CHADDS FORD TOWNSHIP

 

PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES

 

Wednesday, November 30, 2004

 

            The Planning Commission of Chadds Ford Township met in the Township Hall on Tuesday, November 30, 2004, for a continuation of the November 10, 2004 meeting.  In attendance were Chairman William Taylor, Vice-Chairman Maurice Todd and Fred Reiter.  Absent were Paul Vernon and Gordon Daniels.  Kevin Matson, of Kelly Engineers, was also in attendance.

 

CALL TO ORDER

            The meeting was called to order at 7:40 P.M.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

            There was no public comment.

 

MINUTES

            With regard to Stone Brook III, Mr. Reiter commented that our Ordinances state that all 12 inch or larger trees that are to be removed must be noted on the plan.  Code Enforcement Officer Richard Jensen informed him that he has already discussed this with Mr. McLaughlin and the revised plan will note all 12 inch or larger trees to be removed.  The Planning Commission motioned and approved (Reiter/Todd) the Minutes of the first part of this meeting held on November 10, 2004.

 

CHADDS FORD BUSINESS CAMPUS – Lots 10, 11 and 12 (Henderson)

            Representing this Applicant were Donald T. Petrosa, Esquire, who explained that these revised plans are to accommodate the access road (Road A) for the Toll Brothers Camp Sunset Hill project which will be entirely on Lot 10, in addition to some easement changes for signage.

 

Lot 10 - Jeffrey Nagorny of Vollmer Associates described the original parking lot access for Lot 10 which will be closed, revegetated, and relocated to Road A.  A variance was granted by the Zoning Hearing Board to allow for a 25 feet easement instead of 75 feet. 

Lot 11 - The original approved Lot 11 access came off Hillman Drive and will be closed off; some grading changes were needed; the existing retaining wall will be extended, and access will be created off Road A.  There will also be a drive to the rear of this building for deliveries. 

Lot 12 – The access drive has been relocated by approximately 50 feet.

Signage will be located on both sides of the entrance to Road A; however, only one side will be lettered, the other is decorative.

 

With regard to Kelly Engineers’ November 30, 2004 review letters for all three lots, Mr. Nagorny stated that the Applicant will comply with all comments.

 

 

 

Planning Commission Minutes

Page 2

November 30, 2004

 

Chadds Ford Business Campus – Lots 10, 11 and 12 (Henderson) (cont.)

 

Henderson will grant dedication of Road A to the Township. Jeff Nagorny and Jim Takas, of Eastern States Engineering, will meet to discuss all the details of this plan to be presented to the Township.  Mr. Jensen noted that because the storm water basins are on Henderson’s property, easements will be necessary for the Township to enter if maintenance is required.

 

The Planning Commission (Todd/Reiter) recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve the amendments to plans for Lots 10, 11 and 12 pending resolution of the engineering details in Kelly Engineers’ November 30, 2004 review letters.

 

TOLL BROTHERS – Camp Sunset Hill

Representing Toll Brothers were Susan Boswell, Esquire, and Jim Takas of Eastern States Engineering.  Toll Brothers is proposing to develop the former 171-acre Girl Scout Camp Sunset Hill property, including 120 lots for single-family dwellings and approximately 71 acres of open space.  Tentative PRD approval was granted by the Board of Supervisors in June 2004.  Access will be off Hillman Drive with emergency access from both Summit and Heyburn Roads.  Recommendations from John Snook of the Brandywine Conservancy have been incorporated into these plans.  Our Zoning Hearing Board granted approval concurrent with Henderson’s approval.  Toll Brothers will be contributing to the construction of a sewer plant for this project.

 

Mr. Jensen mentioned that grading and de-vegetation of buffer areas for grading and drainage will need to be replanted. 

 

Because the Heyburn Road driveway that currently exists crosses PECO’s right-of-way, Mr. Jensen asked if easements will be provided to allow the Township access for maintenance.  Ms. Boswell will clarify.

 

Signage that was approved by the Zoning Hearing Board has been shown to the Board of Supervisors in order to determine that they were comfortable with this decision.

 

Mr. Reiter asked for clarification of the Delaware County Planning Commission’s comment regarding open space.  Ms. Boswell explained that the open space lots have been labeled with lot numbers.

 

John Snook (Brandywine Conservancy) stated that the majority of the mature growth is in the designated open space area.  He also encouraged the Township to consider any modification of storm water regulations to further allow Toll Brothers to diminish size of basins and reduce the flow on Harvey Run.  He recognizes that Toll Brothers has agreed to do all they can do with the regulations. 

 

 

Planning Commission Minutes

Page 3

November 30, 2004

 

Toll Brothers – Camp Sunset Hill (cont.)

Ms. Boswell led the discussion of the outstanding items in Kelly Engineers’ November 29, 2004 review letter, and confirmed that the developer will comply. 

 

Ms. Boswell responded to Mr. Todd’s question that all roads within this development will be private and will not be accepted by the Township.  In response to Mr. Taylor’s question, Mr. Takas advised that Chester Water Authority will own the fire hydrants and water lines.  Internal sewer lines will be owned by the Chadds Ford Sewer Authority.  All other utilities will be owned by the Homeowner’s Association.

 

Bruce Prabel asked if construction traffic will only be permitted to use Road A.  Ms. Boswell confirmed that all construction traffic will use only Road A.  Mr. Jensen advised that the demolition contractors will be using the Heyburn Road entrance.  Mr. Prabel expressed concern about the storm water run off and how it will affect his property and Harvey Run.  Mr. Jensen responded that he, Jim Takas (Eastern States Engineering) and Kevin Matson and Jim Kelly (Kelly Engineers) will meet to review this matter.

 

In response to Mr. Reiter’s earlier question, and Delaware County Planning Department’s comment, Mr. Todd felt that this plan should have a notation showing “future access to Township open space” for Lot 123 from Heyburn Road.

 

BALTIMORE PIKE OVERLAY DISTRICT

            At the direction of the Board of Supervisors, Thomas Comitta has prepared proposed ordinance amendments which have been passed on to the Board of Supervisors and the Delaware County Planning Department for review.  The Baltimore Pike feasibility study of December 2002, adopted in 2003, had a Resolution with a map.  The map showed boundaries of the study area as an actual dimension from the center line of Baltimore Pike, but did not follow property boundaries on either the north or south.  The two proposed maps do follow property boundaries; one uses the boundary furthest from Route 1 and the other uses the boundary the least distance from Route 1 without dissecting a property.  Mr. Reiter commented that he felt there would be opposition to this revision because of the expansion of property involved and the restrictions that are imposed on the properties within these boundaries.

            Mr. Reiter questioned the wording and requirement for berms.  He felt it would be understandable along Route 1, but not for all of the properties included in this district.  Mr. Comitta will revise to read “may be required.”

Because we do not have a sidewalk system within the Township, Mr. Todd felt that the wording “sidewalks and paths shall be provided” was fairly strict.  Mr. Comitta will revise to read “sidewalks and paths shall be provided to promote pedestrian accessibility when directed by the Board of Supervisors.”

Mr. Todd stated that if we are trying to encourage discreet development of the corridor, he felt we were being too restrictive if we exclude 100% of steep slopes, wetlands, etc. for lot area, he felt 50% was sufficient.

 

Planning Commission Minutes

Page 4

November 30, 2004

 

Baltimore Pike Overlay District (cont.)

Resident Bruce Prabel expressed concern about the devaluation of properties included in this district.

Mr. Matson will confirm the accuracy of the maps being considered.

Mr. Comitta will revise this ordinance to include, in the net area, 50% of slopes 25% or greater and both maps will be included for the Board of Supervisors’ consideration.

 

ADJOURNMENT

            The Planning Commission motioned and seconded (Todd/Reiter) to adjourn at 10:10 p.m.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                    _______________________________

                                                                                    Gail G. Force, Secretary