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CHARLESTOWN TOWNSHIP
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Present
Call to Order:
7:00 p.m.Announcements
Planning Commission members need to respond to Mr. Heleniak regarding the preferred day for the 2024 Joint Meeting with the Board of Supervisors.
Tonight’s meeting will not be a normal review of an ordinance. The Board has instead, asked members to review the draft ordinance as residents and business owners, not as members. This will give the Board feedback and together with input from the solicitor, they will have a draft ordinance that could be ready for advertising.
Approval of Minutes
Mr. Rogers moved to approve the September 12, 2023, Planning Commission meeting minutes, and Mr. von Hoyer seconded. Mr. Richter called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
General Planning Items
The Plastics Pollution Reduction Ordinance
The Charlestown Township’s Environmental Advisory Committee wants to ban the use of single-use grocery bags, single-use plastic utensils, plastic straws, dry cleaning bags, and polystyrene clamshell takeout containers. The PC listened to Ms. Anu Soundararajan, from the EAC, and EAC Chairperson, Ms. Carol Armstrong, as they presented a draft ordinance that had its origins in Uwchlan Township.
Discussion followed regarding the enhancements or changes to the neighboring township’s ordinance and the options or inconveniences being proposed for the merchants (~12 in Charlestown Township) and residents. Tonight’s version was enhanced by the EAC by also adding a ban on dry cleaning bags, produce bags, and utensils being provided only upon request. Some businesses surveyed said their compliance to such an ordinance would be directed to their corporate owners, but the positive feedback from residents being surveyed on voting day was ~85%.
- Board Supervisor, Mr. Kuhn, asked if the local ordinances, other than Uwchlan’s, were as strict. The EAC reps said that they varied. But, Upper Marion’s will begin gradually with phase 1 to begin in January 2024 and then a July 2024 phase will address plastic utensils.
- Mr. von Hoyer suggested providing the Board with more information by talking with the owners of the businesses, not just managers etc.
- Mr. Rogers suggested having a roundtable discussion inviting all the local business leaders. The reps could include wording in the invitation that would caution them that the ordinance is coming. He added that phasing the community surveys will reduce the forcefulness of the ordinance. He gave this example: first survey about straws, then discuss the utensils, finally add the clamshell ban.
- Mr. Richter agreed with giving the financial owners a voice and an opportunity to talk to the Board. He would like lower fines than in the draft and felt the draft was too broad and forceful. Making owners part of the solution will build compliance. He suggested removing some of the future consideration, or restrictive wording, from the draft because there will be better options coming when the ordinance will already be in place.
- Mr. Motel, also speaking for Mr. Allen, discussed some wordsmithing and discussion followed about fee options. He would like the EAC to have the owners come to the Board presentation of the draft and be able to see (the non-plastic) options along with purchasing information. This makes it easy for them to grasp the full picture of what the Township is recommending and gives them an opportunity to disagree.
- Mr. Heleniak wants the reps to visit the Upper Merion website. They have a support page for their version of the new ordinance with resources for the business owners
Adjournment
There being no further business, Mr. Richter adjourned the meeting at 8 p.m. The next meeting will be held on January 9, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at 11 General Warren Blvd., Suite 1, Malvern, PA.
Lisa Gardner, Recording Secretary
