| Forks Action Committee |
| Homepage - Last Day of the Month |
| July 31, 2006 |
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The partnership is contesting Forks' brand new Zoning Ordinance as too restrictive. It would allow them to build only in clusters on 1 acre lots with equal amounts of open space or on 3 acre lots. They want lots all right... lots and lots and lots of lots. They want apartments. They want mobile homes. They want condos. They want to plant 3042 dwelling units on 25% of Forks' total FP acreage - where corn now grows. According to the legal notice in the Express Times, they are challenging zoning in more than the FP district. They maintain that it's also too restrictive in the Employment Center/Mobile Home (EC-1) and in the Suburban Residential/Mobile Home (SR-1) districts. For a map of the project as well as of all Forks zoning districts, click here. The first of two scheduled Zoning Hearings will be Monday, August 7 at 7:30 PM in the Forks Community Center. Please come and bring everyone you can, family, friends, neighbors... everyone! Our Zoning Hearing Board is on the front line and they need you. They need to know how you feel about this immense project. Don't miss it! "The job of a citizen is to keep his mouth open." Gunter Grass |
| It's Official! - Zoning Challenge - Hearing Date(s) Set August 7 & August 21 at 7:30 PM - Community Center |
| Kings Mill LLC (et al) Zoning Challenge - Hearing Coming Soon! Solicitor Karl Kline informed the Planning Commission at its meeting on June 8 that the owners of 545 acres of land in the Farmland Preservation district have filed a zoning challenge. Kline said that he will inform the Board of Supervisors about it at its June 15 meeting. He said that the developers "attacked" the 3 acre minimum lot size and the 1 acre lot size (with equal open space.) Kline reported that the developers also allege that Forks lacks adequate space for mobile home parks and that there are not enough multi-family housing units. Their new proposal calls for --> mobile home parks, apartments/condominiums, and townhouses! The Express Times' Sarah Mausolf has written two articles about it, the second made the 6/10/09 front page. See this FP district map for a look at the scope of Kings Mill (and partners) holdings in the FP district. According to Mausolf', the partnership now wants to build over 3000 units on all but 104 of their 545 acres. Plans for the 104 acres (off of Broadway Road) were not in the filing. Read the June 11, 2006 Express Times editorial for more on this issue and its potential impact on all Forks residents. And, read Joe Nixon's (Morning Call) June 13 article for a thorough report on the background of the Kings and their plans for Forks. The Kings Mill partnership currently has a plan conforming to the old zoning ordinance (single family homes on 2 acre lots) under review by the Township engineer. The plan was filed before the new zoning ordinance was passed and therefore is subject to the old rules, not the new. Both the Express Times (Ted Strong) and Morning Call (Joe Nixon) reported on the June 15th Board of Supervisors meeting where Solicitor Karl Kline formally informed the Board of the zoning challenge. Kline asked that an Executive Session be held so that he could discuss it more with the Board. It was held immediately after the regular meeting. Kline also said that he thought the challenge was simply an effort to force the Township to change the zoning in the FP district. The Zoning Hearing Board will take testimony. The date will be announced when it is set. So... Save time in your busy summer schedules for this one. It's important that you be there, no matter which side of the issue you are on. And, bring your neighbors - They live here too! If you can't be there, WRITE! Emal! Call! Your Supervisors need to know where you stand. They have an important decision to make. Don't force them do it without you. |
| Grocery Zoning Changed - Supervisors Say Yes! It's over except for knowing which grocer it will be! On July 20th the Supervisors voted 3:1 to change the Employment Center zoning to allow grocery stores. Nicholas voted "nay" and Ackerman was absent. - We hope it's a good store. |
| FEMA - Disaster Recovery Center Opened July 14 - Forks Plaza According to both the Morning Call and the Express Times FEMA has set up a disaster recovery center in Forks Plaza - the former Laneco Plaza. Although you can register there, FEMA recommends pre-registering. Please call 800-621-FEMA to pre-register. Those who are hearing impaired should call TTY 800-462-7585. |
| Special Board of Supervisors Meeting - Monday, July 10th Township Manager Cathy Kichline was terminated by the Board of Supervisors at its Special Meeting on Monday night in a 5:0 vote. The Township Manager's duties will be filled by the Supervisors' committees and by department heads until the position is filled. The Board will begin its search shortly. Get your resumes ready. ............................................................. The July 9 edition of the Express Times has a legal notice announcing a "special meeting" of the Board. The notice says - "The purposes of the meeting are to consider restructuring management responsibilities within the Township government and to transact any other business which may come before the Board." This meeting was called after the marathon 2-1/2+ hour Executive Session last Thursday! |
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This month in Forks! updated 7/23/06
On July 20, 2006 the Board of Supervisors cast votes (3:1- Supervisor Bonnie Nicholas dissented, Supervisor John
Ackerman was absent) to adopt Ordinance #298-E27. This opens the door for grocery stores as conditional uses in the
Employment Center district. At least 100 residents were there. A few spoke. Some were pro-zoning change and some were
not. The Supervisors listened, commented and then voted. Time will tell which grocer is SamCar's (the developer with 6 or so
grocery candidates) pick for Forks! Both Sarah Mausolf (Express Times) and Joe Nixon (Morning Call) wrote multi-part articles
on the meeting.
Other news from the meeting:
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.
Ackerman was absent) to adopt Ordinance #298-E27. This opens the door for grocery stores as conditional uses in the
Employment Center district. At least 100 residents were there. A few spoke. Some were pro-zoning change and some were
not. The Supervisors listened, commented and then voted. Time will tell which grocer is SamCar's (the developer with 6 or so
grocery candidates) pick for Forks! Both Sarah Mausolf (Express Times) and Joe Nixon (Morning Call) wrote multi-part articles
on the meeting.
Other news from the meeting:
- The Bushkill/Uhler intersection will get a traffic light and left turn lane (from Bushkill onto Uhler) soon because PennDot
says it needs one now that Chrin is developing a commercial complex in Palmer and Tatamy. - The Township has "accepted" Riverview Estates' phase I roads (Ramblewood Drive, Fairway Drive & Fringe Lane).
- Supervisor Nicholas thanked the staff for filling in in the absence of a Township Manager.
- Nicholas announced her township cellphone number (484-239-0866) for residents to use to contact her. Recently
mailed flyers contained Supervisors' home and unlisted phone numbers. Nicholas said that she prefers to receive
calls from residents on her Township issued cell phone and not on her home phone. - Nicholas said that someone is dumping grass clippings in the swale on Wagonwheel. Zoning Officer Tim Weis said
that he will contact the property owner. - Organic waste is a critical issue per the Twin Rivers COG (Council of Governments). They are working on a
"persuasive agenda" to make County Executive Stoffa address it. - Freemansburg would like to join the Twin Rivers COG.
- Forks EMS is temporarily out-of-business while its finances are being probed. Palmer's Suburban EMS is filling in and
operating (24/7) out of its Forks facility. Suburban is honoring Forks' residents subscriptions. The subscriptions run
out September 1 and there is no word yet on how the renewals will be handled. Some of Forks EMS EMTs are being
used. - The 2006 Forks Police Summer Academy for youths ages 11-15 begins on Monday.
- Township employees bid on two pieces of obsolete equipment, a Chevy Blazer and a John Deere lawnmower. The
Blazer was awarded to John Lebeduik for his bid of $375 and the lawnmower went to Ron Phillips for his $750 bid. - Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Weis will be attending the Northampton County 911 Center meeting on
Monday. - Engineer Fred Hay reported that the concrete and repairs to the latest sinkholes in the park as well as to the ones in
Shawnee, Sycamore, and College Park are being provided at no charge by developer J.T. Maloney/Signature Homes. - Resident Gretchen Gerstel was back with more questions about the "table." She was told that former Township
Manager Cathy Kichline and Supervisor David Hoff signed the purchase order and that two signatures are required for
purchases over $1000. She was also told that the purchase order was approved by the Board. One of the two signers
of the check (to pay for the approved table) was Secretary/Treasurer Howell. The other signer was not immediately
known and she was advised by Solicitor Karl Kline to submit a request for that information to Finance Manager Jim
Farley under the "right to know law." - Kings Farm 90 day (from August 10) time extension was accepted in a 4:0 vote. This is the plan submitted by the
Zawarski/Maloney partnership under the old zoning rules for approximately 185 homes on 2 acre lots in the Farmland
Preservation (FP) district. It sits on most of the land in the Kings Mill (and partners) zoning challenge coming before the
Zoning Hearing Board on August 7 & 21. The Planning Commission recommended rejection of this time extension and
of the entire plan (as not being seriously considered by the developers) at its meeting on July 13. The developer's
representative, Atty. Dennis Benner, said unequivocally that, "We are going to prosecute this plan." In fact, he said it
twice. - Forks sees an end to the developers fees as all the in-process developments are completed. Howell noted the
importance of finding commercial and industrial ventures - to keep residents' earned income tax rates from increasing
dramatically. - The Board adopted Resolution 060720-2 after emerging from Executive Session. This resolution details the severance
package offered to former Township Manager Cathy Kichline. In exchange for the offered severance, Ms. Kichline must
accept the terms offered and sign a general realease that releases the Township and the BoS from claims relating to
her employment or her termination. Both sides must agree to not discuss the termination and the Township Solicitor
will be the sole repository of her personnel records. See Mausolf (ET) and Nixon (MCall) as well as our blog, for more.
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.
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The July 13 Planning Commission meeting had Kings Mill's "by right" plan on the agenda. The offered time extension
was rejected in a 6:0 vote (with Jim Wideman abstaining.) Wideman abstained because his land borders the land in
question. Basically, the PC decided that the Kings Mill partners were not making an effort to work with the Township and
Engineer Fred Hay's three page letter of unaddressed project issues was proof enough.
Both the Express Times (Mausolf) and the Morning Call (Nixon) described the night's discussion. Please read their articles for
more..
Also on the PC agenda was a request by Riverview Estates Phase IIC - the golf course pavilion - for a temporary parking lot.
That passed in a 7:0 vote. During the discussion Strausser representative, Sal Panto noted that Strausser plans to open the
drains/grates (remove the silt bags) on Winchester Drive soon. Stormwater will then run through the new pipes and directly
into the Frost Hollow swale. Panto said that the planned Strausser-installed drain under Route 611 will be completed in about
a year when the Frost Hollow/611 intersection improvements are undertaken. Until then, the Frost Hollow swale will take the
water away.
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.
was rejected in a 6:0 vote (with Jim Wideman abstaining.) Wideman abstained because his land borders the land in
question. Basically, the PC decided that the Kings Mill partners were not making an effort to work with the Township and
Engineer Fred Hay's three page letter of unaddressed project issues was proof enough.
Both the Express Times (Mausolf) and the Morning Call (Nixon) described the night's discussion. Please read their articles for
more..
Also on the PC agenda was a request by Riverview Estates Phase IIC - the golf course pavilion - for a temporary parking lot.
That passed in a 7:0 vote. During the discussion Strausser representative, Sal Panto noted that Strausser plans to open the
drains/grates (remove the silt bags) on Winchester Drive soon. Stormwater will then run through the new pipes and directly
into the Frost Hollow swale. Panto said that the planned Strausser-installed drain under Route 611 will be completed in about
a year when the Frost Hollow/611 intersection improvements are undertaken. Until then, the Frost Hollow swale will take the
water away.
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.
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On Monday, July 10, the Board of Supervisors held a Special Meeting. After a nearly 3 hour Executive Session
the Board voted 5:0 to terminate the employment of Township Manager Cathy Kichline.
Solicitor Karl Kline stated that under the 2nd Class Township Code, the Township Manager served at the pleasure of the Board
and could be terminated at any time for any reason or for no reason. The motion to terminate included the phrase that the
decision to terminate was not for any willful misconduct but simply was the done according to the code at the pleasure of the
Board.
Both Sarah Mausolf (Express Times) and Joe Nixon (Morning Call) were there and interviewed Chairman David Hoff, Solicitor
Karl Kline and attorney (for Kichline) Lawrence Fox. Until the position is filled, the Supervisors' committees and department
heads will fill the void.
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 Board voted 5:0 to terminate the employment of Township Manager Cathy Kichline.
Solicitor Karl Kline stated that under the 2nd Class Township Code, the Township Manager served at the pleasure of the Board
and could be terminated at any time for any reason or for no reason. The motion to terminate included the phrase that the
decision to terminate was not for any willful misconduct but simply was the done according to the code at the pleasure of the
Board.
Both Sarah Mausolf (Express Times) and Joe Nixon (Morning Call) were there and interviewed Chairman David Hoff, Solicitor
Karl Kline and attorney (for Kichline) Lawrence Fox. Until the position is filled, the Supervisors' committees and department
heads will fill the void.
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.
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On July 6, 2006 Forks Supervisors met and discussed a variety of agenda and non-agenda items. Most of you have
read both Sarah Mausolf's (Express Times) and Joe Nixon's (Morning Call) recounts of the now "infamous" $3,000 custom
made entrance/lobby table. The meeting was more than that and both Mausolf and Nixon wrote of the rest of the meeting in
separate articles.
Other meeting highlights include:
Not mentioned at the meeting but very obvious to anyone who frequents the park are its newest sinkholes. The developer of
College Park Estates is fixing them as well as the one in his detention pond. We learned too, that yet another one on Township
property opened (during the the same June rains) near the wrestling building off of Sullivan Trail.
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.
read both Sarah Mausolf's (Express Times) and Joe Nixon's (Morning Call) recounts of the now "infamous" $3,000 custom
made entrance/lobby table. The meeting was more than that and both Mausolf and Nixon wrote of the rest of the meeting in
separate articles.
Other meeting highlights include:
- Mr. Lovene Heller's property will get a lot line adjustment. The Township will keep only enough along the right-of-way to
cover what is needed for a concrete (not macadam) recreation path and the balance will be deeded to the Hellers who
thought they owned it all anyway. - A part-time custodial position for both the PD and the Municipal Building was filled when the Board voted to hire Placido
Simonetti (sic). Township Manager Kichline said that there were 20 applicants. Ten were interviewed. - The bikepath/walking path that was to be painted in on one side of Old Mill Road is now to be 2 three foot wide painted
paths as by law, bikes travel with the traffic and pedestrians must walk against it. The paths will be on each side of the
road and indicated by painted stripes. - The vacancy on the Recreation Board was filled with the appointment of John O'Neill. Two candidates were interviewed
and O'Neill, who has been filling the position for the last few months was selected by the Board. There will be another
opening at year end. - The Stryker Brigade land development plan was conditionally approved. Among other things, the developer has
promised to preserve the treelines to the south, east, and west (except for any portion that may interfere with the
extension of sewer and water lines.) - The Jacob's Farm II land development plan was conditionally approved. Sidewalks will be on both sides of Braden
Boulevard and on one side (for one block) of development roads that intersect with Braden. We learned that residents
of Forks' age restricted communities "go flying through" the developments. We also learned that the residents of
Jacob's Farm I do not care if there are sidewalks (according to Supervisor Ackerman.) - EMS Coordinator Time Weis told of the extra efforts taken by the Police Department, the Fire Department and the
Department of Public Works in responding to last week's flooding. He congratulated them on the good job and said
that the residents affected confirmed their good work. - Police Chief Dorney wants to have a meeting with PennDot over the road closings during last week's flooding.
Apparently the Township had to step up and close Route 611 to traffic as PennDot was reluctant to do it. - And yes, a resident did indeed refer to the Board as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs... being led by Dopey" during
the discussion of the $3,000 custom-made table adorning the Municipal Building lobby. The Board was told by Kichline
that they approved the purchase when they approved the furniture proposal last year. NIcholas wants to see the
proposal since she said that she never saw that particular line item before.
Not mentioned at the meeting but very obvious to anyone who frequents the park are its newest sinkholes. The developer of
College Park Estates is fixing them as well as the one in his detention pond. We learned too, that yet another one on Township
property opened (during the the same June rains) near the wrestling building off of Sullivan Trail.
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.
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As we go into the 4th of July holiday, it's important to remember what our friends and neighbors who live along the "Forks of the
Delaware" waterways are contending with - massive clean-up! The "toxic soup" that was our rivers and streams just days
ago has turned into "toxic dust." Help your fellow Forks residents out when you drive the once flooded roadways. Slow down!
Keep the dust down. Doors and windows must be open. Please do not make the ugly cleanup worse than it is for your
friends.
Northampton County has been declared a Federal Disaster Area. It was serious flooding. It was not done intentionally to
inconvenience you, the commuter. Don't take it personally. Do take it seriously. Be considerate of those trying to recover from
the damage. Drive slow!
Delaware" waterways are contending with - massive clean-up! The "toxic soup" that was our rivers and streams just days
ago has turned into "toxic dust." Help your fellow Forks residents out when you drive the once flooded roadways. Slow down!
Keep the dust down. Doors and windows must be open. Please do not make the ugly cleanup worse than it is for your
friends.
Northampton County has been declared a Federal Disaster Area. It was serious flooding. It was not done intentionally to
inconvenience you, the commuter. Don't take it personally. Do take it seriously. Be considerate of those trying to recover from
the damage. Drive slow!
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Although many Forks residents were at home waiting for the flood waters to crest and couldn't get there, the meeting room in
the new Municipal Building was S.R.O. for the Grocery Zoning Amendment Public Hearing on June 29.
According the newspaper accounts by Sarah Mausolf (Express Times) and Joe Nixon (Morning Call) about 150 Forks
residents did get there. A few spoke. The meeting was short, only an hour long. The concerns expressed by nearly all,
including our own Supervisors, were of traffic.
Residents who came prepared to talk of other issues were silent as the Board reminded everyone that they must stick only to
the topic of the grocery zoning amendment. Few spoke against a grocery use for the district. Most spoke of traffic woes. Most
were pro-fixing the roads to make getting from here to there doable. The Board will vote one way or the other on the
amendment at its June 20th meeting. Try to be there!
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 new Municipal Building was S.R.O. for the Grocery Zoning Amendment Public Hearing on June 29.
According the newspaper accounts by Sarah Mausolf (Express Times) and Joe Nixon (Morning Call) about 150 Forks
residents did get there. A few spoke. The meeting was short, only an hour long. The concerns expressed by nearly all,
including our own Supervisors, were of traffic.
Residents who came prepared to talk of other issues were silent as the Board reminded everyone that they must stick only to
the topic of the grocery zoning amendment. Few spoke against a grocery use for the district. Most spoke of traffic woes. Most
were pro-fixing the roads to make getting from here to there doable. The Board will vote one way or the other on the
amendment at its June 20th meeting. Try to be there!
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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