Coolbaugh Township                                                      

Planning Commission

November 14, 2005 - Page 1 

The Coolbaugh Township Planning Commission Meeting of November 14, 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. Ronald Kluge,  Mr. Bernard Kozen and Ms. Alma I. Ruiz-Smith. Also present were PC Solicitor Clark Connor, PC Engineer Russ Kresge and Recording Secretary Jeri Inness. 

Approval of October 10, 2005 Meeting Minutes 

Motion: Mr. Kozen moved to approve the October 10, 2005 Meeting Minutes and dispense with the reading. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion - none. The motion carried 4-0-1 (Mr. Kluge abstained, as he was not present at the meeting). 

Representatives of the Monroe County Planning Commission will be present to discuss various programs and changes that have occurred over the past few years 

Senior Planner Christine Meinhart and MCPC Board member Jim Robinson were present at the meeting on behalf the Monroe County Planning Commission.  

Three years ago members of the MCPC visited local Planning Commissions in order to update members on county planning activities and collect comments on how MCPC services can be improved.  

Discussion followed regarding Coolbaugh Township, its work on a Regional Comprehensive Plan and Municipal Agreement, future MCPC workshops and seminars and efforts to schedule them at central locations during the evening so working people can attend, whether commission members receive workshop information in a timely manner, etc. Mr. Kluge confirmed that the MCPC can help municipalities with grants, and Ms. Ruiz-Smith asked if there is help for private developments, particularly with stormwater problems. Ms. Reinhart said the developments may contact the MCPC for assistance.  

Planning Commission

November 14, 2005 - Page 2 

Minor Subdivision / Annexation Plan - Tullio Castano & Lakeram Sahadeo 

Barry Tompkins, PLS of BTT Associates was present on behalf of the above referenced Minor Subdivision. Mr. Tompkins stated that the applicant was looking for conditional approval of the plan. Mr. Tompkins went over comments in a letter dated October 31, 2005 from Township Engineer Russ Kresge and in Memos dated November 9, 2005 from Township Zoning Officer Todd Schollhammer and November 14, 2005 from Township SEO Tim Kresge.  

Discussion followed regarding items that had been addressed, soil testing, that the project was not proposing any sewage, etc. Township Engineer Russ Kresge noted that the plan needs an additional signature block for Lakeram Sahadeo. Public comment was heard from Robert Zito. 

Motion: Ms. Ruiz-Smith made a motion to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they approve the Minor Subdivision/Annexation Plan of Tullio Castano & Lakeram Sahadeo with the condition that a signature block be added to the plan for the second property owner. The motion was amended to also include the condition that additional soil testing for replacement sewage disposal on the Castano property must be performed. Seconded by Mr. Kluge. Discussion - none. The motion passed 5-0. 

Official Acceptance - Preliminary Land Development Plan - Pocono Mountains Office Commons 

No one was present on behalf of the above referenced plan. Mr. Frank announced that Liberty Engineering had called to say that their representative, Paul Szewczak, was ill and could not attend tonight’s meeting. Township Engineer Russ Kresge confirmed that there was no reason not to officially accept the plan. 

Discussion followed regarding an email received on today’s date by Township Engineer Russ Kresge from Shawn K. Langen of Arcadia Properties, LLC. Mr. Langen noted that their plan submission dated October 28, 2005 for the Pocono Office Commons project was mislabeled a “Preliminary” instead of a Final Plan. He asked if his emailed Memo could serve as a request for the plan to be considered a Final Plan, since the submission conforms to the requirements of the SALDO for final plans. Mr. Kresge confirmed there was no problem with making this change. 

Motion: Mr. Kluge moved to officially accept the Final Land Development Plan - Pocono Mountains Office Commons. Seconded by Mr. Horne. A brief discussion followed about lot coverage, which is not a completeness issue, but a review issue. The motion carried 5-0. 

Planning Commission

November 14, 2005 - Page 3 

Official Acceptance-  Pocono Mountain Charter School Land Development Plan - Athletic Field Revision 

Chuck Niclaus of Niclaus Engineering and Elder James Shelton of the Pocono Mountain Charter School were present on behalf of the above referenced proposed plan. 

Township Engineer Russ Kresge said he was not certain that this needed to be a Land Development Plan, that it could be accepted as a normal subdivision or discussed as an amended plan. Mr. Niclaus went on to give an overview of the project and its location, noting that the school wanted to create a recreational field for elementary aged students. Discussion followed regarding changing the height of a proposed chain link fence from 4' to 6' and installing the fence on four sides of the field with a locking gate. Other concerns were expressed about children kicking balls onto SR 196 and Park Drag, trespassing issues, sight distance, placement of benches, MCCD approval, etc. Solicitor Connor said that with minor adjustments, the plan could go to the Board of Supervisors, because it was not a new plan, but a revised plan.

Motion: Mr. Kluge moved to officially accept the Pocono Mountain Charter School Revised Land Development Plan for review. Seconded by Mr. Horne. Discussion - none. The motion passed 5-0. 

Motion: Mr. Kluge made a motion to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they approve the Pocono Mountain Charter School Revised Land Development Plan with the conditions that a chain link fence at least 6' in height with a locking gate be installed on four sides of the field and that MCCD approval is received. Seconded by Mr. Horne. Discussion followed regarding enforcing the age of children allowed to play in the area, that a note pertaining to this issue could be put on the plan, etc.  

Amended Motion: Mr. Kluge amended his previous motion to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they approve the Pocono Mountain Charter School Revised Land Development Plan with the following adjustments: 1) the field be enclosed on four sides with a 6' chain link fence and locking gate, 2) MCCD approval is received, 3) a note is put on the plan limiting the age group using the field to grades K-6. Mr. Horne seconded the amended motion. Discussion - none. The motion carried 5-0. 

Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc./ Pocono Star Properties, Inc. - Minor Subdivision Plan

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

Attorney Ralph Matergia, Adam Benosky and Cornelius Brown of Bohler Engineering were present on behalf of the Lowe’s project.  

Planning Commission

November 14, 2005 - Page 4 

Attorney Matergia said they did not expect approval at tonight’s meeting and proceeded to lead discussion to Item #7 on the Agenda, the Lowe’s Preliminary Land  Development Plan, prior to discussing the Minor Subdivision Plan, stating that there were more comments in need of review with the Land Development Plan. 

Mr. Benosky proceeded to go over all of the comments in a letter dated November 10, 2005 from Township Engineer Russ Kresge. A lengthy discussion ensued regarding issues associated with the Coolbaugh Township Code of Ordinances, Chapter 27, Zoning, Chapter 22, Subdivision and Land Development, Chapter 26, Part 2, Stormwater Management and Earth Disturbance, Appendix E and Chapter 9, Part 1, Natural Features Conservation. Among the topics covered were matters associated with zoning, several open stormwater discharge issues, buffers, screening, fencing, lighting, MCCD approval, the NPDES permit, maintenance of the stormwater facilities, a waiver request needed, etc.  

The applicants presented the Planning Commission and Township with two reports: “Conditional Use Analysis for Stormwater Quality Lowe’s of Mount Pocono” prepared by TRC Omni Environmental Corporation of Princeton, NJ, dated October 28, 2005 and “Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analysis for Summit Lake Dam” prepared by Civil Dynamics, Inc. of Stockholm, NJ, dated November 2005.   

Motion: Mr. Kozen moved to table the Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc. - Preliminary Land Development Plan. Seconded by Mr. Horne. Discussion - none. The motion carried 5-0. 

Discussion returned to Item #6 on the Agenda, Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc./ Pocono Star Properties, Inc. - Minor Subdivision Plan. Mr. Benosky went over all of the comments in a letter dated November 10, 2005 from Township Engineer Russ Kresge. Discussion followed with respect to issues associated with the Coolbaugh Township Code of Ordinances, Chapter 22, Subdivision and Land Development, for the Coolbaugh Township portion of the plan.  

Discussion ensued regarding an Order for the Action of Quiet Title, stormwater runoff in the area and improvements the applicants are planning for the site, etc. Mr. Benosky stated that the applicants will comply with all of the comments outlined in Mr. Kresge’s review letter. Attorney Matergia ended discussion by saying they will return to next month’s meeting. 

Motion: Mr. Kozen moved to table the Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc./ Pocono Star Properties, Inc. - Minor Subdivision Plan. Seconded by Ms. Ruiz-Smith. Discussion - none. The motion passed 5-0.