| Forks Action Committee |
| Homepage - Last Day of the Month |
| June 30, 2006 |
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| Public Hearing - Grocery Zoning Amendment Thursday, June 29 at 7:00 PM - This is your one and only chance to let the Supervisors know how you feel about a zoning amendment to allow an unnamed big box grocery store to be built in the Employment Center district - in this case, on the southeast corner of Sullivan Trail and Uhler Road. The amendment has been drafted and sent to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission for their comments as well. The hearing has been advertised The waiting is over. Now it's your turn! This is a public hearing. It is for you. |
On June 15 the Board of Supervisors was briefed by Solicitor Karl Kline about the zoning
challenge by developers who own approximately 545 acres of land in the Farmland Preservation (FP)
District. Both Joe Nixon (Morning Call) and Ted Strong (Express Times) reported the details. Please
read their articles and the detailed notes on the F.A.C. blog.
The rest of the meeting - in brief:
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.
challenge by developers who own approximately 545 acres of land in the Farmland Preservation (FP)
District. Both Joe Nixon (Morning Call) and Ted Strong (Express Times) reported the details. Please
read their articles and the detailed notes on the F.A.C. blog.
The rest of the meeting - in brief:
- Supervisor Howell said that the Township website has been improved to make finding
meeting agendas and minutes for the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, and
the Recreation Board simpler. Each area now has their own links. - A used Crown Victoria police vehicle was put out for bid. The winner was Ron Phillips with his
bid of $500. Only two bids were received. - Supervisor John Ackerman said that the Public Works Committee recommends allowing the
developer (Strausser?) to remove the "eyebrows" on Winchester drive. No vote was taken. - PennDot has approved the Township's request to eliminate the passing zone on Kesslersville
Road. - Engineer Hay (and Township Manager Cathy Kichline and Henning Holmgaard, Forks'
representative to the EAJSA) met with engineers from the EAJSA. The Authority is
recommending an I&I (infiltration and inflow) study of the entire sewer system. The Authority
recommends that all municipalities use the same engineer. The net cost to Forks will be
$30K (after the 50% match from the State.) - Lovene Heller of Arndt Road paid for the curbing and sewer along his property in the 1970s
when the Township billed him. Now it appears that it was EASD property and the EASD has
given it to the Township. Mr. Heller wants his land back. - The Recreation Board is the watchdog of the Athletic Association and pays the AA's bills.
- Parks & Recreation are important components of the Comprehensive Plan.
- The Planning Commission chairman urged the Recreation Board to develop a master plan -
immediately. - The project proposed for the 100 year flood plain on the northeast corner of Newlins Road &
Sullivan Trail has been conditionally approved. The developer will contribute $20K to the
improvements to Newlins on the other side of Sullivan Trail. There will be more water flowing
but its release will be longer and not faster. - Commerce Bank is unable to overcome other land issues and is not pursuing its proposal for
the Rita's location. - The zoning challenge to change the FP district to suit a developer partnership's density desires
will be heard by the Zoning Hearing Board at a public hearing. The date and time will be
known soon. - The BoS met in Executive Session to discuss TWO possible lawsuits.
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 got the first notice of the zoning challenge at their meeting on June 8.
Karl Kline told the PC that a developer partnership (he didn't name names) that owns nearly 550 acres in the Farmland
Preservation (FP) district has announced their objections to the new zoning ordinance's new conditions. This challenge will
begin with a public hearing before either the Zoning Hearing Board or the Board of Supervisors within 45 days of the filing. It's
the law.
Other items of note from the meeting:
These and more of the meeting's agenda items are updated on our news page. 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.
Karl Kline told the PC that a developer partnership (he didn't name names) that owns nearly 550 acres in the Farmland
Preservation (FP) district has announced their objections to the new zoning ordinance's new conditions. This challenge will
begin with a public hearing before either the Zoning Hearing Board or the Board of Supervisors within 45 days of the filing. It's
the law.
Other items of note from the meeting:
- Chairman Vito Tamborrino announced that he and two Supervisors attended a meeting on May 26th with Stockertown
officials to discuss inter-township concerns. He said that Tatamy will be invited to the next meeting. - A poll was taken to see how many PC members will be available for workshop sessions in July and August so that work
on the SALDO can continue. There will be at least 4 of the seven at each of the meetings. Workshops are back on the
schedule! - Commerce Bank sent no one and submitted no formal response to our engineer's letter. Hay said that there are real
estate issues that will probably never be resolved. The plan was rejected 6:0 (Planner John Castrovinci was not at the
meeting). - The Courts At Newlins granted a time extension to the Township until the 6/15/06 BoS meeting. This is the
development of townhouses proposed for the area around the 100 year flood plain on Newlins & Sullivan Trail. Although
two Planners, Jim Wideman and Erik Chuss expressed grave concerns about the safety of children, Supervisor John
Ackerman declared that they are "building a waterway so that the water will be better controlled." Conditional approval
was granted in a 4:2 vote. - Riverview Estates Phase IIC representative, Sal Panto, could not stay for his time at the lectern and the project was
tabled. - Stryker Brigade Combat Team Readiness Center was given conditional preliminary plan approval in a 6:0 vote. Both
Joe Nixon (Morning Call) and Sarah Mausolf (Express Times) reported extensively on it. Please read their articles for
more.
These and more of the meeting's agenda items are updated on our news page. 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 June 1st Board of Supervisors meeting had a short agenda. The main item on it was to set the date for the
Municipal Complex Open House and that they did. It is scheduled to coincide with Forks Community Days, September 15 &
16. The new Municipal Complex will be open to the public from 12-4 PM both days. The Express Times' Ted Strong and the
Morning Call's Joe Nixon were there. Please read their articles.
Some of the night's other items of interest include:
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.
Municipal Complex Open House and that they did. It is scheduled to coincide with Forks Community Days, September 15 &
16. The new Municipal Complex will be open to the public from 12-4 PM both days. The Express Times' Ted Strong and the
Morning Call's Joe Nixon were there. Please read their articles.
Some of the night's other items of interest include:
- Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Weis informed the Board that someone cut the line that makes the
emergency traffic light on the southbound side of Sullivan Trail turn red. When asked who cut it, Weis said he didn't
know. - There was an Executive Session to discuss Forks non-uniformed employees' contract renewal.
- Traffic Signal Solutions proposal was accepted. They were the only one of three companies invited to submit proposals
that actually submitted one. They are the Township's current vendor. - No one knows when the traffic light at Zucksville will be working.
- The Delaware Nation has filed a petition with the 3rd Circuit Court of appeals to reconsider its action. Solicitor Karl Kline
does not think it will win but that it will just continue to "grind on." - Alex Gale has finished his official paid position as Project Manager for the Municipal Complex. He will continue to
supervise contractors as they finish their punch lists of nearly completed items - at no charge to the Township. He was
thanked by the Board and Kichline (on behalf of the staff) for his work. - The 2005 audit is complete and will be reviewed next week before being presented to the Finance Committee.
- The Parks & Recreation Committee had their first meeting and are working on a survey to be "mailed" to all residences
in Forks. - Facilities Director Pete Gheller has complete an Advanced GIS course at a local community college. He is now working
at locating all the Township owned detention ponds - information that will be compiled and used in the Comprehensive
Plan. He is also taking aerial photos of the Township. - Emergency Services Coordinator Tim Weis reported that the Knox Boxes have been installed in the PD and FD
supervisory vehicles. He said too, that businesses have been notified and applications are coming in. - Ed (Kleppinger - Parks Crew Chief - another meeting where his last name was not mentioned) will be getting a new
TORO front-mounted, 4 wheel drive mower for use around the new complex. It will serve double duty in the winter when
the cab and snow blower are attached. It is "budgeted" and costs $17.4 K. - Dick Couch, the man behind the Forks Community Day project is ill and will be replaced by a Mr. Bennet and his wife
Sue who were the vice chairpersons. The Board wished Mr. Couch well and are sending him a thank you letter for all of
his efforts. - There will be (an open to the public) joint meeting of the Board of Supervisors and the Recreation Board at 6:30 PM June
15th before the regular Board meeting. The meeting was originally to include the Planning Commission as well but
Supervisor Ackerman objected saying, "Who invited them?" Supervisor Miller thought it best to meet with just the
Recreation Board since they haven't "sat down" with the BoS in years and have things to talk about that don't include the
Comprehensive Plan.. - The Emergency Command Center will be completed by the end of July and will be ready for any hurricane.
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!
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