PLANNING COMMISSION

Hanover Township        Northampton County

3630 JACKSONVILLE ROAD

BETHLEHEM, PA 18017

 

 

Minutes of the December 1, 2003 Meeting

 

Meeting #798 of the Hanover Township Northampton County Planning Commission was held at the Hanover Township Municipal Building, 3630 Jacksonville Road, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Monday, December 1, 2003, and convened at 7:30 P.M.

 

Planning Commission members in attendance:

                        Mark Tanczos                          Joseph Hilton

                        Paul Kuehne                             Karen Fritz

                        John McGonigle                       George Scoggin

                        Glenn Taggart

Hanover Engineering Associates, Inc. represented by James B. Birdsall, P.E.

 

On the motion of Kuehne, seconded by McGonigle, the minutes of the November 17, 2003 Planning Commission Meeting were approved.

   Hilton, abstain;   Kuehne, yes;   McGonigle, yes;   Taggart, yes;   Fritz, abstain;   Scoggin, yes       Tanczos, yes

 

DAVIS SUBDIVISION     Preliminary/Record Plan

Tom Deily (Keystone Engineering)     William Malkames, Esq. (Attorney)

Michael Davis (Owner)

 

Subdivision Plan was reviewed along with letter from Hanover Engineering, dated November 26, 2003. 

 

Developer requested a waiver to allow the increased length for proposed cul-de-sac.

Motion was made by Tanczos, seconded by Hilton, to recommend waiver request of S.A.L.D.O. Section 159-11.D, increasing the maximum length of the cul-de-sac to approximately 943 feet.

Planner Taggart questioned why a maximum length is stipulated in the Township Ordinance.  Township Engineer Birdsall advised one reason is snow stacking.  Planners asked developer to consider reserving an area for the piling of snow off the roadway that would not block the walkway.

Motion was made by Tanczos, seconded by Kuehne, to amend waiver to include reserving an area for the piling of snow.

   Hilton, yes;  Kuehne, yes;  McGonigle, yes;  Taggart, yes;  Fritz, yes;  Scoggin, yes

   Tanczos, yes

 

 

 

 

Minimum length of the vertical curve was discussed.  30 feet is proposed for the crest vertical curve and 25 feet for the SAG vertical curve.  The slopes are gentle, therefore, Planners concur with requested waiver request.

Motion was made by Tanczos, seconded by Taggart, to recommend approval of S.A.L.D.O. Section 159-11.M(3) regarding the minimum length of the vertical curve

  Hilton, yes;   Kuehne, yes;   McGonigle, yes;   Taggart, yes;   Fritz, yes;   Scoggin, yes;                  Tanczos, yes

 

Township Engineer Birdsall  advised that the right-of-way along Airport Road was 33 feet.  Additional dedication out to the 50 foot line (16 ½ feet plus 33 feet) is shown on the plan.  Attorney Malkames questioned why dedication must be made with this plan when no development is proposed for Lot 5.  Value of existing home would be adversely effected due to the closeness of the right-of-way.  Developer feels all issues pertaining to Lot 5 should be addressed when this lot is developed.  Presently, they do not know what will occur with this lot.

Because Lot 5 is a part of this Subdivision, Planners recommend that all improvements be noted, but deferred.  If developer amends this plan, Planners request this in writing with reasons stated why he is not willing to offer the dedication of the right-of-way.

Planners recommendation on waiver request for no sidewalks along Airport Road (S.A.L.D.O. Section 159-13.B(1)) will be made at a future meeting.

 

Planners request that sidewalk be provided on one side of the cul-de-sac to the southern property line.

 

Waiver request pertaining to alternate drainfield was discussed.

Motion was made by Tanczos, seconded by McGonigle, recommending deferral of S.A.L.D.O. Section 159-20.A&L with regards to an alternate drainfield site.  A note should be added to the plan stating there is no secondary site.  If there is any change to the property, or development of the property, the primary as well as a secondary tested and approved drainfield must be identified.

  Hilton, yes;   Kuehne, yes;   McGonigle, yes;   Taggart, yes;   Fritz, yes;   Scoggin, yes;                  Tanczos, yes

 

Developer does not have a Highway Occupancy Permit.  Verification is needed for a valid driveway.  Davis stated he has two existing driveways, but nothing from PennDot.  Township Engineer was asked to check on what is required.

 

Landscape Plan has not been received.  The majority of trees along the proposed Lot 2 and Lot 3  property line with Lehigh Valley International Airport are noted to be removed.  Approximately 57 trees are proposed to be removed for the proposed berm, swale and detention basin.  Davis stated trees that will be removed are in poor condition.  Ordinance requires that trees be replaced.

 

Developer should contact neighboring Airport to verify that they have no problem with their storm water discharge.

 

Outstanding issues must be addressed.         .

FAULKNER SUBARU     Preliminary/Record Plan

Amit Mukherjee (Base Engineering)       David Stirk (Faulkner Oldsmobile)

 

Planners Kuehne and Scoggin deferred from making any comments or voting on issues due to their relationship with Attorney Maloney and/or Faulkner.

 

Zoning matters should be resolved at the Zoning Hearing Board Meeting on December 4, 2003.

Proposed lighting exceeds the maximum allowed by the Ordinance with greater intensity of lighting on the parking lot.  Light standards will be 16 feet high.  This must be discussed with Zoning.

 

Stormwater Drainage Plan was approved by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.

Underground stormwater detention structure will be located north of curb line between Stoke Park Road and proposed parking lot.  Note should be added to Plan indicating that the underground structure must be maintained by the property owner.

Developer proposes to improve three storm inlet pipes located at Stoke Park Road and the Private Drive..

 

Application was made to the Soil Erosion Control District for a NPDES Permit.

 

Developer asked for relief from documenting the large number of trees on this property.  Existing tree row on the north side of the property will be retained.  Per Ordinance, trees four inches or more in diameter should be identified.  Developer should contact the Shade Tree Commission for their assistance with making a tree listing.

 

Curbing exists along Stoke Park Road.  Curbing will be constructed along the Private Drive up to the northern (2nd) driveway.  Curb installation to this northern portion can be deferred with a note added to the plan stating that curbing will be installed for the northern area along the Private Drive if/when requested by the Township.

 

Outstanding issues, noted in letter from Hanover Engineering dated November 26, 2003, should be addressed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                            Sylvia McLaughlin

                                                            Clerk - Planning Commission