Coolbaugh Township

Planning Commission

January 10, 2005 - Page 1

The Coolbaugh Township Planning Commission Organizational/Business Meeting of January 10, 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 and Ms. Alma I. Ruiz-Smith. Mr. Ronald Kluge was absent. Also in attendance were: PC Engineer Russ Kresge and Recording Secretary Jeri Inness. Solicitor H. Clark Connor was absent.

Organization of the Planning Commission

Appointment of Chairman

Motion: Mr. Horne moved to reappoint Werner Frank as Chairman of the Planning Commission for the year 2005. Ms. Ruiz-Smith seconded the motion. With no other nominations heard, the motion was called and carried 3-0-1 (Mr. Frank abstained).

Appointment of Vice-Chairman

Motion: Ms. Ruiz-Smith moved to reappoint Wayne Horne as Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission for the year 2005. Seconded by Mr. Frank. With no other nominations heard, the motion was called and passed 3-0-1 (Mr. Horne abstained).

Appointment of Secretary

Motion: Mr. Frank moved to reappoint Alma I. Ruiz Smith as Planning Commission Secretary for the year 2005. Seconded by Mr. Kozen. With no other nominations heard, the motion was called and carried 3-0-1 (Ms. Ruiz-Smith abstained).

Selection of Meeting Date for Calendar Year 2005

Motion: Following a brief discussion regarding the selection of a meeting date and time, Mr. Kozen made a motion to hold the Planning Commission Meetings on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion - none. The motion carried 4-0.

Approval of December 13, 2004 Minutes

Motion: Mr. Kozen moved to approve the December 13, 2004 meeting Minutes and dispense with the reading. Seconded by Mr. Horne. Discussion - none. The motion passed 4-0.

Cingular Wireless - PPL PCP (Pocono Farms) Substation Site

Michael S. Grab, Attorney, and Sue Allen, Real Estate Project Manager for Cingular Wireless and Vlad Tarasov, Chief Structural Engineer of Henkels & McCoy were present on behalf of the above referenced project.

Discussion followed regarding comments from Township Engineer Russ Kresge in a letter dated January 5, 2005. Among the items discussed were issues associated with zoning conditions, the wetlands delineation study, proposed lease area tied to a monument in the exterior boundary, the Monroe County Parcel ID Number (PIN), Deed of Record, development agreement, etc. The applicants gave Mr. Kresge a copy of the wetlands delineation study and will also submit a copy of the Deed of Record to him. Mr. Kresge said he would have time to review these items prior to the January 18, 2005 meeting of the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Grab stated that they will also contact Mr. Kresge over the next week to work on the development agreement, in order to have that ready for the Board meeting.

Ms. Ruiz-Smith raised the issue of the name of the location of the site being referred to as Pocono Country Place, when it was actually outside Pocono Farms. Sue Allen confirmed that the designation was consistent with PPL’s name for the area, but that this was also an internal name that specified the site. Ms. Allen said it would not be a problem to change the name to avoid any public relations problems.

Motion: Mr. Kozen made a motion to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they approve the Cingular Wireless - PPL PCP (Pocono Farms) Substation Site, with the condition that  the applicants provide the Monroe County Parcel ID Number (PIN) as specified, the current Deed of Record, work with Township Engineer Russ Kresge on the development agreement and comply with any zoning conditions that might be attached to the Zoning Hearing Board’s decision. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion - none. The motion carried 4-0.

Cingular Wireless - PPL North Coolbaugh Substation Site Land Development Plan

Michael S. Grab, Attorney, and Sue Allen, Real Estate Project Manager for Cingular Wireless and Vlad Tarasov, Chief Structural Engineer of Henkels & McCoy were present on behalf of the above referenced project.

Discussion followed regarding comments from Township Engineer Russ Kresge in a letter dated January 5, 2005. Among the items discussed were issues associated with grading, proposed lease area tied to a monument in the exterior boundary, the full extent of the proposed work site, the Monroe County Parcel ID Number (PIN), Deed of Record, development agreement, etc. Mr. Grab stated they will submit a copy of the Deed of Record to Mr. Kresge and will also be in contact with him to work on the development agreement, as with the PPL PCP Substation Site.

Motion: Mr. Kozen made a motion to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they approve the Cingular Wireless - PPL North Coolbaugh Substation Site Land Development Plan, with the condition that  the applicants provide the Monroe County Parcel ID Number (PIN) as specified, the current Deed of Record, work with Township Engineer Russ Kresge on the development agreement and comply with any zoning conditions that might be attached to the Zoning Hearing Board’s decision. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion - none. The motion carried 4-0.

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

Chad M. Lello, E.I.T. of Clough, Harbour & Associates, LLP was present on behalf of the above referenced project. Mr. Lello went over comments in a letter dated January 5, 2005 from Township Engineer Russ Kresge. Items discussed included the Zoning Officer’s review Memorandum of December 9, 2004, variances, landscaping, hours of operation for the facility, lighting issues, traffic on Heath Lane, impact of deliveries, etc. Mr. Lello confirmed that they had received MCCD approval of the E & S plan and will work on a development plan. He also noted that they were waiting for approval of the amendment of the NPDES permit, which should be forthcoming in the next week or so and will comply with a clear sight triangle being shown at the intersection of Heath Lane and SR 940 in the consolidation plan.

It was determined that since the applicants must await a decision on a request for another variance from the Zoning Hearing Board and the outcome on the amendment of the NPDES permit, it would be necessary to submit a written request for an extension on the project. Mr. Lello presented a letter requesting an extension; however, no time period was

stipulated. It was determined that he would rewrite the letter with a request for ninety (90) days and fax it to the Township Secretary.

Motion: Mr. Kozen moved to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they grant the Jack Williams Tire and Auto - Adjacent Parcel - Land Development and Lot Combination Plan a ninety (90) day extension, upon receipt of the written request. Seconded by Mr. Horne. Discussion - none. The motion passed 4-0.

Motion: Mr. Horne made a motion to table the Jack Williams Tire and Auto - Adjacent Parcel - Land Development and Lot Combination Plan. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion - none. The motion carried 4-0.

Route 196 Storage Building - James J. Fondi - Land Development Plan

Marv Walton of Niclaus Engineering was present on behalf of the above referenced Land Development Plan. He said they had missed the submittal deadline for this meeting, but would be ready for the February PC meeting; therefore, he requested that discussion of the project be tabled. Mr. Frank confirmed that the Board of Supervisors had granted the applicant an extension until February 15, 2005.

Motion: Mr. Horne made a motion to table the Route 196 Storage Building - James J. Fondi - Land Development Plan. Seconded by Mr. Kozen. Discussion - none. The passed 4-0.

Pocono Mountains Industries Minor Subdivision Plan

Marv Walton of Niclaus Engineering was present on behalf of the above referenced Minor Subdivision Plan. He said they were still working on the details of the conveyance of the residual tract; therefore, he requested that discussion of the project be tabled. Mr. Frank confirmed that the Board of Supervisors had granted the applicants an extension until February 15, 2005.

Motion: Mr. Kozen moved to table the Pocono Mountains Industries Minor Subdivision Plan. Seconded by Mr. Horne. Discussion - none. The motion passed 4-0.

Pocono Mountains Industrial Park Authority, Pocono Mountains Industries and Pocono Mountains Municipal Airport Authority Minor Subdivision Plan

Marv Walton of Niclaus Engineering was present on behalf of the above referenced project. He went over comments in a letter dated January 5, 2005 from Township Engineer Russ Kresge. Mr. Frank pointed out an error at the top of the plan in which the notation of the referenced Zoning Districts were reversed. Mr. Walton acknowledged the mistake and said it would be corrected. Other items for discussion included use of the parcels, plan scale, connection of wetland delineation points, issues associated with the location map, matters that must be addressed at a later time, should future development of the site be considered, etc. It was pointed out that the applicants had not received Zoning or SEO reviews. Mr. Frank asked Recording Secretary Jeri Inness to check with SEO/Alternate ZO Tim Kresge about this. Township Engineer Russ Kresge noted that the project should not be held up by paperwork that is the responsibility of the Township.

Motion: Mr. Frank made a motion to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they approve the Pocono Mountains Industrial Park Authority, Pocono Mountains Industries and Pocono Mountains Municipal Airport Authority Minor Subdivision Plan, contingent upon getting the Zoning Officer’s review, the SEO review of the site and Request for Planning Waiver & Non-Building Declaration, and that the note on the plan referencing the Zoning Districts be corrected. Seconded by Mr. Horne. Discussion - none. The motion passed 4-0.

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

No one was present on behalf of the above referenced project. As a matter of interest, Township Engineer Russ Kresge mentioned that he had been in discussion with Shawn K. Langen of Arcadia Properties, LLC regarding differences between the protocol followed in Coolbaugh Township and in the Lehigh Valley, when it comes to the rate of development of projects.

Motion: Mr. Kozen moved to table the Preliminary Site Plan, Hemlock Estates, Arcadia Homes of Lehigh Valley, LLC. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion - none. The motion carried 4-0.

Public Input - none.

Discussion followed among the PC members regarding issues associated with Arcadia Homes and an appearance of representatives at a recent meeting of the Board of Supervisors, in which Shawn Langen said that floodplain issues are going to be addressed. Mr. Frank noted that the Supervisors realize the project will have to meet conditions, and the PC members agreed that the ninety (90) day extension granted to the applicants will keep further logging from happening, etc.

Mr. Frank brought up the matter of a Memo and an attachment from the Board, tasking the PC with discussing possible changes to the Township Sign Ordinance at their February 14, 2005 meeting, per the request of Grier Haslam, ZHB Chairman. Discussion followed.