Board of Supervisors
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The Charlestown Township Board of Supervisors held their second regular monthly meeting on Monday, September 16, 1996 at the Charlestown Elementary School, Charlestown Road, Devault, Pa.
Present: |
John B. Sauser, Chairman, Robin J. Kohn, Vice Chairman, Irene W. Ewald, Member, James E. McErlane, Esq., Surender S. Kohli, P.E., Linda M. Csete, Secretary, and those on the attached attendee list. |
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 8:05 P.M. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Mrs. Ewald announced that Mr. Kohn attended a site meeting at Charlestown Hunt to look at some installed curbing that is inconsistent with the approved plan.
Mrs. Ewald also announced that a meeting took place at Broadwater Lane to review the layout, which encroaches significantly on neighboring properties. No resolution was reached in the field. Mr. Sauser referred to a request by Realen Homes that a reduction in the cartway width to 12 feet be considered by the Board. He asked the Fire Marshal to review the information and requested that the Planning Commission review it at their September 24, 1996 meeting.
Mrs. Ewald referred to the minutes of August 4, 1996, in which the Board unanimously approved the Harrington-Kachmar H.A.R.B. application subject to certain revisions that were to be communicated to the applicant via letter. She wished to make it clear that the letter didn’t contain the conditions she had anticipated from the August 4th motion and vote and she therefore dissented from the letter that was sent.
Ellen Behrle of 35 Sycamore Lane referred to the August 19, 1996 meeting when Bob Dwyer of Realen Homes indicated he would withdraw the petition before the Court of Common Pleas following the Andersen’s agreement on the Broadwater Lane access and asked if the Solicitor would ensure that this occurred. Mr. McErlane responded that he will follow up on it.
Liz Willow of Sycamore Lane asked why a time limit has been imposed on people speaking out during the Citizens’ Forum. She asked that the Board consider taking additional questions and comments at the end of the meetings when time allows.
Mrs. Ewald moved to grant an extension on the recordation of the Charlestown Oaks Final Plan requested by Louis J. Colegreco, Esq. on behalf of Charlestown Oaks Inc. to January 15, 1997. Mr. Kohn seconded and all were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to approve Escrow Release #1 for Phase III in the amount of $65,665.30 for Charlestown Brae. Mr. Kohn seconded and all were in favor.
The Board scheduled the Conditional Use Hearing for the Somerset Subdivision Application for the second monthly meeting of October, October 21, 1996.
Mr. Sauser moved to place a donation of $800.00 to the Community Visiting Nurses of Northern Chester County on the October Accounts Payable list in accordance with the 1996 Budget. Mrs. Ewald seconded and all were in favor.
Mr. Churchill stated that the Planning Commission reviewed the proposed zoning amendment and found it satisfactory. Mr. Sauser stated that the scheduling of the Zoning Change and Conditional Use Hearing can be concurrent. He then directed Mr. McErlane to advertise both hearings for October 21, 1996.
Mr. Sauser explained the impetus behind the Township’s decision to undergo renumbering of existing addresses and for designing a plan for numbering future addresses. He stated that he revised the Re-Numbering Committee’s August 30, 1996 draft proposal to minimize changes where reasonable and workable, such as in Charlestown Hunt, where the numbering is suitable but opposite the committee’s plan for even numbers on the right and odd on the left. Mrs. Andersen asked whether the post offices had been consulted, and Mr. Philips, Chairman of the Re-Numbering Committee, responded affirmatively. Mr. Churchill asked how residents will be notified, and Mr. Sauser responded that they will be notified by letter. Mr. Alston said that the Township will notify the County, which will in turn notify PECO Energy and Bell Atlantic.
Mr. Sauser read proposed Resolution #514-96 in its entirety and referred to the accompanying document, the Street Address Numbering Plan for Charlestown Township. He indicated that a revision dated 9/16/96 adds wording to the end of Section 11-B and adds a Section 11-D. He indicated that revisions were made in the numbering of the Charlestown Hunt and Three Ponds Subdivisions. He also pointed out that Church Road is shown in this revision as unchanging in name, whereas in the 8/30/96 Plan, Church Road was changed to Flax Mill Road.
Mrs. Ewald moved to adopt Resolution #514-96 with the Street Address Numbering Plan prepared by the Renumbering Committee and dated August 30, 1996. Mr. Sauser stated that he is opposed to the renaming of Church Road due to its major historical significance. Mrs. Andersen asked why the change can’t be considered when a majority of residents on Church Road voted for the change. Mr. Sauser responded that the choice of the name “Flax Mill” for the road is historically inaccurate as an error was made in researching it. Mary Ellen Joos stated that at a prior meeting, she was encouraged to contact the Church Road residents with a new name proposal for Church Road and has now provided documentation that a clear majority voted for “Flax Mill Road.” Mr. Philips, a member of the renumbering committee, stated that the committee also voted in favor of the change in recognition of the majority’s wishes and as a complement to the renumbering plan. He stated his concern that changes were made to the committee’s proposed plan without the committee’s participation.
Mr. Kuhn stated that the main reason for considering a name change for Church Road was for the benefit of the 911 System, as there are many duplicate Church Roads in the County. Mr. Alston pointed out that the historically named Reservoir Road was changed to Lindsay Lane on the request of the residents, but Mr. Sauser responded that since Lindsay Lane is a private road, the comparison isn’t valid.
Mrs. Ewald moved to pass Resolution #514-96 adopting the Re-Addressing Plan dated August 30, 1996 as submitted by the Re-Numbering Committee. Mr. Sauser moved to pass Resolution #514-96 adopting the Re-Addressing Plan as amended through September 16, 1996. Mr. Kohn seconded Mr. Sauser’s motion. A roll call vote was taken. Mrs. Ewald voted nay, due to the amending of the committee’s proposed plan. Mr. Sauser and Mr. Kohn voted aye and the motion carried.
Mr. Kuhn asked if the re-naming of Church Road would be considered in the future. Mr. Sauser responded affirmatively.
Mr. Sauser read excerpts from proposed Ordinance #71-96 which names previously unnamed private drives, lanes, and shared driveways in the Township. Mrs. Willow asked if these new names would appear on local maps, and Mr. Alston responded that the ADC Map Company is prepared to add them to its next edition of maps. Mr. Sauser moved to adopt Ordinance #71-96 with the revision of adding the words “Charlestown Township” to the top of Page 1 and the correction of the spelling of the word “Accessory” shown in the text. Mr. Kohn seconded. Mr. Sauser and Mr. Kohn were in favor, and Mrs. Ewald abstained. The motion carried.
Mr. Sauser read excerpts from proposed Ordinance #72-96 which enacts rules, regulations and standards to govern and regulate street addresses within the Township.
Mrs. Behrle asked why a violator of the ordinance would incur legal fees. Mr. Sauser responded that the Second Class Township Code now requires enforcement of ordinances to be undertaken as a civil action, which must be filed with the District Justice. The Township therefore, incurs legal expenses in order to arrange for filing the action with the District Justice.
Mr. Sauser moved to adopt Ordinance #72-96. Mr. Kohn seconded. Mr. Sauser and Mr. Kohn were in favor and Mrs. Ewald abstained. The motion carried.
Refer to Findings of Fact.
Mrs. Ewald moved to adjourn and Mr. Kohn seconded. All were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 11:05 P.M.