MINUTES OF ZONING HEARING BOARD MEETING

The zoning hearing board of Palmer Township met on Tuesday, March 7, at 7:30 P.M. in the Palmer Memorial Library, One Weller Place, to hear the following appeals. In attendance were Nicholas Noel III, zoning board solicitor, Charles Roseberry, board chairman, Cherie Kavanaugh, board member, and R. Margaret Kennedy, alternate filling in for Daniel Caravetta, John A. Embardino, zoning officer, and court reporter Ted Rewak.

A motion was made by Cherie Kavanaugh to accept the minutes of the January 4 and February 7 zoning hearings. Charles Roseberry seconded the motion with two in agreement. R. Margaret Kennedy was not present at those hearings.

06-11 7:30 p.m. Timothy Siegfried, Esq., representing Interstate Development Services, Inc. for Commerce Bank, 17000 Horizon Way, Mount Laurel, NJ, is seeking relief from section 190-176 (F), prohibiting placement of signs within close proximity to residential districts, 190-184 (A) (4) (a), prohibiting wall signs not facing a public street and facing residential districts, 190-179, regulating area and advertising on directional signs, 190-161, regulating light and glare for signs, 190-174 B, limiting the number of colors for signs, and sections 190-183, 190-184 (A)(4)(b), 190-176 F, 190-161, and 190-174 (B), regulating height, location, number, light and glare, and colors of their proposed freestanding signs. Commerce Bank is to be located at 2417 Park Avenue, within the boundaries of the Palmer Park Mall, part of a PC zone.

WITNESSES: Timothy Seigfried, Esq., Mike Jeitner of Bohler Engineering, Creigh Rahenkamp, professional planner, Mildred Polomchak, 2930 Woodlawn Avenue, Peggy Heim, 2430 Park Avenue.

The following discussions were taken in order of appearance on exhibit A-2, (addendum to Zoning Application):

Sign A. A motion was made by Cherie Kavanaugh to grant the placement of an interior lit 39.75 square foot letter “C” logo as depicted on exhibit A 6.1, on the south wall facing Park Avenue with the condition that the lighting be turned off at the end of daily business hours. This motion was seconded by R. Margaret Kennedy, with all in agreement.

Sign B. Cherie Kavanaugh made a motion to grant an 11.89 square foot script wall sign as depicted in exhibit A 6.4, consisting of the lettering “Commerce Bank” which is non-illuminate and including a letter “C” logo which is internally illuminated, on the north wall facing the Palmer Park Mall with the condition that the lighting be turned off at the end of daily business hours. The motion was seconded by R. Margaret Kennedy, with all in agreement.

Sign C. Cherie Kavanaugh made a motion to deny directional signs as requested but to approve three (3) 12 inch by 24 inch internally illuminated directional signs having a height of 24 inches as depicted on the lower part of exhibit A 6.5, and to allow a maximum of four (4) colors with the condition that the lighting be turned off at the end of daily business hours. The motion was seconded by R. Margaret Kennedy, with all in agreement.

Sign D. Cherie Kavanaugh made a motion to deny a freestanding pylon sign and a monument sign as presented in exhibit A 6.2, but to allow an internally illuminated monument sign in the style as presented in this exhibit with a maximum height of nine (9) feet and a maximum sign area of twenty-eight (28) square feet and a maximum of four (4) colors. This motion was seconded by R. Margaret Kennedy, with all in agreement.

06-12 7:40 p.m. Holly and Rune Breidfjord, 6 Edie Place, are seeking relief from section 190-42 F (1) regulating side yards in an MDR district, in order to construct an addition to their home.

WITNESS: Holly Breidfjord.

R. Margaret Kennedy made a motion to deny the garage addition as requested, but to allow a maximum thirteen (13) foot wide garage to be constructed on the east side of the home, keeping a Nine (9) foot side yard setback with an aggregate side yard setback of approximately eighteen (18) feet. This motion was seconded by Cherie Kavanaugh, with all in agreement.

06-13 7:50 p.m. Alice Shields, representing Palmer Hotel LLC, is seeking relief from sections 190-185 B (6) and 190-183 A, regulating height and area of freestanding signs, in order to add more signage to an existing, previously approved freestanding sign along the Rte. 22 frontage of the Holiday Inn Express, located at 90 Kunkle Drive, part of a PO/B zoning district.

WITNESSES: Alice Shields and Harshila Patel.

A motion was made by Cherie Kavanaugh to deny this request because an original application for a freestanding sign in 2001 has allowed an area in excess of ordinance allowances and granting this request would increase the nonconformity. This motion was seconded by R. Margaret Kennedy, with all in agreement.

06-14 8:00 p.m. Michael and Sandy Hagan, 3021 Old Nazareth Road, are seeking relief from sections 190-42 E (3) and 190-194 B (4) (b), regulating front yard setback and encroachment into a required front yard, in order to add an extra story to and enclose an existing front porch fronting a collector road in an MDR zone.

WITNESSES: Michael and Sandy Hagan>

R. Margaret Kennedy made a motion to deny this request. Cherie Kavanaugh seconded the motion and all were in agreement.

Having no further business to discuss, the hearing was adjourned

John A. Embardino

Zoning Officer