ATTENDING: Chairperson Pam Brown, Members Mike Burnley, Craig Hannafin, Steve Smolinsky, and Ginny Wright; Township Manager Allen Heist; Board liaison Zoe Perkins; and Planning Commission liaison Jim Wendlegass.

The Chairperson called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m. The review of the Federation of Northern Chester County Communities Sustainable Watershed Management Program Draft Stormwater Management Ordinance was postponed due to the absence of Thomas Cahill, Cahill Associates. The Federation will begin revisions on the document during their February meeting.

SUBDIVISIONS:

KLING: Members reviewed a subdivision plan submitted by Robert B. Kling, for his 128 acre property located on Bartlett and Green Lanes. The plan show 8 lots ranging from 10.65 acres to 26.12 areas. Concerns included future subdivision of the proposed lots and the common driveway easements. In light of the property's potential equestrian nature, size of the lots, and access to the existing trail network, a memorandum will be sent to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors to consider the creation of a perimeter trail which would connect to the surrounding trail network.

OLD BUSINESS:

GREEN VALLEYS ASSOCIATION PROPERTY: A memorandum from Fronefield Crawford was reviewed by Chairperson Brown regarding the propriety of conveying the Green Valley Association property to West Vincent Township in light of the deed restriction requiring the recipient to be a 501.C3 organization. The Township cannot be a direct transferee of the property under this deed restriction; however, the Township can be part or total owner of a "land trust" qualifying for exemption under 501.C3 of the Internal Revenue Code for tax exempt status. A Land Trust Committee has been formed and will submit a mission statement and additional information to the Board of Supervisors in the near future.

MATTHEWS RUN - POTENTIAL NITRATE PLUME CONCERN: The Township Engineer and Planning Commission have recommended that the Township forward the nitrate plume information from the previous subdivision plan submission to PaDEP as part of a Component 1 Planning Module review for Matthews Run Subdivision. Jeffrey Miller, Engineer for Matthews Run, has provided the Township with preliminary nitrate concentration calculations based on the currently proposed plan, which has fewer lots and the benefit of a groundwater recharge system. This issue will be discussed during the February 9 - Board of Supervisors' meeting.

ZONING:

MICHAEL & DAWN WOZNIAK - CONDITIONAL USE: A conditional use application for the Wozniak's property, located at 976 Pottstown Pike, for a Home and Garden Center operation was reviewed by EAC Members. It was noted, the plan does not designate an area for storage of equipment. In addition, the EAC recommends that the applicant submit a more detailed stormwater management plan.

LUDWIGS CORNER MASTER PLAN - TDR: The Planning Commission delegated the task of designating the TDR Sending Zone Area to the EAC. Members submitted information to Chairperson Brown, prior to the February EAC meeting, to assist in developing a basis for the TDR Sending Area, identifying critical areas in the Township and designating the TDR Sending/Receiving Zone Areas. The information was consolidated and distributed to Members for final review and recommendations. The following criteria should be met for the TDR sending zone:


10 acre minimum
proximity to receiving zone
agricultural use
development potential/soil types
historic value
large tracts of open space

The EAC's recommendation to the Planning Commission includes:

Receiving Zones:	Ludwigs Corner Area Ewing Property - Eagle Farms Road
Sending/Receiving Zone:	Wilson Corner/Kimberton Area
Sending Zones: In addition to the buffer created to surround the designated receiving zones, the EAC also endorses the protection of historic areas, viewsheds, and agricultural lands throughout the township through purchase of development rights. Members discussed designating the entire township as a sending zone but concluded this approach would dilute the preservation of open space. An education process of explaining the TDR program to sending zone landowners and compiling a list of landowners interested in selling their development rights was suggested as an appropriate role for the EAC or land trust. The proposed sending zone encompasses approximately 3600 acres and the proposed receiving zone 1100 acres.

While the EAC endorses the inclusion of a TDR program in the Township ordinance, it is but one tool in a vast selection of preservation options. The purchase of development rights by a land trust or a Township bond issuance, conservation easements and deed restrictions are all viable options. Chairman Brown will present the EAC recommendations to the Planning Commission Thursday, February 5, 1998.

An agreement for Philadelphia Suburban Water Company to lease the Wetherill Estates Water System and provide for professional and managerial services was received.

Copies of the Draft West Vincent Township Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance were distributed to members for review.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:25 a.m. The next meeting will be held Monday, March 2, 1998 at 9:30 a.m. Please call the Chairperson at 469-9858 if unable to attend.