Local News

                During Thursday night’s board of supervisors meeting, Washington Township officials further considered rescinding the Act 537 sewer development plan approved by the previous board in November 2009.

                Township Solicitor Daniel Backer reported that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is willing to pull the plan back while supervisors, the solicitor, and the current township engineer review the details.

                After a preliminary review, engineer John Weber of LTL Consultants reported to the board that a sewer service area is not clearly defined in the recently submitted plan, which details a $4.7 million expansion of the sewage system.

                After discussion, Supervisor Chairperson Tonya Bauer made a motion to have the solicitor and township engineer further review the plan before it is processed by DEP, submitting amendments as needed and leaving the option open of rescinding the plan entirely if necessary in the future. The motion passed unanimously.

                Supervisor James Roma additionally requested permission of the board to review the township’s existing Alternative Energy Ordinance. In September 2009, supervisors voted to include a 75-foot height restriction for wind turbines. Roma will submit written comments to the board for review to lessen restrictions that discourage alternative energy.

                “Being someone who believes in alternative energy, and I have it on my own property…I would like to see it modified,” Roma said of the existing restrictions.

                In other business, Peter Rotelle and Anthony Holowsko of Rotelle Builders presented updates on the development of the Gehringer Farm property, which overlaps Route 100 at Barto Road.

                The property development consists of three residential phases as well as a low-impact commercial property. One use expressed by Rotelle was an 80-unit assisted-living facility; although, he further pointed out that other ideas are still being considered.

                 “We are developers. We are going to develop this commercial property. The question is what we are going to do with it,” Holowsko added.

                Township resident Tom Palmer, who owns approximately 16 acres of property on Old Route 100 south of Stauffer Road, came before the board petitioning for a zoning map change for a portion of his property.

                Palmer’s attorney, Andrew Schantz, explained to the board that the property is currently zoned in two zoning districts, with a majority of the property zoned as General Industrial and the remainder High Density Residential. The request to rezone the property as entirely High Density Residential, according to Schantz, would enable Palmer to secure reasonable financing at a residential rate.

                Township Solicitor Daniel Becker asked Palmer whether, if the supervisors agreed to his request, he would be willing to sign an agreement to restrict further residential development of the property and Palmer declined, stating that such an agreement would devalue the property.

                Township Manager Jason Ganster reminded supervisors that the township planning commission previously provided a letter recommending rejection of this request. After the discussion, supervisors also rejected Palmer’s request.

                “If we rezone it, it’s a possibility that someone will put more than one house on that [property],” Supervisor Ernest Gehman stated regarding the decision.

                Over 25 residents of the Northgate subdivision turned out Tuesday night to ask pointed questions of Upper Hanover Township supervisors regarding continued delays in completion of road and other public improvements.

                Residents also sought answers as to why the township did not step in during recent significant snowfall to plow streets within the development.

                Regarding the snowplowing, Township Solicitor Edward Skypala explained that the township was unable to enter private property to plow roads. While a township ordinance does exist that allows the township to perform necessary services on private property if a hazardous condition has not been addressed by the property owner, Skypala further explained that the property owner would then be billed for that service.

                According to Supervisor Chairman Richard Fain, four roads within Northgate will be dedicated once all necessary improvements are completed.

                Skypala also reported that he and Fain met with the bonding company to ensure that improvements to inhabited areas of the project are completed by September 1, 2010. According to Fain, the bonding company has agreed to award construction contracts by April 15, 2010, with construction to begin approximately one month after that date.

                Supervisors were then asked by residents what action will be taken if construction does not begin shortly after April 15.

                “I’m going to report what the reason is, I’ll get something to the supervisors and if they tell us to go ahead then we’ll sue,” Skypala stated.

                In other news, supervisors passed an amendment to the township’s Street Address Numbering Ordinance 2010-02.

                “It was a pretty rigid ordinance with respect to the numbering and the colors and so forth and this gives the fire marshal some discretion to allow amendments if he thinks they meet the intent with respect to safety,” Skypala explained of the amendment.

                Additionally, Lieutenant David Buckley of the Pennsylvania State Police provided supervisors with input regarding their recent consideration of posting specific warnings about local sex offenders at the township’s public parks.

                Lt. Buckley indicated to supervisors that the concept of posting actual pictures of sex offenders who reside or work in the township at the facilities could result in the implication of township officials should the posting result in harassment.

                Additionally, Lt. Buckley reminded supervisors that the Pennsylvania State Police Megan’s Law website is updated regularly. In order to keep the park postings current, the web site would need to be checked daily by the township.

                Supervisors agreed to post a more generalized warning to residents who use the parks that will include a link to the Megan’s Law web site www.pameganslaw.state.pa.us.

                Lt. Buckley also reminded all residents to lock their cars due to a recent increase in vehicle break-ins within the township.