Coolbaugh Township

Planning Commission

April 11, 2005 - Page 1

The Coolbaugh Township Planning Commission Meeting of April 11, 2005 was held  in the Township Municipal Center, in Building #3, at 5550 Memorial Boulevard, Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania.

Call To Order

Mr. Frank called the meeting to order at approximately 7:00 p.m. and led those in attendance in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Members present included: Mr. Werner Frank, Mr. Wayne Horne, Mr. Bernard Kozen,  Mr. Ronald Kluge and Ms. Alma I. Ruiz-Smith. Also present were Solicitor H. Clark Connor, PC Engineer Russ Kresge and Recording Secretary Jeri Inness.

Public Input (Agenda Items Only)  - None

Approval of March 14, 2005 Minutes

Motion: Mr. Kluge moved to approve the March 14, 2005 Minutes and dispense with the reading. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith, who noted that the word “than” should be “that” in paragraph three on page 3. The motion carried 5-0.

Jack Williams Tire and Auto - Adjacent Parcel - Land Development and Lot Combination

Mr. Frank pointed out that there were two comments in a letter dated April 4, 2005 from Township Engineer Russ Kresge regarding the above referenced project. Mr. Kresge confirmed that Alternate Zoning Officer Tim Kresge and the new Zoning Officer Todd Schollhammer verified that the plan conforms to the conditions of the variance granted by the Zoning Hearing Board, and that the development improvements agreement will be required before final approval by the Board of Supervisors. Discussion followed regarding a zone change request recently submitted by property owners across the street from Jack Williams Tire and Auto, the location of these properties, the possibility of a speed bump on Heath Lane similar to one on Oak Street by the Kmart Plaza, etc.

Motion: Mr. Kozen moved to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they approve the Jack Williams Tire and Auto - Adjacent Parcel - Land Development and Lot Combination and look into the possibility of a speed bump on Heath Lane. Seconded by Mr. Horne. Discussion - none. The motion carried 5-0.

Planning Commission

April 11, 2005 - Page 2

Preliminary Site Plan, Hemlock Estates, Arcadia Homes of Lehigh Valley, LLC

Before the Planning Commission was a letter from Paul A. Szewczak, Vice President, Liberty Engineering, asking that discussion of the above referenced project be tabled for tonight’s meeting and that the Planning Commission recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they grant a request for an extension on the Hemlock Estates project until July 19, 2005.

Discussion followed regarding ongoing litigation, and public comment was heard from adjacent property owners of Hemlock Campgrounds, Bruce and Joyce Hanby, present in the audience. Mr. Hanby stated that they object to the project; piles of slash are sitting on the property and pose a fire hazard; representatives from Arcadia told the Supervisors at a meeting that the slash would be cleaned up, but nothing has been done thus far; the summer traffic jams will pose problems on the roads; the property lines are in dispute and if he wins his lawsuit, how can the Township approve the plans, etc.

Ms. Ruiz-Smith asked Solicitor Connor if the Planning Commission had any recourse to urge the Board of Supervisors to follow up on Arcadia’s assurances that they would clear the slash. Solicitor Connor explained that State regulations do not allow any local jurisdiction over logging issues. However, he suggested that the Hanby’s attend the next meeting of the Board and lodge another complaint. Further discussion ensued regarding the PC not recommending that the Board grant the applicant’s request for an extension, but that such action might lead to further logging, etc.

Motion: Mr. Horne made a motion to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they grant the Preliminary Site Plan, Hemlock Estates, Arcadia Homes of Lehigh Valley, LLC an extension until July 19, 2005, per their request. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion followed regarding the clean up of slash. Mr. Horne amended his motion to add a recommendation to the Board that the Township make an effort to urge Arcadia to clear the slash. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion - none. The motion passed

5-0.

Pocono Mountains Industries Minor Subdivision Plan

Before the PC members was a copy of a letter confirming that the Board of Supervisors approved an extension on the above referenced project until June 21, 2005 and a copy of a request from Niclaus Engineering to table discussion of the project at tonight’s meeting.

Planning Commission

April 11, 2005 - Page 3

Motion: Mr. Horne moved to table Pocono Mountains Industries Minor Subdivision Plan. Seconded by Mr. Kluge. Discussion - none. The motion carried 5-0.

Zone Change request from Medium Density Residential (R-3) Zoning District to Commercial Village (C-3) Zoning District

Darryl Rarick was present on behalf of the above referenced zone change request. Mr. Rarick confirmed that all of the paperwork from the property owners had been submitted, with the exception of Homer and Cecelia Jones, who are in a nursing home. The number and location of the properties involved and why the owners were requesting the zone change from R-3 to C-3 were issues also presented for review. Further discussion followed about  zoning already in the surrounding area, the Jack Williams project across the street, whether a speed bump on Heath Lane might be a possibility, etc.

Motion: Mr. Kozen made a motion to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they look at the Zone Change request from Medium Density Residential (R-3) Zoning District to Commercial Village (C-3) Zoning District and the properties in question that are currently R-3 along Heath Lane and combining them with the current C-3 zoning, which is adjacent to the properties along the Rte. 940 corridor. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion followed regarding the combining of R-3 to C-3 with the other C-3 pieces there, the timing of the Public Hearing, etc.  The motion carried 5-0.

Regional Comprehensive Plan - Revised Chapter 3

Discussion followed regarding the history of the Regional Comprehensive Plan, that Tobyhanna Township objected to language in the action plan in Chapter 3 and a new version was written with revisions acceptable to Tobyhanna Township. The Monroe County Planning Commission requested, in a letter dated March 31, 2005, that the PC members recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they adopt the revised Chapter 3. Discussion followed about the proposed involvement of private communities, goals and objectives, the advantages of regional planning, that the plan was designed to maintain the integrity of the area in the future, etc.

Motion: Mr. Horne moved to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they accept the revisions of Chapter 3 of the Regional Comprehensive Plan as submitted by Christine Laytos, Open Space Coordinator for the Monroe County Planning Commission. Seconded by Mr. Kluge. Discussion - none. The motion carried 5-0.

Planning Commission

April 11, 2005 - Page 4

Public Input - None.

Miscellaneous Discussion

Werner Frank - brought up the subject of changes to the Sign Ordinance per a past request from the ZHB Chairman Grier Haslam. It was decided that the matter will be an agenda item for a future meeting of the Planning Commission. Mr. Frank also announced that a letter was received from the Monroe County Planning Commission regarding plans to visit Township and Borough meetings in the County to continue dialogue and exchange ideas and information since the introduction of the program. It was noted that MCPC representatives had attended a past Township PC meeting.

Solicitor H. Clark Connor - commented on a Lowe’s variance request re: parking. He said it was determined that the parking issue was in Mount Pocono Borough and the request with Coolbaugh Township was withdrawn. He also pointed out that it would be a good idea to identify what issues lie in the Borough and whether Lowe’s meets their requirements.

Alma I. Ruiz-Smith - announced that she recently joined the staff of State Senator Robert Mellow’s office in Mt. Pocono. She said that part of her job will be to attend various Township and Borough meetings, and in so doing, she hoped to bring back helpful information for the Planning Commission.

Adjournment

Motion: With no further business before the Commission, Mr. Frank made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. The motion carried 5-0.

The Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jerilyn Inness                                                                 Werner Frank

Administrative Assistant                                              PC Chairman