FORKS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Thursday, January 12, 2017 The Forks Township Planning Commission meeting was held at the Forks Township Municipal Building, 1606 Sullivan Trail. Pledge of Allegiance Attendance: Members Present: Vito Tamborrino, Chairman Carl Dicker, Vice Chairman Dean Turner, Secretary Eric Konecke Robert Rusnak Robert Dausend Larry Kitson Sean Poliselli, Township Engineer Wendy Nicolosi, Solicitor Tim Weis, Construction/Zoning Official Absent: None Re-Organization of Members Solicitor Wendy Nicolosi opened the Re-Organizational meeting asking for nominations for Chairman; Dean Turner made a motion to nominate Vito Tamborrino as Chairman; seconded by Carl Dicker Chairman Vito Tamborrino then asked for a nomination for a Vice Chairman; Carl Dicker made a motion to nominate Dean Turner as Vice Chairman; seconded by Robert Rusnak Chairman Vito Tamborrino then asked for a nomination for Secretary; Larry Kitson made a motion to nominate Carl Dicker; seconded by Dean Turner Approval of Minutes At the meeting of December 8, 2016 the Minutes of Workshop of November 22 nd, 2016 were not received by all board members via email; therefore it was agreed to table these minutes until the next meeting. Chairman Vito Tamborrino asked if there were any corrections to the minutes of: November 22, 2016 1
Members of the board had not reviewed the email; after discussion Larry Kitson made a motion to table these minutes until next meeting and to have a copy of them placed in the meeting packets along with the other material for the next meeting; seconded by Carl Dicker. Vote Called: 7-0 Chairman Vito Tamborrino asked if there were any corrections to the minutes of: December 8 th, 2016 Chairman Vito Tamborrino said Robert Rusnak was not in attendance at this meeting and the minutes should be changed to reflect that. There being no further corrections and or additions to the minutes Larry Kitson made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected; seconded by Eric Konecke. Vote Called: 6 0-2 abstentions NOTE: December 27 th workshop Cancelled No Minutes Reports / Announcements: None OLD BUSINESS: 1. UGI EASTON AREA SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT/LAND DEVELOPMENT(3/9/17) (WOODARD & CURRAN) Mr. Lichtenwalner from UGI approached the podium and asked about the October 11, 2016 and the January 3, 2017 letter from Gilmore & Associates and if everyone received a copy. Chairman Tamborrino reviewed the comments in the January letter. Discussed waiver 175-42.K (7) however this was a waiver and a deferral; a waiver for the 60 buffer being reduced and deferral for curb and sidewalk. Continued reviewing the items throughout the letter; General Comments; Mr. Lichtenwalner said Northampton County Conservation District should be receiving their second review of the technical comments; PennDot HOP Application # 2 is slated to be back to UGI on the 16 th of this month; Lehigh Valley Planning Commission is actively reviewing; and the Fire Marshall is also reviewing at this time. Comments: Discussed Conditional use, no revised plans submitted to date; working on plans for final submission. Carl Dicker made a motion to provide conditional approval based on the January 3 rd review letter from Gilmore & Associates and in accordance with the comments the board has made; seconded by Larry Kitson. Vote Called: 7-0 NEW BUSINESS: 2
1. KNOLLWOOD ESTATES PHASE 2 MAJOR SUBDIVISION & LAND DEVELOPMENT (3/28/17) EUGENE WEBER, PA (FINELLI CONSULTING ENGINEERS) Carl Dicker asked if there was any new documentation since October; if so he has not seen anything on the drop box or in his folders; last submission was September with the engineers and have been in the holding pattern the last two months, no presentation or formal review and asked for an extension and or clarification. Mr. Weber discussed the ordinance relevant to the uses allowed, such as the townhouses and twins being permitted, he said they have been waiting for clarification on the ordinance and asked if they should just go ahead and file with the Zoning Board. Solicitor Wendy Nicolosi said the Planning Commission has already recommended an amendment along those lines and the Board of Supervisors tabled it; therefore suggested they go before the Board of Supervisors for the final answer and or clarification. This and another zoning change had been submitted to the Board of Supervisors and tabled the changes and suggested asking to be placed on the next Supervisors meeting agenda to discuss further. Chairman Vito Tamborrino then asked if they could give an overview and explanation of the plan to those in attendance tonight. Mr. Weber then went through the plan discussing the layout of the plan showing single family homes, town houses and comments of buffer yard, no driveways out onto Ben John Road, completed Kesslersville Road, will have driveways, storm water to Bushkill Drive and their plan to help alleviate flooding, one car garage for town houses, and overflow parking, any amendment to ordinance, performance standard, placing the town houses over near Bushkill Drive, concern with high density, Act 254 permitted, concerns of traffic from Penns Ridge and Silo Drive increase, parking on streets, cost of bridge, placing single family homes there instead of town houses and twins, blending homes in, paying for town improvements, two through bridges to be installed, and zoning change Public Comment: Bill Patterson 2321 Silo Drive asked about a variance, homes and twins, density and staying with the ordinance, attending and commenting at a supervisors meeting. Chairman Tamborrino said the Planning Commission made a recommendation to the ordinance and is in the supervisors hands at this point. Also asked about the bridge and spoke of flooding, a flood map, and having to purchase flood insurance however has since received and had been granted a relief. Planning Commission Members asked of the breakdown of the town houses and single family homes; Mr. Weber answered 139 singles and 114 town houses, if they have consideration to possibly flipping and density permitted under the ordinance. Melissa Ackerman 2560 Ben John Road asked about the buffer due to the location of her house, and asked what kind of buffer this will be; Mr. Weber said this will be all landscaping, fencing was discussed; not consider as of now, this will be a HOA Association and will be storing sheds and boats, as this is marketed we will make this as nice as possible, other townhome communities, lot sizes, street parking, stacking of twin homes, substandard twin 3
homes not marketable, HOA rules and regulations; they will not have different fences any will be approved by the HOA and the township. Chairman Tamborrino suggested for the next meeting to please have architectural plans and or photographs on hand to get a sense of what this will look like, and include some landscaping plans as well. Mia Lambert 2313 Silo Drive asked for a guarantee that this will be a HOA and if the electrical lines will be buried, buffering and issues with the wires; would like to see evergreens and or blue spruce trees, stonewall will stay, HOA will take care of the landscaping and trees, residents will pay monthly fees to the association, HOA will take care of the snow removal as well due to being private streets Dave Phillips 2550 Ben John Road asked about sidewalks on the East side of Ben John Road; Mr. Weber said this will be up for discussion. Also asked about townhome back yards and buffering; concern of kids running out into the streets, high density, condensation sticking out of the roads, plan phasing with this development as to when and if it will all get completed and if this will be guarantee. Chairman Tamborrino said this will all be taken care of the developer agreements help to prevent that we have a better system in place where there is money collected for the roadways as part of the developer s agreements; and if they do not complete the roadways the township can step in and use those fees to finish them, both public and private roadways which will be well kept, open space, storm water management and retention pond, HOA requirements being part of the plan and possibly adding certain items to be addressed in the HOA requirements such as trash, receptacle placements, and haulers were also discussed. Glen Ackerman 2550 Ben John Road spoke of the high rate of speed the cars have been going on this roadway and if they do this development how to go about getting a stop sign placed in the area. Chairman Tamborrino said stop signs does not slow down traffic; they are more of an enforcement; however seems to speed up traffic, stop signs should be used to monitor certain intersection which will be discussed. Resident at 2321 Silo Drive asked about selling these homes and concern of the talk of community makes more sense to place single family homes there; also asked about a variance. Chairman Tamborrino said this is not a variance; this is done as a zoning change; however nothing has been done as of this date, townhomes are desirable now that is why we said to allow them in this district rather than twin homes, relief is a variance this is a zoning change, he said the Planning Commission made a recommendation to have the zoning ordinance change which than goes to the Board of Supervisors if they agree with us then it goes to hearings; however none of this has been done, all the Supervisors have is a recommendation, the supervisors have to decide yah or nay and or move forward with a zoning change, once they do it will be publicized, however none of that has been done, if the supervisors answer is no then the issue is dead, if they say yes than they do the publication. Solicitor Wendy Nicolosi also added that the residents will not be getting letters. 4
Mia Lambert - 2313 Silo Drive said the idea of something three stories high just does not fit in her neighborhood and she will be attending a supervisors meeting as well. Discussion ensued on listing agenda items, everything is published and to check out the website as well. Mr. Turner said they always welcome resident feedback. Dave Foulk Ben John Road asked of the layout and asked about the empty lots on the west end of Penns Ridge. Tim Weis said Penns Ridge is totally different this was decided in the courts, the developer decided to pull out, spoke of the Municipal Planning Code if it s allowed the township has to allow it as well; they are required to post a letter of credit which if they do not complete roadways the township can finish them. Mr. Foulk also asked if there is a time frame for work to be done; however there is none. Also asked about developer agreements. Solicitor Nicolosi gave a description of the planning process, once a development is approved they must come up with costs estimates for roadways providing the township with a letter of credit and or bond so if the road work is not done the township can complete it. Mia Lambert 2313 Silo Drive then asked what the next step would be for the developer if they do not get approved, Mr. Weber said they cannot start the improvements, spoke of phases, storm water, putting in the new bridges. Mr. Turner said this developer is willing to put the bridge across to complete Kesslersville Road; and they bought the property below to mitigate the flooding that closed the road; and will be installing another bridge on Ben John which is a huge improvement for the township and we do have to consider assisting him with the capital to help the entire community. Ms. Lambert asked about the bridge being capable of handling the flooding, and flood insurance, rising water, traffic, high density and if it has to go through the school district, and the square footage of townhouse which is approximately 1600 square foot. Also asked about putting the bridges in; Solicitor Nicolosi said if it is on the plan it is secured. Larry Kitson made a motion to table; seconded by Rob Rusnak Chairman Vito Tamborrino said there are two Items for the next agenda to start to review; (1) Town Center study and (2) the Marijuana Ordinance. Solicitor Wendy Nicolosi said she provided the board with a sample ordinance and said there are two issues; the grow houses and the dispensaries either in the commercial areas or other location; must be defined. Also TC-1 ordinance was tabled therefore must be discussed. Adjournment: There being nothing further to discuss, the meeting was adjourned 8:23 PM Minutes transcribed by recording Debi Knesz, Admn. Asst. 5