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.