SADSBURY TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes Regular Monthly Meeting September 2010 The regular monthly meeting of the was held on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 in the Sadsbury Township Municipal Building Board Room. Commission Members in attendance: Jane Heineman, Chair John Lymberis, Vice Chair Susan Franco, Secretary, Supervisors Liaison Tom Greenfield, Member Tim Sarbaum, Member Carlyle Rivers, Member The regular September monthly meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order at 7:02 pm. All members were in attendance. Mr. James MacCombie, Township Engineer was in attendance in an advisory capacity. Ms. Horan and Ms. Sarbaum attended for informational purposes. Ms. Sarbaum was recently appointed as a Township Supervisor. The Township Supervisors have not yet appointed a new Planning Commission Liaison from the Board of Supervisors to the Planning Commission. REVIEW OF PREVIOUS MEETING and APPROVAL OF MINUTES The Secretary sent the August minutes to the members for review, via email prior to tonight s meeting. A MOTION was made by Mr. Lymberis, seconded by Mr. Rivers, the Sadsbury Township Planning Commission approved the August Minutes. This MOTION was APPROVED by unanimous vote of the Commission.
Page 2 OLD BUSINESS Stryker Brigade Readiness Center PROJECT/ Preliminary Land Development Plan Representing the Applicant, S. Billah, STV, Tim Albright, John Saufley with the National Guard. Received in advance for the review by the members; A set of Land Development Plans dated 4/02/2009; a copy of the Storm water Management Report, The Erosion and Sediment Control report and a comment letter dated August 27, 2010, from Ms. Billah, Project Manager with STV. This project is for the construction of a Readiness Center Building of 30,280 Square Ft. as well as parking areas, access driveways, and utilities to serve the proposed facility. This Readiness Center, once identified as an Armory will be used to serve the Army National Guard in training as well as the preparation for transport to other training facilities specifically to Fort Indiantown Gap. Ms. Billah gave an overview of the process this far and gave responses from the applicant to review comments from a letter from Mr. MacCombie dated February 22, 2010. Additional comments were given by John Saufley regarding the operations that will take place. Some of these were: The drills will be held only once per month for 2 or 3 days. Winter training will be in the classrooms here, the vault will hold no ammo, and the required storage space for all other items required will be approx. 3000 square feet. The Stryker vehicle itself will resemble a tank on wheels. It will travel at approx 60 mph and is used by the infantry. The group will be of 180 members max. and will also include less than 10 full time employees onsite. Operations will cease by 4 pm on Sundays. Regarding noise issues brought up by PC members, the applicant noted they will abide by the Conditional Use requirements when running diesel engines. They will require 1 hour maintenance 1 weekend per month. There will be 20 vehicles total and the Stryker is the quietest that they employ. Some changes since the applicant last appeared before the PC 1. Driveways will be widened at Waverly Blvd to meet the Ordinance 2. Curbing will be added in parking lots. 3. Gas station fueling of vehicles will now be set back 100 feet from the original proposal. 4. Ornamental Fencing around the military equipment will also be used to protect and improve the view of residents 5. The basin will now be underground storm water collected above ground will be piped to the park basin located in Valley Township. 6. The Landscape will be dictated by Federal anti terrorism regulations. No plantings may be higher than 6 inches around the building itself. The applicant will add landscape to the W and SW corners to obstruct view. The will also re-arrange some other landscape berms and shrubs and the number of trees, but will still not meet the requirements in our Landscape Ordinance. Therefore they are requesting a waiver for the Landscape Plan. They noted a response letter is forthcoming for the Menke and Menke letter they have received. Members questioned the Applicant regarding the removal of snow in winter and the Applicant assured the members the snow will be kept onsite.
Page 3 Mr. MacCombie advised the PC of a letter from his office dated 9/15/10, but the PC members have not seen this letter which includes pertinent issues. The PC members deferred any recommendations to the BOS until we have reviewed these comments. The applicant will return next month with responses to this letter. No actions were taken. OLD BUSINESS; Sadsbury Commons PROJECT/Preliminary Subdivision & Land Development Plan Resubmission for the Medical Office Building for LGH Representing the Applicant, Mr. Michael Gill, Attorney for the project, Mr. Chris Williams of McMahon Associates Traffic Consultants and Mr. Ron Klos, Bohler Engineering and Mr. Joseph Donaldson, LG Health. Received in Advance by PC members for their review: 1. A set of Plans Revision #3 dated 8/18/10 2. A review letter regarding the Traffic Impact Study by McMahon Associates dated 8/20/10 from Mr. Baker. 3. A review letter from Stubbe Consulting LLC regarding the site lighting dated 8/25/10 4. A review letter from the Town Planner for Sadsbury, Mr. Wayne Grafton dated 8/27/10. 5. A letter from Mr. Gill regarding the Application for approval of the Preliminary Land Development dated 8/9/10 6. A copy of the completed Traffic Impact Study dated 8/6/10 Mr. Gill gave an overview thus far and highlighted the changes since their last appearance. Again he noted that the MOB is a standalone project. Some changes include: the Road access is off RT #10 but will now be a leg of the future Connector Road since traffic stacking would have been an issue with the previous design. Relocation of the lot-line for lot 1 will now include the basin. The lot can be included in the rest of the project later. The Sewer module has been submitted to the township for their review. The access will take it across route 10 and then bring it back into Sadsbury Township; they will upgrade and update the structures to take it to the end. It will require multiple easements and this will require the review of the Township Solicitor Mr. Pompo. This issue will require additional review by the PC after Mr. Pompo has completed his review. Mr. Gill stated they are having some communication problems with applications and letters submitted to the Township. Mr. Williams gave an overview of the Traffic Impact Study and answered questions from the members regarding it. Some questions regarding the addition of a left turn lane for better traffic flow were addressed as well as the volume warranting a right turn lane from RT 10 as well. It was explained that RT 10 would have to be widened and where to allow turns into the site. It was noted that the current speed on the roadway is 45 mph. Mr. Williams said for analysis purposes, they used a more accurate speed to calculate the site distance and that was 55 mph. Members questioned the proposed weekend and weekday trips entering and exiting the MOB facility in one hour timeframe. Mr. Williams stated there were 34 cars entering and 92 exiting in one hour on weekdays and 83 entering with 62 exiting on weekends (1 to 2 per minute). Members wanted to know about the proposed 296 Townhomes approved in West Sadsbury Township and whether it was taken into consideration when considering the traffic impact on the area. Mr.
Page 4 Williams answered affirmatively. He additionally stated when questioned regarding signage announcing turn lanes would depend on PENDOT requirements. Mr. Gill stated tractor trailers will not be an issue with this project and that they will meet with Mr. Earl Taylor next week regarding Fire and Emergency truck issues. He further stated that they will comply with ADA requirements and all but item # 13 regarding landscaping from the comment letter from TPD. He further noted that the will not be asking for Landscape waivers and will give the fee in lieu of the landscape compliance. Additionally Mr. Gill informed the members the applicant will comply with the pervious and impervious requirements and will comply with and provide the details in final process per the request of Mr. MacCombie. The basin is the major issue and a major problem. Mr. Gill states that it would cost an estimated $800,000 to construct this underground. Rock now found in the area would have to be removed and that Infiltration Component underground only for a 2 year 24 hour storm cost, prohibits this for the project. Mr. MacCombie stated he will review the design for infiltration and advise the PC. Mr. MacCombie feels confident this issue can be resolved. In response to Mr. Grafton s letter Mr. Gill replied on the issue of the walking trail, that it was not for public use only private and ascetic purposes, therefore, they will not comply with the request to make it 4 foot crushed stone. The sewer in Phase 1 will not have many users and he did not think it would require an inter-municipal agreement, but an amendment to the Act 537 Plan. He stated they will be a Sadsbury Township customer only. Mr. Gill wants to use this plan for Sewer as the RT 30 plan could encourage sprawl. He also stated that the pump station will require upgrading. Mr. Donaldson stated that LGH would like to begin to build on this site in June or July 2011. The members stated that they will not give any recommendations to the Board of Supervisors until the issues are further resolved with the Township Engineer and any remaining issues have moved along to resolutions. Mr. Gill asked to be again on the Agenda with the PC in October. No actions were taken. NEW BUSINESS: None Announcements: The PC members, Ms. Horan and Mr. MacCombie discussed the issue of review letters not being delivered to PC members in a timely manner. Mr. MacCombie explained that his office has not been receiving applicant s plans in time for a complete review prior to the scheduled PC meetings. The PC will hold approvals until all review letters for an applicant have been reviewed and received by the PC. The members were reminded of the Zoning Update Task Force meeting on Monday September 20, 2010. MOTION TO ADJOURN With no further business before the Commission, Mr. Lymberis moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Rivers MOTION APPROVED by unanimous vote of the Commission at 8:47 pm. Respectfully Submitted
Page 5 Susan M. Franco, Secretary