Meeting #794 of the Hanover Township Northampton County Planning Commission was held at the Hanover Township Municipal Building, 3630 Jacksonville Road, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Monday, September 8, 2003, and convened at 7:30 P.M.

Planning Commission members in attendance:

Mark Tanczos

Joseph Hilton

Paul Kuehne

Karen Fritz

George Scoggin

Glenn Taggart

Hanover Engineering Associates, Inc. represented by Charles M. Schmalzer, P.E.

Correction to the minutes of August 11, 2003 on Page 4, 5th paragraph. Sentence should read..... Developer will submit Covenant draft to Township Solicitor for his review.

Noting this correction, the minutes were approved on the motion of Tanczos, seconded by Hilton.

OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION Features Map

Karen Kennedy (Park and Recreation Board)

Features Map was discussed with Park and Recreation Board member Karen Kennedy. Goal is to preserve space, provide recreation to all residents, establish multiple interconnected loops within the Township, providing a pathway access throughout entire Township from Illick’s Mill Park to an East Allen connection to the Northampton Community Center and Bicentennial Park.

Planners offered recommendations to proposed map.

Kuehne commented on the western side of the Township along the Airport owned property. LVCC has a black top pathway to the point where proposed link is shown. A pathway, rather than sidewalk, should be requested. At Diocesan property along Kim Street, a dedicated pathway west and north of this property should be shown on official map. Sidewalk in front of Diocesan property would be looked at when a future development plan would be presented.

Taggart and Tanczos suggested an internal pathway be included within the Airport land (property from Schoenersville Road to Orchard Lane).

Hilton recommended preserving existing tree lines. Note should be added to plan to this effect.

Fritz stated an existing quarry lies in the northeast corner of the Township, north of Hanoverville Road and west of Township Line Road. This area will be developed as PIBD. Tanczos suggested sidewalk from North Commerce Way be extended into this northeast corner.

Scoggin noted that pathway along Jacksonville Road stops at Westgate Drive. Existing sidewalk at Walgreens, Tanczos Beverages and Fisherman’s Net are not shown on plan and should be shown. Concept is to complete link to Illick’s Mill, therefore, future sidewalk should be shown.

Existing Bridle Path Road sidewalk does not continue east due to the existing steep slopes.

When Hanover Pointe Subdivision is approved, internal sidewalks and sidewalk along Jacksonville Road will be added to Plan.

Taggart stated since this is a conceptual plan, there should be an East/West pathway/sidewalk connection. Orchard Lane might be a consideration.

Taggart suggested any contiguous areas near our Township boundary should be included on map, showing where a future connection should be made.

Fritz asked what could be done under the Route 22 overpass. Schmalzer advised a document is being sent by the Township to PennDot, requesting that widening be in their 12 year program.

Motion was made by Tanczos, seconded by Taggart, to forward letter to the Board of Supervisors recommending that Pathway/Sidewalk Map be included as part of the Township Open Space/Recreation Plan along with inclusions recommended by the Planning Commission.

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

Zoning Ordinance Amendment was reviewed.

Motion was made by Tanczos, seconded by Kuehne, to forward letter to the Board of Supervisors recommending the rezoning from PIBD to C2 based in accordance with the objective of the Comprehensive Plan.

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

HINDU TEMPLE SOCIETY Land Development Preliminary/Record Plan

Chris Kerkusz (Martin Schuler Company) William Malkames, Esq. (Attorney)

Mr. Joshi (Hindu Temple Society)

Land Development Plan was reviewed along with letter from Hanover Engineering dated September 4, 2003. Proposed is a 1478 square foot expansion of existing building. Additional classroom area of 32.9 square feet will be used for Sunday School for grades 1 through 9. Basement is included for priest’s residence along with storage. Plan includes additional parking spaces and increasing the size of the detention pond.

Schmalzer advised Planners that in 1991 the Zoning Hearing Board allowed the church to expand 46% vs the 25% allowed for a non-conforming use. Because church is located in an AFD overlay, maximum lot coverage is 16 ½ %. Requested is a 25% increase in building size.

There will be 100 to 120 people in the building at any one time.

Functional setback is a requirement that is separate from the front yard setback. 50 feet from center line of Airport Road has been dedicated to the Township.

Driveway location remains the same. No new construction.

It is not known when sewer lines will be available. This depends upon Northgate’s timetable.

Plan must show that developer is able to build required number of parking spaces. Determination must be made on the number of spaces actually needed.

Developer was advised to list all waiver requests in letter when they return to Planning.

Impervious coverage is a Zoning matter. Developer will schedule hearing with the Zoning Hearing Board. Schmalzer recommended that Lot Consolidation Plan be recorded prior to hearing.

Broadband requested to do a market test in the Township with 5 or 6 installations in Pointe North and 2 on Jacksonville Road. Tests are also planned in Whitehall and Saucon Valley.

Planners were impressed with the informative letter received from Vincent Horvath. Apparently in Emmaus, based on field measurements made by PP&L, there was severe interference to High Frequency reception.

The safety community has discussed public safety under power lines. With Broadband there could be an additional effect on people. Radio waves and electrical current could have a health effect.

Their test market studies would pertain to sales. Technical evaluation study on interference is needed. Proof should be provided that this is not harmful.

Professional advice should be secured before allowing Broadband testing. Perhaps Supervisors could contact Vincent Horvath to see if he would serve on an ad hoc committee pertaining to this matter.

 Sylvia McLaughlin - Planning Clerk.