MINUTES
PUBLIC HEARING - PROPOSED SUBDIVISION & LAND DEVELOPMENT
ORDINANCE
JUNE 29, 1998
PLACE OF MEETING: Ludwigs Corner Fire Company
TIME OF MEETING: 7:00 p.m.
PURPOSE OF MEETING: To receive public comment on the proposed
Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance as advertised in the Daily
Local News on June 16 and 22, 1998. Also, if time allows, to continue
the public hearing held on June 15, 1998 on the proposed Zoning
Ordinance.
The meeting was called to order at 7:18 p.m. by Chairman Kenneth Miller; also representing West Vincent Township were Supervisors Zoe Perkins and Karl Brachwitz; Township Manager Allen Heist; Planning Solicitor Fronefield Crawford; Township Engineer Craig Kologie; Traffic Consultant Susan Walters; Land Planner Randall Arendt; Planning Commission members James Wendelgass, Joan Michaelson, Wheeler Aman, Kate Damsgaard, Vincent Kling; Environmental Advisory Council members Pam Brown, Virginia Wright, Craig Hannafin.
Mr. Miller turned the meeting over to Manager Heist, who explained that the reason for holding hearings for both ordinances at once was that there are now an increased amount of cross references between the two documents. The two major changes included are: 1) the 5-Step Design Process for the preparation and processing of subdivision plans and 2) Article VII-Resource Conservation and Greenway Delineation Standards – for open space created by subdivisions. The updates comply with the Municipalities Planning Code, make corrections, expand the stormwater management guidelines, expand historic features and trails preservation. While the Subdivision Ordinance is not as long as the Zoning Ordinance, it is more technical. Manager Heist then opened the meeting for comments and questions. Mrs. Perkins said that she had prepared ten pages of review and comment which will be looked at with other reviews. She wondered if it would be possible to make the submission of a subdivision sketch plan mandatory and not optional, so that there would be no time clock in operation during review. It was the general consensus of Manager Heist, Solicitor Crawford, and Planner Randall Arendt that this was not possible but that the proposed 5-Step Design Process would, when used property, eliminate mandating of a sketch plan. Mr. Arendt showed the audience how this would work, using overlays. The possibility of adjusting or revising the fee schedule to get better design was considered. Morrison Huston noted that at a recent 2020 meeting he was made aware of what Pennsbury Township is doing along these lines and suggested that contact be made with them for more information. It was also suggested that before a plan is submitted for preliminary review it be presented to the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, and EAC first, then have more extensive engineering done for preliminary submission.
Charles Guttenplan made a presentation on behalf of landowner Patrick McCabe, who has a 14.5-acre lot southeast of Ludwigs Corner. Mr. McCabe purchased this land as a retirement investment. In 1989, Mr. McCabe made application for a change of zoning classification from MHP (Mobile Home Park) to PC (Planned Commercial) or MHP with PC overlay, which was denied by the Board with the promise that consideration would be given during the update of the ordinance. In 1996 Mr. McCabe became concerned about the impact of a Rt. 100 bypass which was being considered. A request was made for the Board to reconsider the proposed zoning in the Ludwigs Corner area to include commercial activity on the east side of the proposed bypass and/or extend the PC district to the south side of Rt. 401.
No further questions or comments were received.
The meeting was then opened for more comments and/or questions regarding the proposed Zoning Ordinance, which are summarized as follows:
There will be a joint worksession of the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, and Environmental Advisory Council on Monday, July 20 at 7:30 at the Township building to consider comments and proposed changes. At this point, public comment is over and there will be no audience participation at this meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.