Coolbaugh Township                                                      

Planning Commission Re-organizational Meeting

January 9, 2006 - Page 1

The Coolbaugh Township Planning Commission Re-organizational Meeting of January 9, 2006 was held in the Township Municipal Center, in Building #3, at 5550 Memorial Boulevard, Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania.

Call To Order

Mr. Horne 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. Wayne Horne, Mr. Ronald Kluge, Mr. Bernard Kozen, Ms. Alma I. Ruiz-Smith and Mr. Andrew Sterner. Also present were PC Solicitor Clark Connor, PC Engineer Russ Kresge and Recording Secretary Jeri Inness.

Organization of the Planning Commission

Appointment of Chairman

Mr. Kluge moved to nominate Wayne Horne to serve as Planning Commission Chairman. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. No other nominations were heard. The motion carried 5-0.

Appointment of Vice-Chairman

Mr. Horne moved to nominate Alma I. Ruiz-Smith to serve as Planning Commission Vice Chairman. Seconded by Mr. Kluge. No other nominations were heard. The motion carried 4-0-1 (Ms. Ruiz-Smith abstained).

Appointment of Secretary

Mr. Horne moved to nominate Ronald Kluge to serve as Planning Commission Secretary. Seconded by Mr. Kozen. No other nominations were heard. The motion carried 5-0.

Selection of Meeting Date for Calendar Year 2006

Motion: Mr. Kozen made a motion to keep the same meeting day, the second Monday of each month, and the same time of 7:00 p.m. for the 2006 Planning Commission meetings. Seconded by Mr. Kluge. Discussion - none. The motion carried 5-0.

Planning Commission Re-organizational Meeting

January 9, 2006 - Page 2

Approval of December 14, 2005 Meeting Minutes

Motion: Mr. Kluge moved to approve the December 14, 2005 Meeting Minutes and dispense with the reading. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion - none. The motion carried 4-0-1 (Mr. Sterner abstained, as he was not present at the meeting) .

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

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

No one was present on behalf of the above referenced plans. Ms. Ruiz-Smith suggested that the Planning Commission go to Agenda item #6 to allow more time for the Lowe’s representative(s) to arrive.

Mr. Horne announced that the meeting would continue to Agenda item #6, Minor Subdivision Plan - Pocono Mountains Office Commons

Minor Subdivision Plan - Pocono Mountains Office Commons

Shawn K. Langen of Arcadia Properties, LLC was present on behalf of the Minor Subdivision Plan referenced above. Mr. Langen explained that they were revising some items related to impervious coverages and will be resubmitting revised plans. He asked that the Planning Commission table discussion of the project at tonight’s meeting.

Motion: Ms. Ruiz-Smith moved to table the Minor Subdivision Plan - Pocono Mountains Office Commons. Seconded by Mr. Kozen. Discussion followed in which it was determined that a request for an extension was necessary. Mr. Langen thought sixty days would suffice; however, after further consideration, the date of March 31, 2006 was selected.

Amended Motion: Ms. Ruiz-Smith amended her motion by moving to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they grant the Minor Subdivision Plan - Pocono Mountains Office Commons an extension until March 31, 2006, per the applicant’s request. The amended motion was seconded by Mr. Horne. Discussion - Mr. Horne reminded Mr. Langen that the verbal request must be followed with the same in writing. The motion carried 5-0.

Planning Commission Re-organizational Meeting

January 9, 2006 - Page 3

Motion: Mr. Horne moved to table the Minor Subdivision Plan - Pocono Mountains Office Commons. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion - none. The motion passed

5-0.

Final Land Development Plan - Pocono Mountains Office Commons

Shawn K. Langen of Arcadia Properties, LLC was present on behalf of the above referenced plan. He said that the same requests applied to the Final Land Development Plan as to the Minor Subdivision Plan just discussed for the Pocono Mountains Office Commons project.

Motion: Mr. Kozen made a motion to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they grant the Final Land Development Plan - Pocono Mountains Office Commons an extension until March 31, 2006, per the applicant’s request and to table discussion of the project at tonight’s meeting. Seconded by Mr. Kluge. Discussion - none. The motion carried 5-0.

Hemlock Estates Final Land Development Plan

Shawn K. Langen of Arcadia Properties, LLC and August J. Antol, E.I.T. of Liberty Engineering were present on behalf of the Hemlock Estates Final Land Development Plan.

Mr. Langen said they were here to go over comments in a letter dated January 3, 2006 from Township Engineer Russ Kresge. He noted that the applicants do not have a problem complying with any of the items in Mr. Kresge’s letter, and he proceeded to go through each of the comments. Discussion followed regarding issues associated with Chapter 22 - Subdivision and Land Development, Chapter 26, Part 2 - Stormwater Management and Earth Disturbance and Chapter 21, Part 2 - Driveways, of the Township Code of Ordinances. Mr. Langen also acknowledged that they must receive their NPDES permit and MCCD approval of the erosion and sediment pollution control plan prior to final approval.

Further discussion followed regarding a Memo dated January 6, 2006 from Township SEO Tim Kresge regarding the Hemlock Estates septic system design. Mr. Langen said they will submit a design to the satisfaction of the SEO. He also noted that he will be meeting with Township Engineer Russ Kresge and Township Road Foreman Neil Hay to determine what is needed to address issues associated with Chapter 21, Part 2 - Driveways.

Planning Commission Re-organizational Meeting

January 9, 2006 - Page 4

Mr. Langen introduced August J. Antol of Liberty Engineering who presented an explanation and diagram of revised landscaping for the Hemlock Estates project, based on suggestions from both the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. He pointed out that there was an increased tree count throughout the entire site, etc. A brief discussion followed. Ms. Ruiz-Smith asked that they show Bruce and Joyce Hanby, property owners adjacent to the proposed project, the landscaping diagram.

Ms. Ruiz-Smith also asked about the covenants. Solicitor Connor confirmed that this issue was resolved, and noted that both he and Township Solicitor Jerry Hanna reviewed the covenant documents.

Motion: Ms. Ruiz-Smith made a motion to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they approve the Hemlock Estates Final Land Development Plan with the condition that all of the comments in Township Engineer Russ Kresge’s letter dated January 3, 2006 are satisfactorily addressed. Seconded by Mr. Kluge. Discussion followed in which was determined that comments in the Township SEO’s Memo dated January 6, 2006 must also be addressed to his satisfaction.

Amended Motion: Ms. Ruiz-Smith amended her motion and moved to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they approve the Hemlock Estates Final Land Development Plan with the condition that the comments in Township Engineer Russ Kresge’s letter dated January 3, 2006 and in the Township SEO’s Memo dated January 6, 2006 are all satisfactorily addressed. The amended motion was seconded by Mr. Kluge. Discussion - none. The motion carried 5-0.

The meeting returned to discussion of Agenda items # 6 and # 7.

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

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

Attorney Ralph Matergia was present on behalf of the above referenced plans. He asked that the Planning Commission postpone discussion of the plans at tonight’s meeting. Solicitor Connor pointed out that due to the time frame for review, an extension on the project would be necessary. Following discussion, it was determined that an extension until March 1, 2006 should be sufficient.

Motion: Mr. Kozen moved to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they grant an extension on the Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc. / Pocono Star Properties, Inc. - Lot Consolidation Plan and Preliminary Land Development Plan until March 1, 2006. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion followed in which Mr. Horne confirmed that a follow-up letter requesting the extension must be submitted to the Township.