Coolbaugh Township                                          

Planning Commission Meeting

March 13, 2006 - Page 1

The Coolbaugh Township Planning Commission Meeting of March 13, 2006 was held in the Township Municipal Center, in Building #3, at 5550 Memorial Boulevard, Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania.

Call To Order

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

Approval of February 13, 2006  Meeting Minutes

Motion: Mr. Kozen moved to approve the February, 13, 2006 Meeting Minutes and dispense with the reading. Seconded by Mr. Sterner. Discussion - Mr. Horne noted that he did not second the motion to adjourn, as he was not present at the meeting. It was determined that the second was made by Mr. Kozen, and that the Minutes would be corrected. The motion carried 4-0.

Change in the Order of the Agenda

Mr. Horne said the representative for the Pocono Mountains Office Commons was present to speak for only a few minutes. He suggested that the Minor Subdivision Plan / Final Land Development Plan - Pocono Mountains Office Commons be moved up. No objection was heard.

Minor Subdivision Plan / Final Land Development Plan - Pocono Mountains Office Commons

August Antol of Liberty Engineering was present to give a short review of the above referenced proposed project, which features four offices and a bank. Discussion followed regarding the location of the site, storm water and zoning issues, possible additional parking, etc.

Planning Commission Meeting

March 13, 2006 - Page 2

It was also pointed out that there was a letter dated March 8, 2006 from Shawn K. Langen of Arcadia Properties, LLC requesting an extension on the project until May 16, 2006.

Motion: Mr. Horne moved to table the Minor Subdivision Plan / Final Land Development Plan - Pocono Mountains Office Commons. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion - none. The motion carried 4-0.

Motion: Mr. Kozen made a motion to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they grant an extension on the Minor Subdivision Plan / Final Land Development Plan - Pocono Mountains Office Commons until May 16, 2006, per the applicant’s request. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion - none. The motion passed 4-0.

Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc. / Lot Consolidation Plan / Preliminary Land Development Plan

Cornelius Brown of Bohler Engineering asked if the Planning Commission members would be willing to proceed to the next item on the Agenda, as their legal counsel had not arrived yet. With no objections being heard, the meeting moved to discussion of the Sketch Plan - Proposed Land Development Plan for Owen Miller.

Sketch Plan - Proposed Land Development Plan for Owen Miller

Roger Morris of Bue-Morris Associates Inc. and Owen Miller were present on behalf of the above referenced Sketch Plan. Mr. Morris gave an overview of the proposed project and asked for feedback from the Planning Commission. The applicant wants to construct  a four bay auto repair facility on an undeveloped parcel of land on SR 196, across the street from the Pen Mart/Sunoco gas station. Discussion followed regarding the general layout of the plan, setbacks, the entrance, parking, loading and storage areas, septic, water service, type of heat, the detention basin, location of fire hydrants relative to the property, buffers and screening, a potential start date for the project, etc. Mr. Sterner suggested some other ideas for a possible layout of the facility.

Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc. / Lot Consolidation Plan / Preliminary Land Development Plan

Attorney Ralph Matergia, Cornelius Brown of Bohler Engineering and Chris Adams, President of Civil Dynamics were present on behalf of the above referenced project.

Planning Commission Meeting

March 13, 2006 - Page 3

Mr. Matergia said they wanted to present a final review of outstanding issues, as they were ready to move the plans along.

Cornelius Brown went over each of the comments in a letter dated December 7, 2005 from Township Engineer Russ Kresge regarding issues associated with Chapter 27, Zoning, Chapter 22, Subdivision and Land Development and Chapter 26, Part 2, Stormwater Management and Earth Disturbance. A lengthy discussion followed about fencing, snow storage, the design of the detention basin and degree of slope, stormwater collection and conveyance issues, etc. Further discourse followed regarding difficulties related to the Lowe’s project being located in both the Borough of Mount Pocono and in Coolbaugh Township and the municipalities having different ordinances.

Chris Adams of Civil Dynamics presented a report on the hydrologic and hydraulic analysis for Pocono Summit Lake that his consulting engineering firm prepared for Lowe’s. Solicitor Connor pointed out that this is an issue for the Board of Supervisors, because it involves a Conditional Use item. Further discussion followed.

Solicitor Connor also noted that the Board of Supervisors does not want plans coming before them with numerous conditions, aside from those having to do with reports from outside agencies, and that is why the Planning Commission has an engineer to review plans. He suggested that an informal meeting be organized with the engineers and PC representatives from the Township in order to sort out the ordinance differences related to the design of the stormwater detention basin, which lies in both the Borough and in Coolbaugh Township. Solicitor Connor went on to say that the Planning Commission must make a recommendation to the Board, and a meeting regarding the issues associated with the stormwater detention basin design would help them craft their motion.

It was further pointed out that the Borough’s PC had already forwarded the project to their Council; therefore, it was determined that, as a courtesy, representatives from the Borough Council and from the Board of Supervisors be invited to attend the informal meeting. The Lowe’s representatives agreed with the idea and were in favor of moving ahead with scheduling such a meeting. Solicitor Connor emphasized that discussion at the meeting would be strictly limited to the design of the stormwater detention basin. The Recording Secretary was directed to plan a time and date as soon as possible.

Motion: Mr. Horne moved to table the Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc. / Lot Consolidation Plan / Preliminary Land Development Plan. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion - none. The motion carried 4-0.