LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP
AUTHORITY BOARD MEETING
Attended and reported by Ted
Robertson.
A short Authority meeting was held
prior to the regularly scheduled Supervisors meeting. The Authority unanimously
approved resolution 09-01, a request for funding from the Commonwealth
Financing Authority in the amount of 20 million dollars for the Lower Paxton
Township sewer system.
LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
(7:38 – 9:00 PM)
Attended by Watson Fisher, Ken
Parmer, Cindy Storm, Jim Storm and Ted Robertson. Reported by Ted Robertson.
Under Old Business, the Supervisors
approved the following people to serve on boards and committees:
Under New Business, the Supervisors
unanimously approved four change orders totaling $93,667 to the contract with
Handwerk for George Park roadway improvements.
The Supervisors unanimously
approved an agreement with the Capital Tax Collection Bureau to collect
delinquent taxes for tax year 2008 and prior years.
Under Subdivision and Land
Development, the Supervisors unanimously approved the preliminary/final land
development plan for St. Margaret Mary Roman Catholic Church (08-18). Since the
structure is in Susquehanna Township, only minor waivers were involved for
Lower Paxton Township.
The final subdivision plan for the
Estates of Autumn Oaks, Phase 1-A (08-21) was approved by a vote of 5 – 0. This
involved Lot 92, the water tank lot at the Northeast corner of the property
abutting Parkway West.
The final subdivision plan for the
Estates of Autumn Oaks Phase 1-B (08-22) was approved unanimously. This
involves 35 one-acre plus building lots and three detention basins. Centennial
Acres residents had some questions concerning the waiver for driveway slopes
from 10% to 15% and the verification of the proper construction of the
detention basins. Joel McNaughton and the Supervisors resolved these questions.
LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP PARKS
& RECREATION BOARD MEETING
Attended and reported by Watson
Fisher.
2009 Budget
Parks & Recreation Director Brian Luetchford reported that the supervisors
passed the final township budget for this year. All departments were required
to make adjustments in order to arrive at a workable budget and for Parks &
Recreation these included increasing fees for some playground programs,
eliminating summer playground programs at two parks, reducing or postponing the
purchasing of some supplies and equipment, and postponing some play field
maintenance projects that had been scheduled for this year.
Butterfly Field
Kathy Stewart explained that in a vacant field at the intersection of Union
Deposit and Copperstone Roads she and others have established a monarch
butterfly habitat and they conduct educational programs about butterflies and
other insects. The field is covered in milkweed, which attracts butterflies
until they migrate to Mexico. The 13-acre field is for sale and they were
looking for financial help in buying it. The board supported their efforts but
with the asking price of $500,000 for the field it advised them that they
probably should be looking for lower cost alternatives such as a much smaller
property where milkweed could be planted or even an unused hilly corner of
existing parkland somewhere.
Dog Park
Representatives from the Dog Park Association gave the board an update on the
proposed facility at Lingle/Kohl Park. To date they have raised $5500 through
the Foundation for Enhancing Communities and are waiting for final word on the
grant from the Department of Community Economic Development for $10,300, which
is the estimate for the materials to build the fence. They have several other
fund raising efforts underway.
At a recent meeting the association
said that their preferred name for the park was “Happy Tails Dog Park” and the
board agreed to recommend that name to the supervisors. However the supervisors
determined that they were not in agreement with that name and asked that the
board consider other names. After reviewing additional names with the
association members without agreeing on any the board voted to return their
original choice to the supervisors.
Refund Policy
The P&R staff has recommended a change to the variety of policies regarding
the refunding of fees paid by individuals who register for programs and for
various reasons decide not to attend and request a refund. The department has
had a more liberal policy than many of the neighboring municipalities in this
regard. Individuals would still get a full refund if they withdraw before the
program starts but after that they would be entitled to a partial refund or
none at all depending on the program, the time of withdrawal, and the
circumstances. The Friendship Center Operating Board still needs to review the
proposal. The P&R Board voted to recommend approval of the staff’s
suggested changes.
Ballfield Reservations
The department sent a mailing to organizations and persons who had reserved and
used fields in recent years and to ones that requested to be put on the list
for them to put in their reservation requests for 2009. A few have already
responded. The deadline for submitting applications is February 15.
Brightbill Park
Mr. Luetchford advised the board that since the streambed at Brightbill Park is
subject to erosion at some point in the future a stabilization project should
be planned. Previously the township has had to enter into similar projects and
they have been done with the help of state grants.
Park Planning
At last month’s meeting they had discussed the continuing effort to finalize a
report that the supervisors had requested regarding long range park planning.
Mr. Luetchford stated that it is necessary for the township to have an approved
Parks and Recreation Plan to be able to qualify for any state grants for park
improvements. To expedite this the board had requested that he provide them
with the recent planning documents that he had prepared.
He reviewed for them three
documents. The first was a Recreation Planning Survey that compared facilities
and their yearly usage related to population in LP with those in neighboring
municipalities. The second was a draft of the proposed revisions to the
Subdivision and Land Development Plan (SALDO) regarding dedication of land for
recreation and fee in lieu payments. The third was a nearly completed draft of
the Recreation Park and Open Space Plan that evaluates future options and
objectives. It was agreed that when Mr. Luetchford updates this third document
the board will review and approve it and it could become the required Parks and
Recreation Plan. Beyond that as the planning process continues this document
can be updated. It may then be necessary to consider hiring a professional
planning consultant.
Mr. Luetchford also reviewed
updated information he had received regarding the availability of state grants
for project planning and construction. He presented a list of projects for
consideration and suggested ones he felt were priorities. These included
completing fields and other planned facilities at George Park and planning for
Wolfersberger Park and Koons Park.
LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS WORKSHOP SESSION
(6:00 – 8:00 PM)
Attended by Watson Fisher and Ted
Robertson. Reported by Ted Robertson. Absent: Bill Hawk.
Chief Bair reviewed the results of
the 2008 Citizens Survey of police services. The 3,363 responses almost doubled
the numbers of responders in 2007. The results of the survey were generally
very good including minority group responses. Chief Bair indicated that the
Township is moving toward listing criminal action in the Township on the
Township’s web site. This may take a while.
High rates for towing services were
discussed with the Supervisors. Chief Bair feels the rates for towing services
where accidents are involved, as well as storage rates, are too high. Chief
Bair will set up criteria, which may include AAA qualified towing services and
putting the service out for bids.
The Supervisors had a discussion
with Robert Grubic of HRG Inc. with regards to services provided as Township
engineer. Areas covered were fee justification and cost over-runs on contracts.
There was some concern about HRG’s top management involvement in the review of
Township contracts. It was interesting to note that HRG is now an employee
owned corporation (ESOP).
Mr. Wolfe presented a mission
statement proposed by the Greenway Committee. The Supervisors gave their
approval to prepare a final statement for their approval at a future business
meeting.
A recommendation from the Parks and
Recreation Board to name the proposed dog park, “Happy Tails Dog Park”, was
presented to the Supervisors by Mr. Wolfe. The Supervisors approved the
proposal and asked that it be submitted for formal approval at a future
business meeting.
The 2009 budgets for the three fire
companies and South Central EMS were presented for review. Some details need to
be checked before presentation for final approval.
David Blain gave a brief
explanation of the steps necessary for the Township to take for implementation
of Act 32, which essentially moves municipalities toward countywide collection
of the Earned Income Tax (EIT). Mr. Blain was appointed as the Township’s
representative to the County Tax Collection Committee.
February 11, 2009
LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
Attended and reported by Watson
Fisher.
Old Business
Allentown Boulevard Hotel
- Preliminary/Final Subdivision & Land Development Plan #08-20 This
plan was tabled at the request of the applicant.
New Business
Devonshire Memorial Church
- Preliminary/Final Subdivision & Land Development Plan #09-03
This plan was tabled at the request of the applicant.
Car Wash located at 1282
North Mountain Road - Special Exception #09-01
Triple Crown Corporation is planning to build a car wash facility on the lot at
1282 North Mountain Road. The property is zoned CN Commercial Neighborhood. A
car wash was previously not allowed in that zone but a recent zoning change now
allows it but only by a Special Exception that needs to be approved by the
Zoning Hearing Board.
A hearing by that board on the
matter is scheduled for February 26, 2009. If the Special Exception is approved
a Land Development Plan will then be submitted for township action. After
review of the project the commissioners voted to advise the Zoning Hearing
Board that they found the request for a Special Exception to be
unobjectionable.
Bishop McDevitt High School
- Preliminary/Final Land Development Plan #09-02 The new
high school will be located on an 86 acre tract located on both sides of Spring
Creek Road west of Page Road. The tract is zoned R-C Residential Cluster. The
plan as presented showed a building designed for 900 students with parking
areas and athletic fields including a football stadium.
The only serious concern the
commissioners expressed was for the proposed permanent closing of Spring Creek
Road to through traffic. The intent is to have all school related traffic enter
and exit the site on Spring Creek Road to Page Road. The plan includes
installing traffic signals and widening the road at the Page Road intersection.
The applicant wishes to make a request to vacate a portion of Spring Creek Road
to eliminate traffic through the school site. This would create a dead end for
all vehicles traveling west on Spring Creek Road. The vacated portion of Spring
Creek Road would be owned and maintained by the diocese. The roadway itself
would remain but would be closed by barricades and available for use by
emergency vehicles only.
The commissioners’ concern was the
impact on traffic in the area if Spring Creek Road was interrupted. A traffic
study done in 2008 recorded a daily weekday traffic count on the road at 824
trips. The commissioners requested other traffic related information that was
not readily available from the detailed study. Several other code questions
including required buffers along portions of the perimeter of the tract and
compliance with some parking requirements also needed further review. The
commissioners voted to table action on this large project to allow the
applicant time to provide additional information on the remaining items in
question.
LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING
(7:00 – 8:30 PM)
Attended by Watson Fisher and Ted Robertson.
Reported by Ted Robertson.
Under Community Development Codes,
a complaint was received by the Committee concerning confusing street names;
Sweetbriar Drive and Sweetbriar Terrace. The emergency responders present
indicated they had no problems so long as dispatch gives the proper name. The
Committee opted to let Codes Enforcement contact the complainant to determine
if a street name change is being suggested. The complainant will be advised
what steps are necessary to effect such a change.
Under Old Business, the
sub-committees reported as follows:
sub-committee. This will be reviewed by the fire chiefs
for comment at the next
Meeting.
Under New Business, the consensus
of the Committee was to revise the ordinance concerning maintenance costs on
equipment to review unusual equipment costs on a case-by-case basis.
LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP
AUTHORITY BOARD MEETING
(7:30 – 7:35 PM)
Attended by Watson Fisher and Ted
Robertson. Reported by Ted Robertson.
There was a brief Authority Board
meeting prior to the regular Township Supervisors meeting. The Authority voted
5 – 0 to approve the application for Penn Vest funds in the amount of
$15,630,000 in Resolution 09-02. This is for the second phase of improvements
to the Beaver Creek, Paxton Creek and Asylum Run systems.
LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
(7:40 – 8:40 PM)
Attended by Watson Fisher and Ted
Robertson. Reported by Ted Robertson.
Under Old Business, Resolution
09-07 approving the mission statement, goals and objectives of the Greenway
Committee was approved 5 – 0.
Resolution 09-08 appointing David
Blain to the Act 32 countywide Earned Income Tax Committee was approved
unanimously.
Resolution 09-09 naming the Happy
Tails Dog Park located in Kohl Memorial Park was approved 5 – 0.
Under New Business, concerning
Sub-division and Land Development, the revision of the phasing plan for the
Estates of Autumn Oaks was approved 5 – 0. This involves compressing the
original four phases into three phases and moving the completion date up from
2014 to 2013.
The final subdivision plan for
Autumn Oaks Phase 1 (08-15) was approved 5 – 0, with minor changes to the
sequence of recreation fees paid in lieu of.
February 23, 2009
LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP
PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
Attended and reported by Watson
Fisher.
In April of 2008 the Planning
Commission began to consider the possibility of creating a Business Improvement
District (BID) in the township. The township can create such a district under
state law to provide improvements in a specific business area. The improvements
would be funded by assessments of the businesses in the area. Such improvements
could include beautification, traffic control, and promotional advertising. The
requirements of the law include the development of a complete improvement plan,
at least one public hearing, and the creation of a formal management
association.
The Planning Commission held four
special meetings during 2008 to study the matter and develop a recommendation
for the supervisors. At an October meeting the commissioners made a
presentation to the supervisors for the development of such a district along
Route 22 from Colonial Road east to just beyond Mountain Road. The supervisors
approved the effort and directed the Planning Commission to proceed with the
project.
This latest meeting involved
deciding how best to proceed with the project. It was agreed that efforts would
be made to solicit advice from several individuals known to have expertise with
the law regulating BID’s and in the successful implementation of projects
covered by that law. Similar districts have been created in Harrisburg, Reading
and State College.
The law requires that a detailed
preliminary plan be prepared including a description of the proposed district,
a list of all properties in the district, the proposed improvements, a proposed
budget, the proposed revenue sources, a formula for determining the assessment
fee to be levied on the property owners, a written agreement between the
township and the management association which will be created to direct the
project, an estimated time for completion of the improvements, etc.
A map had been prepared by staff
indicating every property in the proposed district. This map needs to be updated
and finalized. Also information needs to be developed on every parcel in the
district identifying the owner and how to contact him, the parcel size, and the
type of business occupying the parcel. This is important so that the owner of
every parcel can be invited to the required public hearing.
The property list will also be used
to identify the largest property owners. It is planned that first an informal
meeting will be held with those “stakeholders” to discuss their thoughts on
possible improvements after which the public meeting will be held where all
property owners will be invited to attend and become involved. After that
meeting property owners may formally file objections to the project and if 40%
of the property owners do so the project by law cannot proceed.
The commissioners plan to also
review a previous Penndot traffic study of Route 22 which indicated possible
traffic improvements to the road in the township. The commissioners will hold
workshop meetings on this entire matter during the next three months to
finalize the process leading up to the informal meeting with the stakeholders
and to the required public meeting.
February 24, 2009
LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP AUTHORITY
MEETING
Attended and reported by Watson
Fisher.
At the annual reorganization
meeting for 2009 William Hawk was elected chairman, William Seeds vice
chairman, Gary Crissman secretary, and David Blain treasurer and assistant
secretary. Steven Stine was appointed solicitor and CET Engineering Services
was appointed authority engineer. Quarterly meetings were scheduled for
February, May, August and November.
At the regular business meeting the
authority approved CET’s contract as authority engineer for the coming year.
Under new business Resolution 09-03 was approved re-establishing the rules and
regulations for sump pump certification. This includes the requirement that
when a house is sold a sump pump that is connected to the sanitary sewer must
be permanently disconnected. Draft amendments to the Authority By Laws, which
included some minor updates, were discussed. Action on these will be taken
after the revisions are finalized.
The following reports from the
staff and the engineer for review by the authority were discussed. These items
required no formal action at this time.
The H20 PA Act grant application to
the Commonwealth Financing Authority for Second Consent Decree sanitary sewer
projects has been submitted. This is a request for a $20 million grant toward a
total project cost of $32 million to rehab a portion of the township’s sewer
system. The project has a completion date of 2013. This application is one of
800 that have been received. At the present time bonds have not been sold to
fund any grants. A decision on the awarding of these grants is expected in May.
The PENNVEST grant application for
Second Consent Decree sanitary sewer projects was submitted. It was one of 200
that have been received. The application has been reviewed and an email notice
covering eleven items that need to be responded to have been received. Work
done with this grant money, which is part of the stimulus package, must start
in 120 days.
Future borrowing needs of the
authority relating to these sewer projects were discussed. The needs and their
timing will depend on the results of the grant applications and the possibility
of coordinating some sewer projects with Swatara and/or West Hanover Townships.
A possible problem in Wilshire
Estates regarding minimum slopes of sewer lines being installed in new houses
was mentioned. Staff will do field work to assess the situation.
The proposed sewer line from the
planned new Bishop McDevitt High School was reviewed. The engineers for the
school project propose to obtain an easement across adjacent private property
to the west of the school property to construct a private lateral from the
building to the closest township sewer manhole. The township staff feels that
it might be wise to consider the possibility that a future housing development
on the adjacent land would then require a second line. They felt that the size
and location of the proposed line should take that into consideration whether
it is a private or a public line.
At the annual meeting with the
Swatara Township Authority they will review the bids for the treatment plant
upgrade, discuss the status of the third amendment of the sewer agreement, and
review the possible purchase of sewer capacity from West Hanover Township. The
staff will develop a report outlining the pros and cons of a sewer capacity
purchase at this time for discussion at the next meeting.
Under engineers’ reports staff said
that the roof drains on the Colonial Park Mall complex that were found to be
discharging into the sanitary sewer line will be disconnected. Staff also
reported that the Beaver Creek Pumping Station improvement project has been
successfully completed.
LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP ZONING
HEARING BOARD
(7:00 – 8:15 PM)
Attended by Watson Fisher and Ted
Robertson. Reported by Ted Robertson.
A reorganization meeting was held
prior to the regular meeting. Jeff Staub was elected chairman and Sara Jane
Cate was elected vice-chairman.
Special Exception 09-01 to operate
a car wash in a Commercial Neighborhood (CN) at 1208 North Mountain Road was
granted by a 5 – 0 vote. This property is owned by Triple Crown and a land
development plan will have to be submitted for final approval.