MINUTES OF ZONING HEARING BOARD MEETING

The zoning hearing board of Palmer Township met on Tuesday, June 1, 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, Peg Kennedy, Alternate Board Member, James Raudenbush, Zoning Officer, and Court Reporter Ted Rewak.

Cherie Kavanaugh made a motion to accept the minutes of the April 6, 2010, zoning hearings. The motion was seconded by Charles Roseberry, with all in agreement.

10-08 7:30 p.m. 258 Lewis Circle, Tracey Harris, 1660 Willow Dr, Easton, Pa 18040 is seeking a special exception from section 190-38 B to have a home occupation consisting of a hair salon. The salon would be located at 258 Lewis Circle within the Estates of Stocker Mill. The construction of the house has not been started, and any approvals would be part of the agreement of sale. This property is located in a Medium Density Residential Zoning District.

Witnesses: Tracey Harris, Prospective Buyer, Chris Nubern, 201 Lewis Circle, Eric Byrd, 205 Lewis Circle

Action: Cherie Kavanaugh made a motion to grant a Special exception in order to have a salon at 258 Lewis Circle with the following conditions; the salon will have one chair as presented at the time of the hearing, the salon will be open 3 days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., there will be no more than 7 clients a day by appointment only with no overlap, and there will be a 1 square foot sign that will be affixed to the primary residential structure. The motion was seconded by Dan Caravetta with all in agreement.

10-09 7:40 p.m. 1005 South Greenwood Ave., Stephano D’Angelo is seeking variances from sections 190-42A in order to have a lot that has a density that is less than 15,000 square feet, section190-42B (1) to have a lot along a minor arterial street that will have a width at the right-of-way that is less than 200 feet, section 190-42C in order to a lot that has a lot depth less than 120 feet. Mr. D’Angelo is also requesting relief from the following sections in order to erect a freestanding sign, section 190-183A in order to have a freestanding sign in a residential district that exceeds 5’ in height, section 190-183.1.B (2) to have a sign area exceeding 20 square feet, and section 190-183.1.E in order to have an internally illuminated sign in a residential district. This property is located in a Medium Density Residential Zoning District.

Witnesses: Stephano D’Angelo, Owner, Lewis Minotti, Esq., Domenick Colangelo, Engineer

Action: Dan Carravetta made a motion to grant the variances needed for the sub-division as shown on exhibit A-6 at the time of the hearing. As part of the motion, the 8 parking spaces that will be lost on the eastern side of the property along Greenwood Ave are allowed to be replaced on the southern side of the property. Any additional parking spaces will need township planning/zoning approvals as needed. Dan Carravetta then made a motion to approve the new freestanding sign location as shown on exhibit A-6 with the one way directional sign being removed from the sign post. The motions were seconded by Cherie Kavanaugh with all in favor.

10-10 7:50 p.m. 1308 Van Buren Rd (La Dolce Vita), Salvatore Sacco, 216 Hunter St, Palmer Pa 18045, is seeking a variance from a zoning board opinion dated August 10, 2001 in order to expand upon a deli to include seating for a restaurant. The applicant is requesting seating for up to 50 people. This property is located in a Planned Industrial/Commercial District.

Witnesses: Salvatore Sacco, Owner, George M. Baurkot, Esq., Raymond Laboud, Esq., Domenick Colangelo, Engineer

Action: At the time of the hearing the applicant stated that outside storage associated with the contracting business would be moved off site or stored inside the garage at 1308 Van Buren Rd. Cherie Kavanaugh made a motion to grant a variance to have up to 50 seats for a restaurant in addition to the existing deli, and that all future material storage for the contracting business will need to be kept inside. The motion was seconded by Dan Caravetta with all in favor.

10-11 8:00 p.m. 1459 Tatamy Rd, Jeffery and Kathryn Raub, are seeking a special exception from section 190-200(F) in order to have a special event consisting of a corn maze and hayride, also a variance is being sought from section 190-200(F) (1) in order to have a temporary use for longer than 6 days within 60 day period. The proposed Corn Maze and Hayride would be from approximately the weekend after Labor Day through the weekend after Halloween. An interpretation of the ordinance is also being requested as to whether the use would be permitted by right as an accessory use under the right to Farm act. This property is located in a Medium Residential Zoning District.

Witnesses: Jeffrey and Kathryn Raub, owners, Gary Asteak, Esq., Sean Hoffman, Farm Family Casualty Insurance, Ted Teaford, Albright’s Feed Mill, Ray Mack, Pa Farm Bureau President for Northampton-Monroe Counties, Liesel Dreisbach-Williams, Penn State Agricultural Extension Service for Northampton County Rich Schaller, 1314 Tatamy Rd., John Chaffier, 13 Country Side Ct., Fred and Brenda Kunzman, 20 Country Side Ct., Rich Demchak, 49 Water Wheel Ln

Action: Dan Carravetta made a motion to approve the corn maze with the following conditions; there will be a 200 foot buffer provided between the outside of the hayride path and the property line, that the corn maze/hayride will be allowed to operate starting the weekend after Labor Day to and including the weekend after Halloween, the hayride path will be kept around the circumference of the corn maze, the corn maze/hayride will only be held during daylight hours, there will be a limit of one concession stand, and the event will be limited to 250 cars. The motion was seconded by Cherie Kavanaugh will all in agreement.

Having no further business to discuss, the hearing was adjourned at 11:15p.m.

James F. Raudenbush

Zoning Officer