MINUTES OF ZONING HEARING BOARD MEETING

 

The zoning hearing board of Palmer Township met on Tuesday May 6, 2008, at 7:30 P.M. in the Palmer Memorial Library, One Weller Place, to hear the following appeals.  In attendance were Maura McGuire, alternate zoning board solicitor, filling in for Nicholas Noel III, Esq., Daniel Caravetta, acting, board chairman, alternate board member R. Margaret Kennedy and Cherie Kavanaugh, John A. Embardino, zoning officer, and court reporter Ted Rewak.  The media was represented by Madeline Mathias of the Morning Call.

Approval for the minutes of the April hearings was continued to June 3, 2008.

 

08-09 7:30 p.m.  Kim and Michael Charles, residing at 9 Country Side Court, located in a medium density zoning district, are seeking a special exception pursuant to section 190-38 B, to operate a screen printing business as a home occupation.

WITNESSES:  Kim Charles.

ACTION:  R. Margaret Kennedy made a motion to approve this special exception with no on-premise signage as none was requested.  The motion was seconded by Cherie Kavanaugh, with all in agreement.

 

08-10              7:40 p.m.  Dominick Matinelli, residing at 4020 Winfield Terrace, located in a medium density residential zoning district, is seeking a special exception pursuant to section190-38 B, in order to operate an electronics installation business as a home occupation.

WITNESSES:  Dominick and Kristin Matinelli

ACTION:  Cherie Kavanaugh made a motion to grant this special exception with no vehicle signs and on premise signage approved.  There is to be no outdoor storage of equipment or materials and no other employees.  The motion was seconded by R. Margaret Kennedy, with all in agreement.

 

08-11 7:50 p.m.  Victor Lopez, residing at 335 Old Orchard Drive, is seeking a variance from section 190-33 G, in order to construct an addition that would encroach upon the 35-foot rear yard setback requirements for a residence located in a low density residential zoning district.

WITNESSES:  Richard Williams and Victor Lopez, owners.  George Hollup, 315 Old Orchard Drive, Ted Sauselein, 340 Crescent Drive, Samuel Rosenberg, 345 Old Orchard Drive, objectors.

ACTION:  Cherie Kavanaugh made a motion to approve the construction of an addition to the rear of the home as long as a minimum of thirty (30) feet rear yard setback is maintained.  The motion was seconded by R. Margaret Kennedy, with all in agreement.

 

08-12 8:00 p.m.  Jeffrey Godley Sr., residing at 1201 Van Buren Road, located in a medium density residential zoning district, is seeking a variance from section 190-169 A (3) (d), to park a truck that would exceed the 8,000 pound limits set for the parking of a commercial vehicles in a residential zone. 

WITNESSES:  Jeffrey and Kristin Godley, Kristopher Grube, 2 Lower Way Road.

ACTION:  R. Margaret Kennedy made a motion to deny this variance to park a commercial vehicle in excess of 8000 pounds in a residential district.  The motion was seconded by Cherie Kavanaugh, with all in agreement.

 

08-13 8:10 p.m.  Victor Ricci, owner of the premises at 2468 Park Avenue, is seeking relief from section 190-191, limiting a property to one principal use, in order to construct a multi-unit commercial building on the premises which are located in a general commercial zoning district in the Route 248 Overlay District.

WITNESSES:  Brian and Victor Ricci, owners.

ACTION:  Cherie Kavanaugh made a motion to grant the request to construct a multi-use building with the stipulations that all uses must meet the list of allowable uses in a general commercial district and all parking requirements for the uses are met.  The motion was seconded by R. Margaret Kennedy, with all in agreement.

 

08-14 8:20 p.m.  Verus Partners, LLC, Exton, PA, is seeking a special exception pursuant to section 190-154 I, to do road and storm water improvements through a designated 100-year flood zone, located at the intersection of Newlins Mill and Van Buren Roads in conjunction with a proposed approved conditional use at 2320 Newlins Mill Road.

WITNESSES:  Lewis E. Rauch, of Lehigh Engineering, Gregory Davis, Esq., of Saul Ewing, Wayne PA, and Gilbert Greene, 32 Edinburgh Drive.

ACTION:  Cherie Kavanaugh made a motion to grant this special exception meeting all conditions of this special exception.  The motion was seconded by R. Margaret Kennedy, with all in agreement.

 

08-15 8:20 p.m.  Easton Area School District, Joseph Kish, Superintendent, 1801 Bushkill Drive, Easton, PA, is seeking variances from the following sections of the Palmer Township zoning ordinances in order to operate an academy at 2035 Edgewood Avenue, located in a Heavy Industrial zoning district.  190-168 G, parking lot setback requirements; 190-168 H, separation of parking facilities from  any public street; 190-168 I, screening requirements between parking facilities and residential uses; 190-168 C, width requirements for parking aisles for two-way traffic; 190-210 B (27)(e), requiring off-street bus management and vehicular drop-off area; 190-167 F, requiring off-street parking spaces to be located on the same lot or premises as the principal use; 190-168 F, requiring illumination after dusk for parking areas for more than 6 cars; 190-168 B (1), requiring a minimum width of 9 feet for parking spaces.

WITNESSES: Joseph Kish, acting school district superintendent, Alan McFall, Esq., EASD solicitor, James Mazeika, P.E. of Barry Isett & Associates, Allysa Cortez, associate director of alternative education, Ronald Heckman, transportation supervisor, and Henry Guarriello, of D’Huy Engineering.

ACTION:  R. Margaret Kennedy made a motion to grant the following relief:

1. 190-168 G, parking lot setback requirements

2. 190-168 H, separation of parking facilities from any public street

3. 190-168 I, screening requirements between parking facilities and residential uses

4. 190-168 C, parking aisle width requirements for two-way traffic.

This motion was seconded by Cherie Kavanaugh, with all in agreement.

A second motion was made by Cherie Kavanaugh to deny relief from section 190-210 B (27) (e), requiring off-street bus management and vehicular drop-off areas.  This motion was seconded by R. Margaret Kennedy, with all in agreement.

A third motion was made by R. Margaret Kennedy to grant relief from section 190-167 F, requiring off-street parking spaces to be located on the same lot as the principal uses.  The motion was seconded by Cherie Kavanaugh, with all in agreement.

A fourth motion made by Cherie Kavanaugh to deny relief from section 190-168 F, requiring illumination after dusk for parking areas for more than six cars was seconded by R. Margaret Kennedy and all were in agreement.

A fifth motion made by R. Margaret Kennedy to grant relief from section 190-168 B (1), requiring a minimum width of nine feet for parking spaces was seconded by Cherie Kavanaugh and all were in agreement.

 

Having no further business to discuss, the hearing was adjourned.

 

John A. Embardino

Zoning Officer