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Work Session #17 - 2007 A Work Session of the Whitpain Township Board of Supervisors was held on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at the Whitpain Township Building, 960 Wentz Road, Blue Bell, PA at 7:30 PM for the purpose of reviewing the agenda of the September 18, 2007 Supervisors' Meeting. Chairman Leigh P. Narducci was present with Supervisors Joseph J. Palmer, Brian W. Young, and Anthony F. Greco. Township Solicitor J. Peirce Anderson, Township Manager Phyllis C. Lieberman, Assistant Township Manager/Township Engineer Roman M. Pronczak, Chief Mark A. Smith, Director of Finance M .Elizabeth McBride, Director of Public Works Ronald J. Cione, Director of Code Enforcement Michael McAndrew, Fire Marshal David M. Camarda, and Parks and Recreation Director Kurt W. Baker were also present. Supervisor William L. McKernan III was absent. There were two reporters and one resident present. The Supervisors reviewed the agenda discussing the introduction of and swearing in of two new police officers, the scheduling of meetings for the month of October 2007, approval of the minutes of the September 4, 2007 Supervisors' Meeting, approval of the Treasurer's Report for the month of August 2007, consideration of a request from Boehm's Church to waive the cost of a sign permit fee, a motion to approve a request from Normandy Farms Estates to place a banner on their property to advertise their Annual Bazaar, a motion to award a contract in the amount of $24,100 to Land Concepts of Blue Bell to develop a Master Trail Plan for Whitpain Township, a public hearing for proposed Ordinance No. 308 providing for the erection of stop signs at the intersection of Midway Lane and Doans Way, several applications to the Zoning Hearing Board, a Conditional Use Hearing filed by Normandy Development requesting the relocation of some units, the construction of an addition to the Normandy Barn Building for storage, and the expansion of the bar area in the existing Hotel and Conference Center, and a public presentation of the Master Plan for Prophecy Creek Park by the Waetzmann Planning Group. Mrs. Lieberman then explained that recently proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance from Van Rieker were being studied by the staff and will be discussed at the next Planning Committee meeting and recommendations will be made to the Board. She explained that the proposed amendments are not ready for Board discussion at this time. Mrs. Lieberman reminded the Supervisors that the MCATO Convention is on Friday, September 28 and asked if anyone was planning to attend. Mr. Greco said that he was. Mrs. Lieberman and Mr. Camarda noted that the SARS Ambulance will need to provide winter cover for their two ambulances. They showed the Supervisors the proposed temporary cover and asked if anyone had an objection to what it looked like, since it is located in front of the Township garage. No one had an objection. The Supervisors then discussed a legal matter, Wissahickon Park, after which they left for the public meeting. At approximately 9:15 PM the work session was reconvened. The Supervisors discussed another legal matter, land acquisition. At approximately 9:40 PM the work session was adjourned. Phyllis C. Lieberman #17 - 2007 The regular meeting of the Whitpain Township Board of Supervisors was held on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at the Whitpain Township Building, 960 Wentz Road, Blue Bell, PA. Supervisors Leigh P. Narducci, Joseph J. Palmer, Brian W. Young, and Anthony F. Greco were present. Township Manager, Phyllis C. Lieberman, Township Engineer/Assistant Township Manager, Roman Pronczak, Township Solicitor, J. Peirce Anderson, Director of Finance, M. Elizabeth McBride, Code Enforcement Officer, Michael E. McAndrew, Police Chief Mark A. Smith, Park and Recreation Director, Kurt W. Baker, Director of Public Works, Ronald J. Cione, Fire Marshal, David M. Camarda and Recording Secretary, Michele Alifano were also present. Supervisor William L. McKernan, III was absent. There were approximately 30 members of the public in attendance. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Chairman Narducci called the meeting to order. The first order of business was the swearing in of two new Police Officers, Luke F. Duessing and Francis P. Rippert, by District Judge John S. Murray, III. Chairman Narducci provided a brief biography for the two new officers. An announcement was made regarding the dates for the upcoming regular Board of Supervisors' meetings which are scheduled for Tuesday, October 2, 2007 and Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 8:00 p.m. A motion was made by Mr. Young, duly seconded by Mr. Greco, and unanimously passed to approve the minutes of the September 4, 2007 Board of Supervisors' Meeting. A motion was made by Mr. Young, duly seconded by Mr. Greco, and unanimously passed to approve the Treasurer's Report for the month of August, 2007. A motion was made by Mr. Palmer, duly seconded by Mr. Greco, and unanimously passed to waive the cost of a sign permit fee for Boehm's Church. A motion was made by Mr. Greco, duly seconded by Mr. Young, and unanimously passed to approve a request from Normandy Farms Estates to place a 4' x 5' banner on their property located at the corner of Morris Road and Twin Silo Drive, from October 8, 2007 through October 29, 2007, to advertise their annual bazaar. A motion was made by Mr. Young, duly seconded by Mr. Palmer, and unanimously passed to award a contract in the amount of $24,100.00 to Land Concepts of Blue Bell, PA to develop a Master Trail Plan for Whitpain Township. Mr. Palmer commented that the value of the project should be recognized, in that it will connect various parcels in Whitpain and Lower Gwynedd Townships, allowing the residents to experience the preserved green space. As advertised, a public hearing for proposed Ordinance Number 308, an Ordinance providing for the erection of highway signs bearing the word "Stop" at the intersection of Midway Lane and Doans Way, Whitpain Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and fixing penalties for violations. Chairman Narducci then called for comments or questions from the public. There being none, a motion was made by Mr. Palmer, duly seconded by Mr. Young, and unanimously passed to adopt Ordinance #308. The Board of Supervisors took no action regarding the following applications to the Zoning Hearing Board: NO: 1756-07: Application filed by Daniel Green & Diane Andraka as owners of 49 Betsy Lane, Ambler, PA, 19002 for the following relief at the subject property:
The zoning classifications of the subject property are "R-2" Residence and "FP" Floodplain Conservation District. NO: 1757-07: Application filed by John M. & Amy S. Fruncillo as owners of 861 Valley Road, Blue Bell, PA, for the following relief at the subject property:
The zoning classification of the subject property is "R-1" Residence District. NO: 1758-07: Application filed by Arvind Patel & Popat R. Bhalala as owners of the property located at 1179 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA, 19422 for a variance from the terms of Article XVII, Section 160-114.E. to allow a 3'-6" x 3'-6" stair and landing reducing the minimum required rear yard from 30' to 2.5' and reducing the rear yard pursuant to ZHB Decision No. 1675-06 from 4' to 2.5' at the subject property. The zoning classification of the subject property is "C" Commercial District. A motion was made by Mr. Palmer, duly seconded by Mr. Greco, and unanimously passed to authorize the Township Solicitor to appear in support of the Code Enforcement Officer regarding the alleged Zoning Violation of the following application (ZHB Case #1755-07): NO: 1755-07: Application filed by Brian S. & Patricia Y. Dietrich as owners of 1635 Forrest Creek Drive, Blue Bell, PA, 19422 for the following relief at the subject property:
The zoning classifications of the subject property are "R-2" Residence and "FP" Floodplain Conservation District. At this time, a public hearing was held to consider the Conditional Use Application (CU#19-07) filed by Normandy Development, L.P. as owner of the property located at 1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422, for a conditional use as follows at the subject property:
The pertinent section of the Whitpain Township Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 160, Article XI, Section 160-66.1. The zoning classification of the subject property is "R-6" Agricultural/Rural Residence District with historic preservation. Attorney John Mahoney, Esq. was present for the applicant, as was Mr. David Cavanaugh, RLA of Land Concepts Group to detail the proposed changes. Chairman Narducci explained that the requested modification does not require an increase in the number of hotel rooms/dwelling units as a total, but simply a reallocation of the number of dwelling units, without assigning a specific number of units to any particular existing structure on the premises. A verbatim record of this hearing was taken by a court stenographer. Following an introduction by Mr. Mahoney, a brief presentation by Mr. Cavanaugh, and some comments/questions from the Board, a motion was made by Mr. Palmer, duly seconded by Mr. Greco, and unanimously approved to allow 142 dwelling units with the condition that there are no changes to the footprint, nor any increase in height to the existing buildings. The next item of business was a presentation by Mr. Charles Guttenplan, AICP and Ms. Laurel Hunter of The Waetzman Planning Group regarding the Prophecy Creek Park Master Plan. The 82 acre parcel of land was acquired by the Township in 1999, and the intended use is a passive recreation park which will contain an outdoor amphitheater, a pedestrian bridge, and walking trails. Ms. Hunter provided a site analysis, and she highlighted the improvements that are slated to be done including the roadway improvements at Skippack Pike & Narcissa Road. Also noted were Manor House and Barn uses, parking and access requirements, stormwater management, natural resource protection, and environmental education. Diagrams outlining the Prophecy Creek Park Master Plan will be on display in the Police Atrium through Friday, October 19, 2007 for review by the public. Any comments or questions may be directed to Mr. Kurt W, Baker, Director of the Parks and Recreation Department. The Board of Supervisors will vote on the matter at its November 7, 2007 meeting. There being no further business to come before the Board, on motion made by Chairman Narducci, the meeting was adjourned at 9:10 PM. Respectfully submitted,
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