MINUTES OF ZONING HEARING BOARD MEETING

 

The zoning hearing board of Palmer Township met on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, at 7:30 P.M. in the Palmer Memorial Library, One Weller Place, to hear the following appeals.  In attendance Nicholas Noel III, Esq., Zoning Board Solicitor, Charles Roseberry, Board Chairman, Cherie Kavanaugh Board Member, Dan Caravetta Board Member, James Raudenbush, Zoning Officer, and Court Reporter Ted Rewak. 

 

Cherie Kavanaugh made a motion to accept the minutes of the December 5, 2009, zoning hearings.  The motion was seconded by Charles Roseberry, with all in agreement.

 

Cherie Kavanaugh then made a motion to appoint Charles Roseberry as zoning board chairman for 2010. The motion was seconded by Dan Caravetta, with all in agreement.

 

Charles Roseberry then made a motion to reappoint Nicholas Noel III as the Zoning Hearing Board solicitor for 2010. The motion was seconded by Cherie Kavanaugh with all in agreement.

 

10-01 7:30 p.m. 378 Palmetto Dr., Janet and John Guido are seeking a special exception from section 190-38B in order to have a home occupation consisting of a beauty salon. This property is located in a Medium Density Residential Zoning District.

Witnesses: Janet and John Guido

Action: Cherie Kavanaugh made a motion to grant the special exception for a home occupation consisting of a beauty salon with the following conditions. Mrs. Guido will be the only employee and the hours of operation will be 10:00a.m. to 8:00p.m. two days a week, with additional limited hours offered on Friday and Saturday. Also, any and all signage will comply with township ordinances. The motion was seconded by Dan Caravetta with everyone in agreement.

 

09-34 7:40 p.m. 765 S. 25th St., Duane Horne, Property Manager for Fameco Management, 633 West Germantown Pike, Suite 200, Plymouth Meeting Pa 19462 is seeking a variance from section 190-184A(4)(a) to increase the total wall signage within the Palmer Town Center shopping center. The additional wall sign would be for a new business consisting of an Army Recruiting Center. This property is located in a General Commercial Zoning District.

Witnesses: Bill Staples, Contractor

Action: Dan Caravetta made a motion to grant a variance for the sign with the dimensions of 11.53” x 181.95” as depicted on exhibit A-11a at the time of the hearing, with the sign being turned off thirty minutes after the close of business. The motion was seconded by Cherie Kavanaugh with all in agreement.

 

10-02 7:50 p.m. M9SW1-18-11,12,13, Tim McLaughlin, 40 Waltman Loop Lane, Easton, Pa 18042 is seeking a special exception from section 190-199 C(2)(a) in order to build a single family detached dwelling on  non-conforming lots of record. The lots are located in a High Density Residential Zoning District.

Witnesses: Tim McLaughlin

Action: The applicant was giving testimony and realized that there would be further information that would be needed for the special exception. The applicant then made a request to the board that he be allowed to come to the February 2, 2010 zoning hearing to supplement the testimony that was given. The board granted his request, unanimously.

 

10-03 8:00 p.m. 3655 William Penn Hwy, Thomas Buchner, 3134 Prescott Rd, Bethlehem Pa 18020, is seeking a variance from section190-191 A in order to sublet approximately 1000 square feet of office space within an unused portion of the building in which his insurance business is located. This property is located in a General Commercial Zoning district as well as within the William Penn Overlay District.

Witnesses: Thomas Buchner, Nicholas Sabatine, Esq.

Action: Cherie Kavanaugh made a motion to grant the variance for a financial planning business with three employees, with the condition that a zoning hearing would be required for any future changes of use. The motion was seconded by Dan Caravetta with all in agreement.

 

09-33 8:10 p.m. Corner of Northwood Ave. and Nazareth Rd. Parcels L8-4-1 and L8-4-2. 25th St CVS, Inc, 621 Delaware St, P.O. Box 428, New Castle, DE 19720 are seeking variances for signage associated with a CVS pharmacy. The proposed freestanding pylon sign  requires relief from section 190-180B to have an electronic message board, section190-183A to have a sign that is 24 feet high(10 feet is the Maximum), and section 190-184A(3)(b) to have one freestanding sign with an area of 92.73 square feet( two freestanding signs are allowed with a 60 square foot maximum). The applicant is also requesting relief from section190-179D or in the alternative section 190-184A(3)(b)[3] to have four directional signs located on site. The proposed  wall signs that would be facing  a public street require relief from section 190-184A(3)(a), 100.43 square feet of wall signage is being proposed along Northwood Ave., and 102.93 square feet of signage is being proposed along Nazareth Rd., with the ordinance allowing for 60 square feet total. The applicant is seeking a determination whether the wall signs that are not facing a public street are exempt under section 190-179D and is requesting a variance to allow these signs to exceed the 4 square foot maximum. The applicant is also seeking an interpretation or in the alternative a variance from section 190-176F to have a business sign facing or within close proximity to a residential district. This property is located in a General Commercial Zoning District.

Witnesses: Erich Schock, Esq., Bob Oelenschlager, National Sign Services, Ann and Vincent Cruver 3516 Nazareth Rd., Dave Maitland, 3514 Nazareth Rd.

Action: At the request of the applicant, the proposed canopy signage and the variance from section 190-180B were withdrawn from the application. The applicant then asked to modify their application regarding section 190-183A for the height of a freestanding sign, changing the sign height to 14’ versus the 24’ that was originally requested. Also, the original variance request from section190-184A(3)(b) to have a freestanding sign that would have been 92.73 square feet was modified to have a freestanding sign that would be 24.55 square feet.

Dan Caravetta made a motion to grant the variances for the signage requested at the time of the hearing with the exception of the Drive-thru Pharmacy signs on the right and front side elevations shown on exhibit A-7b. Dan Caravetta also motioned to approve the small drive-thru pharmacy signs on the right and rear side elevations with 9” lettering as shown on exhibit A-7b, and that all lights be tuned off thirty minutes after the close of business. Cherie Kavanaugh seconded the motion with all in agreement.

 

Having no further business to discuss, the hearing was adjourned at 10:40p.m.

 

James F. Raudenbush

Zoning Officer