CHARLESTOWN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING MARCH 1, 1993 MINUTES

The Charlestown Township Board of Supervisors held their first meeting of the month on Monday, March 1, 1993, at the Charlestown Elementary School, Charlestown Road, Devault.

Present:

Irene W. Ewald, Chairman; John C. Martin, Jr., Vice Chairman; Vincent G. Kling, Sr., Member; Thomas F. Oeste, Esq.; G. Paull Nation, Jr.; Surender S. Kohli, P.E.; Ruth W. Buckwalter, Secretary and those on the attached attendees’ list

The Chairman called the meeting to order at 8:05 pm.

Announcements: the Supervisors signed a certificate of appreciation which was presented to retiring Fire Chief Bob Dobson at his retirement party on Feb. 19; Feb. 23 - an Executive session was held, attended by Mrs. Ewald, Messrs. Oeste, McErlane, Kohli and Nation for the purpose of reviewing the Merriwether and Eastwick proposals: Feb. 24 - the annual meeting of the Valley Forge Sewer Authority Incorporating Townships to discuss general business, primarily to review with each township the outstanding developments that would require sewerage.

The Chairman amended the minutes of February 1, 1993, as follows: last paragraph of page one should read “faulty system” rather then “faulty valve”. Mr. Kling moved to approve the minutes of February 1 as amended. Mr. Martin seconded the motion, it carried unanimously.

The Chairman entertained a motion to have the minutes of February 11, 1993. approved. Mr. Martin so moved, Mrs. Ewald seconded, the motion so carried.

The Chairman amended the minutes of February 15, 1993, as follows: under LauraBrooke, page 2, paragraph 1, add “there was a referral made to Thomas Comitta and Associates, Planning Consultants, to review the properties between Yellow Springs Road and Perly Halliday with the PRD Ordinance as a guideline” also, “other similarly constrained properties be likewise reviewed and be brought back to the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors”. Mr. Martin opened a discussion on the LI District stating he was under the impression that all three Supervisors agreed to take a look at the entire LI District rather than just the properties on the north side of Rt. 401 on Phoenixville Pike. Mr. Churchill discussed the LI area and noted that the Planning Commission would review the district if the Supervisors so wished. At the conclusion of the subject, Mr. Martin moved to approve the minutes of February 15, 1993. as amended. Mrs. Ewald seconded the motion, it carried unanimously.

Mr. Martin Moved to approve the February 1993 Treasurer’s Report, Mrs. Ewald seconded the motion, it carried unanimously.

With the exception of check #7165 to Lamb, Windle and McErlane, Mr. Martin moved to approve the March 1.1993 Accounts Payable. Mr. Kling seconded, the motion unanimously carried. Check #7165 was not approved because a breakdown of expenses had not been received.

The Chairman stated that the Certificate of Deposit (Phoenixville Pike Improvement Fund) matures on the 19th of March. Mr. Kohli did not feel this fund would be >needed in the next 12 months. Mr. Martin moved to roll over the C/D for 12 months.

Mr. Kling seconded, the motion unanimously carried.

Zoning Officer’s Report: Mr. Kohli will submit his written report on permits issued at the March 15 meeting. He noted that a permit had been issued to Zynaxis for renovations. Mr. Kohli reported that not all the stone has been removed from the Township property by Riverdale Quarry. He notified Mr. Hess who stated that he has authorized surveyors to physically locate the boundary line and he expects it to be completed in a few weeks time. A complaint of a dog barking night after night was looked into by Mr. Kohli who will try to talk to the owner. The Chairman noted that a complaint had been received at the office regarding the roads in Rosewood Farm not being plowed. Mr. Kohli said the Bank has taken over the road project and he will talk to the Bank about the snow plowing. David Lees, Bodine Road, needs a letter from the Township to satisfy the Bank for re-financing purposes. This is a 4+ acre lot with two single family dwellings. Mr. Kohli suggested to Mr. Lees that he subdivide the property since the second house may not be rented as a tenant house. Mr. Kohli would like to consult with Mr. McErlane to see what could be done to enable Mr. Lees to obtain his re-financing.

Planning Commission Report: Mr. Churchill reported that, besides reviewing the LI District, the Commission reviewed the Quigley property (Hough/Loew) concerning the lack of protection for the Smurthwaite property and other technical matters that had not yet been finalized. He expects this plan to come back next month.

Roadmaster’s Report: Mr. Hiller reviewed his combined report of January and February. He stated that Delaware Valley Paving Co. donated time and material to expand the parking lot of the Nature Center. He also reported speaking with Bill Tridle of PENNDOT concerning the installation of deer crossing signs and found the procedure to be complicated beyond reason. Mr. Hiller’s written report was submitted to the Secretary for the Township file. The Chairman made 2 announcements at this time: 1) a thank you was received from the Great Valley School District for the prompt and thorough work done on icy spots. 2) a resident observed a wheel come off the cinder spreader which he retrieved and reported to the Chairman. This item is worth about $400 and the Chairman expressed appreciation to Earl Gehm for his action. At this time, Mr. Martin commented that the salting and cindering of the incline on Howell Road, where it goes into Rees, was adequate, but not as good as the Tredyffrin side. He suggested Mr. Hiller talk to the Tredyffrin Roadmaster to find out what kind of mixture he uses. Janet Baldwin reported the need of a deer crossing sign on Bodine Road where a car hit a deer recently. She reported that there is a regular path just above Reed’s barn and through the woods where deer cross the road regularly. Since Bodine Road is a Township road, there is no PENNDOT procedure necessary – the Roadmaster will install the sign. Mr. Kohli reported speaking to Mr. Munley of PENNDOT regarding tree removal on Valley Hill Road. Mr. Munley said PENNDOT was adamant about not giving Charlestown Township special treatment nor is he willing to notify the Township for tree removal in general.

Fire Marshal’s Report: Frederick Alston reported one field/woods fire and one odor investigation. He talked to a landscape contractor re. burning of logs and debris and also to the Nature Center re. outdoor burning for their maple syrup program. Mr. Alston’s complete report on each item was submitted for the Township file.

The next item on the agenda was the Merriwether application. The Chairman reviewed items that were discussed during the public hearings: questions about areas to be designated as conditional use, designated driveway openings, proposed footprints for house location, steep slope disturbance areas that were limited, architectural standards, restricting lots against further subdivision, preservation of hedgerow along Wells Road, landscaping plan, and willingness to plant large caliper trees as replacement trees. At this time, the Chairman read aloud a proposed motion. Mr. Nagie, representing the Merriwether plan, agreed to the proposed motion. Mrs. Ewald moved to approve the motion as read, Mr. Martin seconded and the motion unanimously carried. A copy of the motion is attached to these minutes.

For the benefit of those present, Mr. Martin announced that the Supervisors April 5th meeting will be held at the Barn of the Nature Center due to the fact that the school will be closed for Easter week.

The fee for a license for trash haulers within the Township was discussed, then established a flat fee of $25 per annum. Mr. Martin moved to approve the above fee, Mr. Kling seconded the motion, it carried unanimously.

A fee for services on sketch plans submitted to the Township was brought before the Board by the Chairman She noted that this is not required by the Ordinance, but it is needed to defray costs of plan review. Mrs. Ewald made the motion that a fee of $250 be charged the applicant for services on sketch plan applications, to be replenished when it drops to $50. Mr. Kling seconded the motion, it unanimously carried.

The Supervisors set the date of April 17 at 8:00 am for the Spring Road Tour.

The next item on the agenda was an Ethic Ordinance. This Ordinance would require an elected official to abstain from voting in cases when $50 or more had been contributed to that officials campaign fund. Mr. Martin felt that this issue should be considered by the Supervisors. Mrs. Ewald contested the Ordinance. No action was taken at this time.

The final item on the agenda was the continued hearing of the Charlestown Meadows application for tentative approval of a planned residential development of 210 units on 77+ acres located at Rt. 401 and Newcomen Road. Mr. Halteman represented the applicant and the meeting was turned over to him at this time. He noted that a conditional use hearing is scheduled for the Supervisors’ April 5 meeting and that adjoining neighbors will be notified. Mr. Erikson displayed the plan and spoke on open spaces of 38 acres within the plan to be owned by the Homeowners’ Association. Elaine Harrington requested the opportunity for the Parks & Rec. Board to review this plan which differs from the one reviewed in 1992. Questions were raised on the three different drawings which need to be clarified. The landscape proposal for the entire site, as illustrated on the displayed plan, was reviewed by Mr. Erikson.

Russell Powell, Adwin Realty, noted two issues to be finalized: 1) location of Newcomen Road - Mr. Kohli recommended getting some input on PENNDOT’s position regarding this matter; 2) an easement to replace a culvert needs to be finalized. At the conclusion, the Chairman announced this public hearing would be continued before the Board on April 5, 1993, at the Nature Center of Charlestown.

All business completed, the Chairman entertained a motion to adjourn. Mr. Kling so moved, Mrs. Ewald seconded, the motion unanimously carried. The Chairman adjourned the meeting - 10:45 pm.