side of the roadway, onto this portion of the land. They have received a letter from the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission stating their support of this zoning request. They propose 250 age-restricted residential units to be constructed on this property. This complex would be private, just as the other one they are constructing, is. Smith stated he felt there should be a plan to run in conjunction with the rezoning request, to show what their intent was for this property. Johnson stated they did not want to go through the expense of getting a plan drawn, they felt they would ask for the rezoning request and state what was their intent. Grandinetti and Grube also felt that a plan should reflect what was proposed for this land. They support the use of an active adult community, if this is what they are going to do, but felt a plan should reflect this. Fuller motioned to recommend the rezoning request. Wilkins seconded this motion. Motion was 2 yea, 3 nay. The rezoning request was denied. Johnson asked how the Board of Supervisors would get this information and Bruno stated he would be writing a letter which would outline what occurred tonight. Johnson felt if they had a plan showing their intent then maybe the request would have been approved. They will be before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, May 27.

SINKHOLE ORDINANCE – Ted Sales reviewed the sinkhole ordinance that was distributed to all members. There will be a public hearing for this before the Board of Supervisors, the first week in June. He stated there were a few changes. On motion by Grube, seconded by Grandinetti, and agreed by all, the Commission voted to recommend approval of the Carbonate Regulation ordinance by the Board of Supervisors.

EASTON LLC – This was removed from the agenda tonight at the applicant’s request.

PUBLIC COMMENT –

Mr. Moran asked that if something is removed from the agenda, could it please be announced at the beginning of the meeting. Smith apologized for this oversight.

Fuller stated he recently read that Dave Colver, Chairman/Supervisor has recently discussed with other Board the update of the community center. He felt that as a planning board, we should be involved in this. Also he felt that the land off of Green Pond Road is not the best place, and maybe an area like Fairview Park, which is near the bike path would be better accessible. Lammi stated there is no information for the Planning Commission to review as of yet but they will be before this Commission for their input.

On motion by Grube, seconded by Grandinetti, and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

Diane Grube, Corr. Sec.