CHADDS FORD TOWNSHIP

PLANNING COMMISSION

January 14, 2004

 

M I N U T E S

 

The Planning Commission of Chadds Ford Township met in the Township Hall on Wednesday, January 14, 2004.  Present were Chairman William J. Taylor, Vice-Chairman Maurice Todd, members Fred Reiter and Paul Vernon.  Also in attendance were John P. Kelly, EIT, for James C. Kelly, Township Engineer, Richard J. Jensen, Township Zoning Officer, and Maryann D. Furlong, Planning Commission Secretary. 

 

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 7:35 PM. 

 

REORGANIZATION

            Members of the Planning Commission had accepted the resignation of member Anthony Cutrona and welcomed new member Paul Vernon, who had been appointed by the Board of Supervisors on January 5, 2004, with a term to run through December 31, 2005.  Gordon Daniels, the other newly appointed member, was not in attendance.

 

MOTION TO NOMINATE CHAIRMAN

            Upon motion and second  (Reiter, Todd), members of the Planning Commission voted unanimously to elect Bill Taylor as Chairman.

 

MOTION TO NOMINATE VICE CHAIRMAN

            Upon motion and second (Taylor, Vernon), members of the Planning Commission voted unanimously to elect Maurice Todd as Vice Chairman.

 

The reorganization portion of the meeting was concluded.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF December 17, 2003

Upon motion and second (Todd, Reiter), the minutes of the December 17, 2003 meeting of the Planning Commission were unanimously approved. 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment offered.

 

VILLAGE AT CHADDS FORD – 1820 Wilmington West Chester Pike

Preliminary/Final Land Development Plan

First Public Review                                                                                                   

Dominic Pileggi, of Parkside Associates, William R. Rearden, of Bohler Engineering, and a representative from RHJ Associates, PC, were in attendance to present plans for land development on a parcel adjacent to the existing Olde Ridge Village Shopping Center and the northwest corner of Wilmington West Chester Pike and Ridge Road.  The applicant is proposing the addition of three buildings; one12,000 square foot retail store and two restaurants, each to be a maximum size of 5,800 square feet.  The new buildings would be a northerly extension of the existing shopping center.

Planning Commission Minutes

                                                                                    January 14, 2004

                                                                                    Page Two

 

Mr. Reardon stated that additional buffer materials had been added along the side and in rear of the site.  Access is to basically remain the same with some work being done on both entrance/exits.  The lower Ridge Road access will be moved closer to Route 202 due to line of sight concerns.  The applicant is in discussion with Chester Water Authority regarding access.  Some of the existing sewage connections may be relocated.   NPDES Phase II stormwater requirements have been reviewed and percolation tests have been conducted with concerns to infiltration.  Mr. Pileggi added that they would most likely bring their own water main across Route 202 and are amenable to adding fire hydrants.  Mr. Jensen commented that two hydrants will be needed and the buildings will have to be sprinkled to meet code. 

 

Mr. Reiter questioned the effect of additional groundwater on the neighboring homes in the Ridings II.  The applicant stated that the amount of impervious coverage would actually be reduced.  In response to a question by Mr. Reiter, the applicant stated that after construction, no open field will be left between the property owned by Andy Varriale and the proposed site. 

 

Mr. Pileggi informed Commission members that the name of “Village at Chadds Ford” used on the application was a mistake and should read “Olde Ridge Village.” 

 

Mr. Reiter asked if there is any indication as to what type of restaurants there might be.  Mr. Pileggi replied that he had received a few inquiries, but there was nothing firm yet.

 

J.P. Kelly reviewed comments made by Kelly Engineers, included in the letter dated January 14, 2004.  Unless otherwise noted, the applicant agreed to comply with the requirements of the Township Engineer:

 

Comment 3.  The Planning Commission will make the Board of Supervisors aware of the applicant’s request for relief from Township code which states that no more than one (1) light fixture can be affixed onto a light pole.

 

Comment 4.               There was discussion as to Kelly’s comment regarding the discrepancy in the number of parking spaces between “retail” and “shopping center.”  Mr. Jensen stated that the proposed 12,000 square footage of the retail store would qualify the project for shopping center status with 4 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross leasable area.  The applicant stated that the restaurants have separate parking plans.  Mr. Jensen will review the plans further to check for compliance with Township code.

 

Comment 10. The applicant will look into the two existing easements as to who has those rights and who must receive notice if same are vacated, with a new legal description and deed to be provided if necessary.

 

Comment 11. The applicant will submit the additional deeds for the two other tax parcels which comprise the site.

 

                                                                                                Planning Commission Minutes

                                                                                                            January 14, 2004

                                                                                                            Page Three

 

Comment 14.             Mr. Jensen questioned Mr. Pileggi as to the discrepancies from the metes and bounds in the deed to those listed on the plan.  Mr. Kelly stated that the bearing between the Varriale property and Pileggi property is off by a few minutes.  Mr. Jensen stated that the problem should be addressed now that both properties are undergoing development.

 

Mr. Pileggi asked for clarification of Comment 6. regarding the “continuous” buffer areas along Ridge Road and Route 202.  Mr. Jensen stated that Mr. Thorpe would most likely want additional landscaping along Route 202, although he did not want to speak for Mr. Thorpe.  Mr. Pileggi offered to present landscaping plans to the Board of Supervisors when the plan is presented for final approval.

 

Mrs. Taylor asked if the plan has been submitted to the Sewer Authority.  Mr. Pileggi replied that it had not and intends to send a representative to the next meeting of the Sewer Authority on Tuesday night. 

 

Mr. Todd expressed thoughts as to engineering versus aesthetic issues concerning the amount of green area to remain after the site is developed.  He suggested that trees don’t grow in straight lines in nature and asked the applicant to do whatever possible to keep a “village” atmosphere to the site.  Mr. Reiter suggested doing whatever necessary to provide the “illusion” of the most open space possible.

 

OTHER COMMISSION MATTERS

Planning Commission members discussed an update of the Township’s Comprehensive Plan.  Members were provided with current copies of Township zoning maps.  Bill Taylor stated that a variety of many new issues face the Township since the Plan was adopted.  Members will review the Plan and the current zoning map and further discuss an update at the next Commission meeting.

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

MARYANN D. FURLONG

Planning Commission Secretary