| Forks Action Committee |
| Homepage - Last Day of the Month |
| August 31, 2005 |
F.Y.I. - According to the Morning Call (Joe Nixon - 8/18/05), the PennDOT project to repave Route
115 from College Avenue into Stockertown has been pushed back until at least mid-September.
It may be pushed back into next year if the developers working in Forks are not completed with
their road improvements to Sullivan Trail by mid-September. Developers' road improvements are
for the Townes at Sullivan Trail (Zucksville and Sullivan Trail) and the the Sullivan Trail Business
Park (Uhler and Sullivan Trail.)
115 from College Avenue into Stockertown has been pushed back until at least mid-September.
It may be pushed back into next year if the developers working in Forks are not completed with
their road improvements to Sullivan Trail by mid-September. Developers' road improvements are
for the Townes at Sullivan Trail (Zucksville and Sullivan Trail) and the the Sullivan Trail Business
Park (Uhler and Sullivan Trail.)
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The August 18, 2005 Board of Supervisors meeting was a brief one. The Express Times' Sarah Mausolf
and the Morning Call's Joe Nixon both found the topic of a septic system owners' education program
interesting enough to write about especially in view of the imminent possibility of development in the
Township's Farmland Preservation district. Supervisor Bonnie Nicholas said that the suggestion came out
of a Sewer Authority meeting held (8/15/05) specifically to discuss potential development issues. She
serves as the liaison to the Sewer Authority and she read a letter from them urging the Board NOT to
extend the sewer line north of Newlins Road. She read a similar letter to the Board at the January 21, 2005
meeting. Nicholas also read a section of our Zoning Ordinance that was included in the letter. This is the
section that describes the INTENT of the FP district - (excerpt) "Further, this district will remain with little
development incentives since it is not intended to be served by public sewers."
Township Engineer Fred Hay announced that work has begun on the Frost Hollow swale. He also
reported (on the issue of parking on Hill Road) that there is no PennDot standard to use. Nicholas urged
that something be done because the road is unsafe for school buses as long as big trucks are parked
there. Zoning Officer Tim Weis will look into the number of employees, etc. who park near the business at
the bottom of the street and DPW Director Gary Sandt will check into the criteria for snow emergency
posting.
Supervisor David Hoff said that he received a letter from the Career Institute and that they are looking for
project opportunities. Township Manager Cathy Kichline suggested keeping copies of the letter in the
Zoning Office so that Weis can give them to builders and developers who may have building lots for their
use. During the discussion of the Penn's Ridge agenda item, David Howell (Zoning Hearing Board) asked
the developer's representative to look into putting in some open space for kids to play in the next phase of
the project. He said that he's driven through the project on numerous occasions and that the kids are
playing in the streets because they have no other place to play. The rep. said that it would mentioned it to
Mr. Hornstein.
See 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.
and the Morning Call's Joe Nixon both found the topic of a septic system owners' education program
interesting enough to write about especially in view of the imminent possibility of development in the
Township's Farmland Preservation district. Supervisor Bonnie Nicholas said that the suggestion came out
of a Sewer Authority meeting held (8/15/05) specifically to discuss potential development issues. She
serves as the liaison to the Sewer Authority and she read a letter from them urging the Board NOT to
extend the sewer line north of Newlins Road. She read a similar letter to the Board at the January 21, 2005
meeting. Nicholas also read a section of our Zoning Ordinance that was included in the letter. This is the
section that describes the INTENT of the FP district - (excerpt) "Further, this district will remain with little
development incentives since it is not intended to be served by public sewers."
Township Engineer Fred Hay announced that work has begun on the Frost Hollow swale. He also
reported (on the issue of parking on Hill Road) that there is no PennDot standard to use. Nicholas urged
that something be done because the road is unsafe for school buses as long as big trucks are parked
there. Zoning Officer Tim Weis will look into the number of employees, etc. who park near the business at
the bottom of the street and DPW Director Gary Sandt will check into the criteria for snow emergency
posting.
Supervisor David Hoff said that he received a letter from the Career Institute and that they are looking for
project opportunities. Township Manager Cathy Kichline suggested keeping copies of the letter in the
Zoning Office so that Weis can give them to builders and developers who may have building lots for their
use. During the discussion of the Penn's Ridge agenda item, David Howell (Zoning Hearing Board) asked
the developer's representative to look into putting in some open space for kids to play in the next phase of
the project. He said that he's driven through the project on numerous occasions and that the kids are
playing in the streets because they have no other place to play. The rep. said that it would mentioned it to
Mr. Hornstein.
See 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.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Forks Township residents turned out in record numbers (300+) for the August 11, 2005 Planning Commission Meeting.
Before the Planners that night were the Kings Mill Development sketch plans (2 variations) for 380 acres in the Farmland
Preservation District. The developer's (Zawarski & Maloney) were represented by Attorney Dennis Benner. The Planners, in a
5:1 vote, denied recommending the high density proposal to the Board of Supervisors. Kings Mill's second proposal is
compliant with the Zoning Ordinance for the FP district (2 acre lots) and will likely be passed without incident should the
developer settle for that plan.
After the Planners discussed the options, residents were afforded the opportunity to offer their opinions. In fact, representatives
from Easton, LMBT and Stockertown spoke and asked our Planners to please consider the regional implications of such
additional high density in Forks. Four of Forks Supervisors were there as were the Express Times (Sarah Mausolf), the
Morning Call (Joe Nixon), and Channel 69.
For those who think this issue is settled, it is not. Benner told Joe Nixon (Morning Call) that he will continue the process and
present the plan(s) to the Supervisors. The Planning Commission serves an advisory function to the Board. The Board makes
the final decisions. This could come up on their agenda as soon as next Thursday, August 18th. Meeting agendas are
finalized by 2:30 PM on the Tuesdays before meetings. Please call the Municipal Building and/or check their website. If you
can't make the meeting, and it's on the agenda, call one of the Supervisors and let him/her know how you feel. It's not over yet.
See 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.
Before the Planners that night were the Kings Mill Development sketch plans (2 variations) for 380 acres in the Farmland
Preservation District. The developer's (Zawarski & Maloney) were represented by Attorney Dennis Benner. The Planners, in a
5:1 vote, denied recommending the high density proposal to the Board of Supervisors. Kings Mill's second proposal is
compliant with the Zoning Ordinance for the FP district (2 acre lots) and will likely be passed without incident should the
developer settle for that plan.
After the Planners discussed the options, residents were afforded the opportunity to offer their opinions. In fact, representatives
from Easton, LMBT and Stockertown spoke and asked our Planners to please consider the regional implications of such
additional high density in Forks. Four of Forks Supervisors were there as were the Express Times (Sarah Mausolf), the
Morning Call (Joe Nixon), and Channel 69.
For those who think this issue is settled, it is not. Benner told Joe Nixon (Morning Call) that he will continue the process and
present the plan(s) to the Supervisors. The Planning Commission serves an advisory function to the Board. The Board makes
the final decisions. This could come up on their agenda as soon as next Thursday, August 18th. Meeting agendas are
finalized by 2:30 PM on the Tuesdays before meetings. Please call the Municipal Building and/or check their website. If you
can't make the meeting, and it's on the agenda, call one of the Supervisors and let him/her know how you feel. It's not over yet.
See 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 of Supervisors meeting of August 4, 2005 was shorter than most. Sarah Mausolf (Express Times) and Jeff
Christman (Morning Call) reported on the fee schedule discussion and the adoption of Ordinance 291 which covers Temporary
Retail Sales. Tent sellers will now have to pay $400/month (or $100/week) instead of the $25/permit fee. The large banner on
the truck in the old Laneco parking lot was discussed too. A few other fees were changed also before it was decided that there
were too many to set at the meeting and that all fees will all be reviewed when preparing the 2006 budget in the fall. There was
an unscheduled surprise at the meeting with Officer James Rowden's PowerPoint presentation of the 2005 Forks Police
Summer Academy. The Academy was held July 25-29 and was open to 11-15 year olds. Several parents whose kids attended
this year wrote letters praising the program. Chief Dorney said that the Township's National Night Out on Aug 2nd went well
and that he'd like to expand the program next year. Alex Gale, in his review of the new Municipal Complex progress told the
Board that the schedule for completion of the fire station and the Municipal Building has been revised. It now looks like it will be
November or December before the new offices are ready for occupancy. And, Township Manager Cathy Kichline is looking at
"time keeper" software for next year's budget.
See 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.
Christman (Morning Call) reported on the fee schedule discussion and the adoption of Ordinance 291 which covers Temporary
Retail Sales. Tent sellers will now have to pay $400/month (or $100/week) instead of the $25/permit fee. The large banner on
the truck in the old Laneco parking lot was discussed too. A few other fees were changed also before it was decided that there
were too many to set at the meeting and that all fees will all be reviewed when preparing the 2006 budget in the fall. There was
an unscheduled surprise at the meeting with Officer James Rowden's PowerPoint presentation of the 2005 Forks Police
Summer Academy. The Academy was held July 25-29 and was open to 11-15 year olds. Several parents whose kids attended
this year wrote letters praising the program. Chief Dorney said that the Township's National Night Out on Aug 2nd went well
and that he'd like to expand the program next year. Alex Gale, in his review of the new Municipal Complex progress told the
Board that the schedule for completion of the fire station and the Municipal Building has been revised. It now looks like it will be
November or December before the new offices are ready for occupancy. And, Township Manager Cathy Kichline is looking at
"time keeper" software for next year's budget.
See 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 August 2nd FLOODING SOLUTIONS FORUM at Lafayette College was well described in the Morning Call by Arlene Martinez
and in the Express Times by Edward Sieger. The PERFECT circumstances of the Delaware River April 2005 flooding were
explained by the panelists as a one-two-punch of major rain storms, frozen ground up north, large snow-pack melt, and dams
at capacity. There were no immediate solutions to tomorrow's floods. This unusual Delaware River only flood was not blamed
squarely on the dams as some in the audience had hoped/expected. The audience asked many questions. Many were left
unasked. One thing was stated with certainty, "rivers flood."
and in the Express Times by Edward Sieger. The PERFECT circumstances of the Delaware River April 2005 flooding were
explained by the panelists as a one-two-punch of major rain storms, frozen ground up north, large snow-pack melt, and dams
at capacity. There were no immediate solutions to tomorrow's floods. This unusual Delaware River only flood was not blamed
squarely on the dams as some in the audience had hoped/expected. The audience asked many questions. Many were left
unasked. One thing was stated with certainty, "rivers flood."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
We learned from today's (7/29/05) Morning Call that US Representative Charles Dent is sponsoring a special forum on flooding
solutions with speakers including the Army Corps of Engineers, the Delaware River Basin Commission, the National Weather
Service, FEMA and the DEP. It will be held in Lafayette College's Oechsle Hall (corner of Parsons and Hamilton) at 7:00 PM on
Tuesday, August 2nd.
And, for those of you who didn't believe it when you read it in our meeting notes on the blog, Frost Hollow Road may open in
mid-August. We know it's true. We read it in the Express Times today (7/29/05)! We caution you all to be aware that the DEER
are not used to car traffic on that stretch of road. It's been closed for so long.
solutions with speakers including the Army Corps of Engineers, the Delaware River Basin Commission, the National Weather
Service, FEMA and the DEP. It will be held in Lafayette College's Oechsle Hall (corner of Parsons and Hamilton) at 7:00 PM on
Tuesday, August 2nd.
And, for those of you who didn't believe it when you read it in our meeting notes on the blog, Frost Hollow Road may open in
mid-August. We know it's true. We read it in the Express Times today (7/29/05)! We caution you all to be aware that the DEER
are not used to car traffic on that stretch of road. It's been closed for so long.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .