| Forks Action Committee |
| Homepage - Last Day of the Month |
| February 28, 2006 |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| The New Municipal Building - A Virtual Tour The new Zoning Ordinance was adopted by the Board of Supervisors at its 2/16/06 meeting. It can be viewed online at the Township website. The zoning map is there too. The Ordinance is causing a bit of a ruckus among one or two large Forks land-holding developers, who, along with Acting Chairman (and farmer) John Ackerman, object to the changes for the Farmland Preservation District. The entrance to the new complex from the park will be closed temporarily and the only way in will be from the Sullivan Trail entrance. |
| School District Impact Assessments - An Update - 2/26/06 The Express Times reports that Upper Mount Bethel Township is solidly behind the move to assess school impact fees and is moving forward to get it approved on a State level! UMBT Supervisors voted unanimously to ask the Northampton County Association of Township Supervisors to support efforts to give townships or school boards the power to assess school impact fees on developers. Dal Maso's proposal is continuing to gain momentum! A recent editorial in the Express Times describes the proposal, the debate(s) to come, and Rep. Grucela's efforts. This is a big deal. To learn more about it, please contact Don Dal Maso directly. Please see our December 2005 Archive and our blog for more on this topic. Read Dal Maso's latest newsletter too and the Op-Ed piece in the Express Times. |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
On 2/16/06 the Board of Supervisors witnessed the presentation of the Accreditation Certificate to the Forks Police
Department. The Board also adopted the new Zoning Ordinance as is with amendments to be added shortly. Sarah Mausolf
(Express Times) and Joe Nixon (Morning Call) were there. Their articles are recommended reading for all Forks residents.
Our "nutshell" version follows:
Please read our blog for more meeting details! Don't forget to read some of the other posts there... and the Comments too.
Don't be afraid to join in the discussion(s) and add your own Comments.
Department. The Board also adopted the new Zoning Ordinance as is with amendments to be added shortly. Sarah Mausolf
(Express Times) and Joe Nixon (Morning Call) were there. Their articles are recommended reading for all Forks residents.
Our "nutshell" version follows:
- The new "committee" structure appears to be working out as each Supervisor reported positively on their meetings.
- There will be a sale of no longer wanted or needed items (desks, filing cabinets, etc.) in the old Municipal Building on
Friday, February 24th from 8 AM to 2 PM. If you buy something, you must be prepared to take it away the same day. - The big kickoff meeting for the Community Day Committee is scheduled for 2/27 at 7 PM. Township Manager Cathy
Kichline reported that Mr. Couch is doing a great job organizing and bringing people together. - Twenty four Township employees participated in, and passed, the State mandated NIMS testing last week.
- A Certificate of Occupancy will not be granted to Ace Hardware until PennDot grants the developer a road CO.
Apparently their revised plan has not yet been accepted. Concern was expressed over the joint use of the property by
pedestrians, employees, and construction vehicles. - Chief Dorney now has the key card data and will be trained soon on how it works.
- Braden Airpark will rehabilitate its terminal building and install an automated weather observation system as part of its
twelve year plan. - Signature Homes (College Park development) has deeded over 5 acres of land adjacent to the Community Park to the
Township. It is to be dedicated to recreational use. - Truck traffic in the Township has increased to alarming levels according to Supervisor David Howell who has
encouraged the Board to act quickly before it gets worse. Truckers are getting lost, stopping for directions, and having to
back across roadways in order to turn around. He said that Waste Management drivers are traveling in convoys up
Kesslersville Road to get to Wind Gap instead of using Sullivan Trail to Uhlers to Kesslersville. He recommends signs
and was told by Solicitor Kline that PennDot will require traffic and engineering studies to justify them. - Finance Manager Jim Farley detailed the "material variances" in the 2005 budget. We learned that the Community
Center revenues were $95K more than anticipated and that the increased cost of fuel was the biggest over-expenditure
of all. The net bottom line is that the Township received more than it spent. - Community Center Co-ordinator (and Supervisor) Don Miller was given a title change to Director of Parks & Recreation.
The job and pay do not change, just the title. - Two of the key EMS rescue squat members quit and Supervisor Bonnie Miller said that the Township has been
guaranteed of 24 hour coverage by the new leadership. She also reported that Cetronia has been contracted to collect
their billing. - Supervisor John Ackerman was the lone "no" vote for the new Zoning Ordinance. He said that although he agreed with
99% of it, he was not in favor of the minimum lot size change in the FP District from 2 acres to 3 acres.
Please read our blog for more meeting details! Don't forget to read some of the other posts there... and the Comments too.
Don't be afraid to join in the discussion(s) and add your own Comments.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Planning Commission regular meeting on February 9th did indeed have Kings Farm (the new name for the
development) on its agenda. We will attempt to summarize it here. There are more details on our blog and as usual, all other
projects (on the agenda) have been updated on the F.A.C. Newspage.
Discussion of the Preliminary Plan for Kings Farm's 187 two-acre lots on 436 acres in the FP district occupied the lion's share
of the meeting. Please read Sarah Mausolf's Express Times account.
Here's our condensed version:
A motion was made to table further discussion. Wideman asked "why" saying that it's permitted "by right" (conforms to the
Zoning Ordinance). Tamborrino said that they need the engineer's letter since it's such a big plan. Even BoS Acting Chairman
John Ackerman joined the exchange saying that the PC should decide whether they want to sit down and talk to the man
(Benner) about alternatives or if he should go forward with the plan presented... "one or the other." Benner flatly said, "We are
not asking for approval."
The vote was 6:1 to table further discussion on this until after receipt of the engineer's letter. It is expected to be on the March 9,
2006 agenda.
Please read our blog for more meeting details! Don't forget to read some of the other posts there... and the Comments too.
Don't be afraid to join in the discussion(s) and add your own Comments.
development) on its agenda. We will attempt to summarize it here. There are more details on our blog and as usual, all other
projects (on the agenda) have been updated on the F.A.C. Newspage.
Discussion of the Preliminary Plan for Kings Farm's 187 two-acre lots on 436 acres in the FP district occupied the lion's share
of the meeting. Please read Sarah Mausolf's Express Times account.
Here's our condensed version:
- PC Chairman Tamborrino opened by saying that he never meant to approve 800 plus homes in the FP (a reference to
last August's meeting). He said that the plan before them now was "bad planning and bad design." He called it "sprawl"
and used the term "McMansions." - Planner Erik Chuss noted that it at least comes more in line with achieving lower density.
- Planner Jim Wideman said that there are people who are more comfortable with two acre lots.
- Planner John Castrovinci reminded the PC that they serve the public and that the public was overwhelmingly against the
August proposal. - Attorney Dennis Benner representing the developers, got his licks in by referring to the audience as "the vocal minority
that attends meetings." - Tamborinno cut Benner off when Benner tried to compliment him. Benner started to say that he (Tamborrino) has a
"forward looking mentality in terms... " Tamborrino said that the Township wants "to wring his neck" and he doesn't
need support from a developer. - "At the end of the day, it's all about politics anyway." Dennis Benner
A motion was made to table further discussion. Wideman asked "why" saying that it's permitted "by right" (conforms to the
Zoning Ordinance). Tamborrino said that they need the engineer's letter since it's such a big plan. Even BoS Acting Chairman
John Ackerman joined the exchange saying that the PC should decide whether they want to sit down and talk to the man
(Benner) about alternatives or if he should go forward with the plan presented... "one or the other." Benner flatly said, "We are
not asking for approval."
The vote was 6:1 to table further discussion on this until after receipt of the engineer's letter. It is expected to be on the March 9,
2006 agenda.
Please read our blog for more meeting details! Don't forget to read some of the other posts there... and the Comments too.
Don't be afraid to join in the discussion(s) and add your own Comments.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
On February 2, 2006 the Board of Supervisors held a Public Hearing on an inter-municipality liquor license
transfer at 7:00 PM (one half hour before their regular meeting.) Between the length of the hearing and the court recorder being
a little late, the start of the regular meeting was delayed about an hour. Amy Unger from the Express Times and Joe Nixon from
the Morning Call were there and reported on the hearing. Please read their articles. It was well attended by Township
residents. It was the Board's first meeting in their lovely new digs.
After the extensive testimony and questions and answers during the hearing, the BoS voted 4:1 (during the regular meeting) to
approve the license transfer. Supervisor David Howell was the lone "no" vote saying that he had strong reservations about the
granting of the license and it was because of the proximity of the Goddard School.
Solicitor Karl Kline had pre-prepared a Resolution for the Board in the event that they approved the action. It will be sent to the
Liquor Control Board along with an amendment containing stipulations - one of which is no electronic gambling devices should
be allowed. Howell said that he wanted a stipulation added that would prohibit discriminatory pricing for men and women, a
practice that is illegal in PA. Kline said that letters of dissension can be sent to the LCB in Harrisburg.
Residents, members of the Planning Commission, and some of the Board members expressed their concerns about Big
Woody's Italian Restaurant and Sports Bar based on what they learned of other Big Woody's restaurants. Elwood Marcks, Sr.
and Jr., did their best to say that they did not want to have an establishment like their other ones here in Forks, that they wanted
to have something more like a TGI Friday's or an upscale Pizza Hut. They said that they "want to be one with Forks." Supervisor
(and acting Chairman) John Ackerman said that he's eaten in places like that and the food is good.
During the regular meeting we also learned that:
Please read our blog for more meeting details! Don't forget to read some of the other posts there... and the Comments too.
Don't be afraid to join in the discussion(s) and add your own Comments.
transfer at 7:00 PM (one half hour before their regular meeting.) Between the length of the hearing and the court recorder being
a little late, the start of the regular meeting was delayed about an hour. Amy Unger from the Express Times and Joe Nixon from
the Morning Call were there and reported on the hearing. Please read their articles. It was well attended by Township
residents. It was the Board's first meeting in their lovely new digs.
After the extensive testimony and questions and answers during the hearing, the BoS voted 4:1 (during the regular meeting) to
approve the license transfer. Supervisor David Howell was the lone "no" vote saying that he had strong reservations about the
granting of the license and it was because of the proximity of the Goddard School.
Solicitor Karl Kline had pre-prepared a Resolution for the Board in the event that they approved the action. It will be sent to the
Liquor Control Board along with an amendment containing stipulations - one of which is no electronic gambling devices should
be allowed. Howell said that he wanted a stipulation added that would prohibit discriminatory pricing for men and women, a
practice that is illegal in PA. Kline said that letters of dissension can be sent to the LCB in Harrisburg.
Residents, members of the Planning Commission, and some of the Board members expressed their concerns about Big
Woody's Italian Restaurant and Sports Bar based on what they learned of other Big Woody's restaurants. Elwood Marcks, Sr.
and Jr., did their best to say that they did not want to have an establishment like their other ones here in Forks, that they wanted
to have something more like a TGI Friday's or an upscale Pizza Hut. They said that they "want to be one with Forks." Supervisor
(and acting Chairman) John Ackerman said that he's eaten in places like that and the food is good.
During the regular meeting we also learned that:
- The "staff" thanked the BoS and the residents for the new Building. We were told that they are now working in an
"environment of calmness." - The move to the new building went smoothly.
- The Community Center parking area behind the old Laneco is open and being used.
- The new committee structure will be used to create/write job descriptions for all Township employees.
- Once job descriptions are written and approved, a security policy will be developed.
- Supervisors Ackerman and Howell will represent Forks on the Two Rivers Council of Governments.
- A part-time position in the Police Department will be advertised. It is for two 8 hour days (Saturdays and Sundays) and
will pay $13/hr. - The Forks Community Day(s) are scheduled for September 16-17. Resident Dick Couch is organizing this event.
- Mr. Crowder from the Lehigh/Northampton Airport Authority will appear at the 2/16/06 BoS meeting to explain the 12-Year
Plan and its compliance with their agreement.
Please read our blog for more meeting details! Don't forget to read some of the other posts there... and the Comments too.
Don't be afraid to join in the discussion(s) and add your own Comments.
In case any of you wonder how our website and blog are doing lately, here are some graphs to view. Double click on the
images below for larger views. We are excited at the traffic we are getting. Thank you all! Tell your friends!
images below for larger views. We are excited at the traffic we are getting. Thank you all! Tell your friends!
| |||||||||||||
