CHARLESTOWN TOWNSHIP
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
11 General Warren Blvd, Suite 1
Malvern, PA 19355
Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Present

Planning Commission:
Michael Richter, Chairman, Matt Rogers, Vice Chairman, Daniel Ghosh, Andy Motel, Dan Walker, and Andre von Hoyer II. Michael Churchill and Bill Westhafer were absent.
Consultants:
none present
Staff:
Chris Heleniak, Township Manager, and Lisa Gardner, Recording Secretary

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%.

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.

Respectfully submitted,


Lisa Gardner, Recording Secretary
Sign-in sheet, 12/12/2023