Coolbaugh Township

Planning Commission

June 13, 2005 - Page 1

The Coolbaugh Township Planning Commission Meeting of June 13, 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 and Ms. Alma I. Ruiz-Smith. Mr. Ronald Kluge and Mr. Bernard Kozen were absent. Also present were

PC Solicitor H. Clark Connor, PC Engineer Russ Kresge and Recording Secretary Jeri Inness.

Approval of May 9, 2005 Meeting Minutes

Motion: Ms. Ruiz-Smith moved to approve the May 9, 2005 Meeting Minutes and dispense with the reading. Seconded by Mr. Horne. Discussion - none. The motion carried 3-0.

Official Acceptance  - Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc./ Pocono Star Properties, Inc. - Lot Consolidation Plan

Ralph Matergia, Esq. of the law firm Matergia & Dunn was present on behalf of the above referenced Lot Consolidation Plan. He stated that he was here to address comments in a letter dated May 4, 2005 from Township Engineer Russ Kresge. Mr. Matergia proceeded to go through each comment by number, assuring the commission members that everything will be addressed.

Discussion followed in which Township Engineer Russ Kresge expressed concern regarding comment #7, which noted that the plans were not sealed by a registered Professional Land Surveyor as required by the Engineer, Land Surveyor and Geologist Registration Law, making it unethical for him to begin a review of the plans if accepted. Mr. Matergia said the engineers for the Lowe’s project would be at the Township tomorrow and will have the problem corrected.

Solicitor Clark Connor explained that, although he was not referring to the Lowe’s project, the Planning Commission has been put in a situation where several accepted plans for other projects have been carried for over a year as a result of assurances that information required by the Township Engineer’s comments would be forthcoming. Mr. Matergia confirmed that Mr. Kresge will be able to review revised plans when he gets them.

Planning Commission

June 13, 2005 - Page 2

Further discussion followed regarding whether a corresponding subdivision plan was submitted to the Mt. Pocono Borough and whether the Borough will reinitiate the Conditional Use process. Mr. Matergia commented that the highway improvements project at the Five Points Intersection has been holding things up, but those issues appear to have been resolved. Mr. Frank confirmed with Solicitor Connor and Mr. Kresge that the Lot Consolidation Plan could be accepted for review with the condition that it is sealed by a registered Professional Land Surveyor within 10 days.

Motion: Mr. Horne moved to officially accept for review the Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc./ Pocono Star Properties, Inc. - Lot Consolidation Plan, with the condition that the plans are sealed by a registered Professional Land Surveyor within ten (10) days. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion - none. The motion carried 3-0.

Motion: Mr. Horne made a motion to table the Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc./ Pocono Star Properties, Inc. - Lot Consolidation Plan. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion - none. The motion passed 3-0.

Official Acceptance - Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc. - Preliminary Land Development Plan - Completeness

Ralph Matergia, Esq. of the law firm Matergia & Dunn was also present on behalf of the above referenced Preliminary Land Development Plan. He stated that he was here to go over comments in a letter dated May 4, 2005 from Township Engineer Russ Kresge in reference to the Planning Commission officially accepting the plan for completeness. Discussion ensued regarding the continued Conditional Use Application Hearing and any conditions which may be imposed by the Board of Supervisors, the impact of stormwater runoff on Pocono Summit Lake, etc. Mr. Matergia noted that it was Lowe’s intention to be a “friendly neighbor” and said the concerns of property owners by the lake will be addressed.

Public comment was heard from Walter McGrath who said he lives in the area and had spoken to concerned residents, many of whom are located in a floodplain, and noted that the monster storms experienced recently are not necessarily the norm, etc. Jim Frutchey, Jr., also present in the audience, spoke about matters associated with the stormwater impact of areas already developed in that location and pointed out that water is coming down the hill from businesses with no detention basins. He said the Township is looking into extending the storm drains, etc.

Motion: Mr. Frank moved to officially accept for review the Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc. - Preliminary Land Development Plan. Seconded by Mr. Horne. Discussion - none. The motion carried 3-0.

Planning Commission

June 13, 2005 - Page 3

Motion: Mr. Frank made a motion to table the Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc. - Preliminary Land Development Plan. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion - none. The motion passed 3-0.

Official Acceptance - Minor Subdivision / Annexation Plan - Lands of Robert and Alice Sweeney

Mark Robbins, PLS of Martin & Robbins Surveyors was present on behalf of the above referenced Minor Subdivision/Annexation Plan. Mr. Robbins briefly went over comments in a letter dated May 31, 2005 from Township Engineer Russ Kresge. He confirmed that the net tract area was indicated and that a signature block for the Planning Commission was added to the revised plans.

Motion: Mr. Horne made a motion to officially accept for review the Minor Subdivision / Annexation Plan - Lands of Robert and Alice Sweeney. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion - none. The motion carried 3–0.

Motion: Ms. Ruiz-Smith moved to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they approve the Minor Subdivision / Annexation Plan - Lands of Robert and Alice Sweeney. Seconded by Mr. Horne. Discussion - none. The motion passed 3-0.

Official Acceptance - Scavello - Route 940 Minor Subdivision / Lot Combination Plan

Lou Cozza, Project Consultant with Niclaus Engineering, was present on behalf of the above referenced Minor Subdivision/Lot Combination Plan. Township Engineer Russ Kresge commented that technically this plan could have gone directly to the Board of Supervisors; however, it had to track along with the Land Development Plan for the project. Discussion followed about the plans, which include a two story building with retail stores on the first floor and office space on the second floor. Ms. Ruiz-Smith pointed out a comment on page 8 of the plans referencing storage units, and asked Mr. Cozza whether this was an error. Mr. Cozza confirmed that the comment was an error and would be removed from the plans.

During discussion it was agreed that it would be acceptable to combine this project into a Minor Subdivision/Lot Combination and Preliminary/Final Land Development Plan, rather than treat each part separately. Issues reviewed included parking, placement of a concrete island(s), landscaping, water runoff, buffers, delivery areas and adequate turnaround, water and septic, etc.

Planning Commission

June 13, 2005 - Page 4

Motion: Ms. Ruiz-Smith moved to accept for official review the Scavello - Route 940 Minor Subdivision/Lot Combination and Preliminary/Final Land Development Plan. Seconded by Mr. Horne. Discussion - none. The motion carried 3-0.

Motion: Mr. Horne made a motion to table the Scavello - Route 940 Minor Subdivision/Lot Combination and Preliminary/Final Land Development Plan. Seconded by Mr. Frank. Discussion - none. The motion passed 3-0.

Official Acceptance - Scavello - Route 940 Preliminary / Final Land Development Plan 

This agenda item was addressed during the previous discussion of the above referenced project.

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

Mr. Frank announced that Shawn Langen of Arcadia Properties, LLC contacted the Township to report that they had met with Township Engineer Russ Kresge and Zoning Officer Todd Schollhammer regarding flood level issues and have made progress. It is their intention to resubmit revised plans for the July 11, 2005 Planning Commission meeting. They requested to be tabled for tonight’s meeting.

Motion: Ms. Ruiz- Smith moved to table discussion of the Preliminary Site Plan, Hemlock Estates, Arcadia Homes of Lehigh Valley, LLC. Seconded by Mr. Frank. Discussion - none. The motion carried 3–0.

Extension request - Pocono Mountains Industries Minor Subdivision Plan

Before the Planning Commission was a letter from Marv Walton, Project Consultant with Niclaus Engineering, requesting that the Planning Commission members recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they grant an extension on the above referenced project until September 20, 2005.

Motion: Ms. Ruiz-Smith moved to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they grant an extension, per the applicant’s request, on the Pocono Mountains Industries Minor Subdivision Plan until September 20, 2005. Seconded by Mr. Frank. Discussion - none. The motion carried 3-0.

Motion: Ms. Ruiz-Smith made a motion to table the Pocono Mountains Industries Minor Subdivision Plan. Seconded by Mr. Frank. Discussion - none. The motion passed 3-0.