EAST MARLBOROUGH TOWNSHIP
PLANNING COMMISSION
Minutes of January 26, 2019
Call to Order
Cuyler Walker, Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the township building. Additional Commissioners present, Mary Nell Ferry, Pat Montague, and Jane Donze. There was a quorum present. Charles Streitwieser arrived at 7:15 p.m.
Public Comment Period
No public comments.
Reorganization
Mary Nell Ferry motioned to reappoint Cuyler Walker to the position of Chairman, Pat Montague seconds the motion, Mr. Walker was reappointed with a 4-0 vote.
Mary Nell Ferry motioned to reappoint Charles Streitwieser to the position of Vice Chairman, Pat Montague seconds the motion, Mr. Streitwieser was reappointed with a 4-0 vote.
Minutes of November 27, 2019
Motion to approve minutes of November 27, 2019 as submitted by Lisa Henry. Motion was approved 4-0.
Estate of Anita Weisbrod – Request for Subdivision Waivers
Mr. Walker updated the Commissioners on the 5 lot subdivision that had been submitted to the township by the Weisbrod Estate. The plan depicts 5 lots ranging in size from 10 – 18 acres. Mr. Walker, along with the applicant and his engineers will meet with township staff and Jim Hatfield and Lisa Donlon from Vandemark & Lynch on Thursday to discuss what needs to be added to the plan for final submission.
Mr. Walker reminded the Commissioners that the township had previously given the Weisbrod Estate permission to subdivide the property into two parcels, lots A & B, with the understanding that lot B would be further subdivided using lot averaging that is allowed in the AP District to create lots between 10 and 20 acres. The subdivision will result in a reduction in density on lot A.
The applicant is seeking a recommendation in support of the following waivers for the subdivision:
The Commissioners voted 5-0 to recommend the Board of Supervisors grant the requested waivers.
802 E. Baltimore Pike – Conditional Use Review
Bill Roundtree, Principal in Wright Partners, LLC, appeared before the Commission to discuss their project, 802 E. Baltimore Pike, which proposes a Royal Farms convenience store, gas pumps, bank and medical office. Mr. Roundtree gave the Commissioners an overview of the site which is comprised of 7.6 acres, the majority located in East Marlborough Township, but part of the property is in Kennett Township. Mr. Roundtree stated they had designed the site layout to comply with a weighted average for impervious coverage using the total property including the area located in Kennett Township. However, the portion developed within East Marlborough Township would exceed the 55% impervious coverage allotment if the land in Kennett Township was removed from the equation. Commissioner Montague questioned if there would be an easement to prevent additional development on the part of the property in Kennett Township that was open so at a future date the impervious coverage couldn’t increase. Mr. Roundtree stated that the portion of the property that is depicted on the plan as open space is not scheduled for any development. He stated there were many physical barriers to using that space in the future. The Commissioners agreed that is made sense to have higher density closer to Route 1 rather than pushing the commercial use toward the rear of the property (in Kennett Township) where it would be closer to residential development. Mr. Walker also offered that it was likely that one of the conditions imposed in the Conditional Use Order would prohibit development that would exceed 55% impervious coverage using lot averaging.
The Commissioners voted 5-0 to recommend that the Supervisors allow the developers to use lot averaging to determine the impervious coverage amount on the entire property not just the part located in East Marlborough Township.
Mr. Walker asked Mr. Roundtree to clarify the proposed traffic movements at the intersection of School House Road and Route 1. Mr. Roundtree said their proposal was designed to coincide with the PennDot plan to widen Route 1 to three lanes in each direction. If their plan is implemented, traffic would have full access to the site including left in and left turns out, in addition, their proposal includes a dedicated left turn into the site from Route 1 South. Mr. Walker stated that the township had previously taken the position that adding a left turn into the site from Route 1 South was not desirable. He expressed a concern that adding this movement to the signal would cause traffic to back up on Route 1 North and potentially increase the risk of crashes where the bypass and Baltimore Pike converge. Mr. Roundtree stated that their traffic study showed the change to the signal would not have a negative impact on the intersection provided that Route 1 was widened to three lanes in each direction.
The Commissioners voted 3-0, with Mrs. Ferry and Mr. Streitwieser abstaining, to recommend that the township continue to oppose adding a left turn into the site from Route 1 South and that additional signage should be added to Route 1 North (at the overpass) to alert drivers of an upcoming signal.
Mr. Walker relayed a concern that was raised by Longwood Fire Company Chief McCarthy about the need for the Royal Farms Store to have automatic sprinklers installed. Mr. Roundtree stated that the International Building Code did not require sprinklers for a building the size they were proposing so they were not planning on having sprinklers.
Mr. Walker also inquired about where the dumpsters would be located throughout the site. Mr. Roundtree stated that the bank dumpster would be kept internally and the Royal Farms and Medical Offices would have theirs located in an enclosed external area behind each building.
The Commissioners voted 5-0 to recommend Conditional Use approval subject to the applicant meeting all of the conditions and complying with all of the township consultants as well as the Fire Chief’s recommendations.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm.
Respectfully submitted
Laurie Prysock
Township Manager
EAST MARLBOROUGH TOWNSHIP
PLANNING COMMISSION
AGENDA – January 29 – 7:00 P.M.
Agenda subject to change
Call to Order
Reorganization – Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman
Public Comment Period
Minutes of November 27, 2018
Ed Weisbrod Subdivision Plan review
Royal Farms Conditional Use Plan Review