Charlestown Township Board of Supervisors Business Meeting Minutes of August 6, 2018

The first business meeting for August was held August 6, 2018 at the Great Valley Middle School in Room 154, 255 N. Phoenixville Pike, in Malvern, PA.

Present

Call to Order:

7:00 p.m.

Announcements

Mr. Kuhn announced that Mr. Richard Orlow of the East Whiteland Board of Supervisors was injured in a biking accident, the post-surgery reports are good.

Mrs. Csete announced that the Board held an executive session following the July 2, 2018 business meeting to discuss legal matters.

Citizens Forum

No matters were brought forward.

Corporal Joseph Irwin from the Embreeville barracks of the PA State Police introduced himself. He said the state police responded to 6 incidents in the Township this month, with a response time of no longer than 15 minutes. There is always one patrol car in Charlestown or West Pikeland. There is a new program beginning when school resumes. Officers will be touring school buildings to familiarize themselves with the layouts, but also joining the students for lunch.

Approvals

July 2, 2018 Business Meeting Minutes

Mr. Philips moved to approve the minutes for the July 2, 2018 Business Meeting and Mr. Kuhn seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Treasurer’s Report July 1 – 31, 2018

Mr. Kuhn moved to approve the July 2018 Treasurer’s Report and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Accounts Payable Reports for Operating Fund for August 6, 2018

Mr. Kuhn moved to approve the General Fund Accounts Payable Report for August 6, 2018 and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Accounts Payable Report for Open Space Fund for August 6, 2018

Mr. Philips moved to approve the Open Space Fund Accounts Payable Report for August 6, 2018 and Mr. Kuhn seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Reports

Mr. Philips said it is time for the Board to visit the Mill. There are still a few adjustments to be made with lighting etc., but it looks great. He met Mr. Dettore there this week for a walk through.

EAC liaison, Dr. Veda Maany, updated Members tonight. She said they are:

• Defining goals
• Examining watershed grades, naming streams, and investigating stream-side spraying
• Consolidating pipeline comments
• Planning a community table for Charlestown Day
• Talking with Sue Staas regarding invasive vines
• Making a list of potential scout projects
• Discussing the use of plastic bags
• Considering increasing the riparian buffer at Brightside Farm.

Mr. Philips moved to accept the July 2018 reports #1-14 as submitted and Mr. Kuhn seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Hearing

Conditional Use Hearing – Hyung Joo and Laurie Ann Lee

Mr. Thompson opened the hearing for Jyung Joo and Laurie Anne Lee for conditional use approval as procedure requires, but the couple did not attend. They wish to obtain conditional use pursuant to Section 27-1203.2.B(6) for constructing a swimming pool in a steep slope area and Section 27-1203.2.B(2) to construct portions of a stormwater management facility in a steep slope area. The next step by the owners will be to attend the August Planning Commission Meeting.

Mr. Thompson entered the following exhibits into the record:

T-1	Conditional Use Application to the Township
T-2	Public Notice
T-3	Thomas Comitta Associates, Inc. review letter dated 7/12/18

No testimony was taken. The hearing was continued to September 4, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at the Great Valley Middle School, Room 154, 255 N. Phoenixville Pike, Malvern PA.

Old Business –

none

New Business

Devault Village Spring Oak Home Size Discussion

Mr. Michael Allen, of the Planning Commission, addressed the Board regarding an email about dwelling area comparisons at Spring Oak, to be used as a guide during the approval process for Devault Village. Mrs. Bednar stated that the home sizes noted in the permit drawings do not necessarily reflect what is seen from the street. (This has massing and architectural aesthetic implications.) Many permitted drawings reflect the finished living space and not the actual constructed space, which may include unfinished spaces (ex. bonus rooms).

He discussed footprints while referring to a document he distributed called Spring Oak Building Permit Data. He told the Members that the Township needs to clarify, and be consistent, on terms of floor area. To avoid any confusion, the permit drawings are using the basement area exterior of the walls for square footage. Ms. Carol Quigley of Frens & Frens LLC agreed with Mr. Allen, and said she would be approving buildings after giving maximums to the builder. The Township will hold the builder to smaller sized homes too, as in the Spring Oak manual.

Next, Ms. Quigley, Ms. Bednar, and Mr. Allen will discuss with the Board, the next steps they are taking to better control the footprints, and then talk to Mr. Filippo.

Mr. Philips reminded the Board that the builder mentions a vote on the Manual and the Final Plan on September 4th, but the Board is just voting on the Manual.

Conservation Easement – Buckwalter Road

Ms. Karen Beam was present to discuss her interest in placing a conservation easement on her property at 329 Buckwalter Road. She is considering two options. The first would be to conserve the entire 10.4-acre property. A second option is to subdivide and sell off a 2.4-acre portion to the neighbor to the rear. The neighbor wants the additional acreage to enlarge their backyard; due to steep slopes and wetlands, it is undevelopable. With this option they would still wish to conserve the remaining 8 acres.

Ms. Beam was interested in creating two apartments, one for a caretaker and the other for guest quarters. Supervisors discussed the counterproductivity of offering Ms. Beam money to not develop but allowing her to add habitable space in the barn. They did not object to the caretaker unit but to the second unit. Supervisors clarified for Ms. Beam, the limits on changes she can do to building on her historical property. If she converts the barn into office space, it can not be changed into a living space by future owners. Guest quarters up to 1000 feet can be obtained by conditional use per a letter by Mr. Wright; however, the Supervisors indicated they are not inclined to approve that.

Ms. Beam will contact the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trusts. Then she will be contacted by the Board about creating a conservation easement agreement document, followed by an appraisal of her historical property, which lies at one of the entrances of the Township.

Interim Budget Review

Mrs. Csete gave a brief review of the budget vs. actual figures for 2018 through July 31^st.

The overall balances in the General and State Funds are very favorable at 17% and 3% above budget. The Open Space Fund balance is on target for year end.

Resolution to Dispose of Records in Accordance with Records Retention Schedule

Mr. Philips moved to adopt Resolution #919-18 authorizing the disposition records as listed, and Mrs. Bednar seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Other Business

There will be an executive session after tonight’s meeting to discuss legal matters.

Adjournment

Mr. Piliero adjourned the meeting at 7:45 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 4, 2018, 7:00 p.m. at the Great Valley Middle School, in Room 154, 255 N. Phoenixville Pike, in Malvern, PA 19355.