ATTENDING: Chairperson Pam Brown, Members Jan Beale, Mike Burnley, Craig Hannafin and Ginny Wright; Township Manager Allen Heist; Board liaison Zoe Perkins; Planning Commission liaison Jim Wendelgass; and Board Member Karl Brachwitz.

The Chairperson called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m. Minutes from the October 5, 1998 meeting were approved.

ADMINISTRATIVE:

The joint work sessions to review the West Vincent Township Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance have been completed. A public hearing will be held late November to mid December to receive comments on the final draft ordinances.

Township resident, Jane Gaffer was present to discuss her concerns and frustrations with the loss of "producing" farmland and increased traffic congestion in the Township resulting in the ruination of the quality of life and deterioration of the infrastructure for present day and future generations of West Vincent Township residents. A lengthy, but productive, discussion resulted in the following avenues to preserve open space and the rural amenities of the Township:

• Support Regional Zoning
• West Vincent Land Trust Inc., an organization which will carry out the conservation and preservation activities and policies of the Township such as: monitoring easements, education resource, accepting trails and land, land preservation, and compiling a list of buyers/sellers of development rights.
• Financial Donations to the Land Trust
• Landowners Co-op
• Referendum for the ballot for an Open Space Tax
• Floating a Bond for Open Space
• Publicity - local newspapers

EAC membership terms expire December 31, 1998 for Chairperson Pam Brown and Jim Wendelgass. In light of the proposed Hankin and Ewing development plans, members unanimously agreed their participation is vital to the EAC; both Pam and Jim expressed a willingness to serve another term.

REPORTS:

Township Park Phase I, grading and seeding of the soccer field and baseball field (excluding fencing, backstop and benches) will be completed in November; Phase II, parking lot, access road, paved play area, trails, fencing, backstop and benches is scheduled to be completed in the Spring.

SUBDIVISIONS:

The EAC discussed comparisons between The Hankin Group by-right plan, alternate plan, and the permitted use for the property under the draft zoning ordinance in order to formulate an initial recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. The comments and concerns included the following:

• By-Right Plan
  • Least overall impact on the Township
  • Fewer residential units than alternate and draft ordinance
  • Recommends the applicant remove the houses on the east side of Westover Lane
  • Concern regarding the traffic flow onto Westover Lane
  • LI District - traffic will be limited to weekdays, during work hours and will not have the impact on the interior roads as commercial use will
  • Recommends the applicant provide the right-of-way for the Route 100 Bypass
• Alternate Plan
  • Oppose the commercial development, i.e. supermarket
  • Too dense
  • Oppose curbs and parking along Westover Lane; Westover Lane is noted in the Comprehensive Plan as a scenic roadway and scenic vista
  • Lighting issues
• Permitted Use under the Draft Zoning Ordinance
  • Concern regarding the impact on the infrastructure of the Township.
• Water Issues - Public water with a good recharge system and stormwater management is recommended.

A unanimous motion was made by Mike Burnley, seconded by Ginny Wright, to recommend the Board of Supervisors turn down The Hankin Group alternate plan submitted in conjunction with a conditional use and proposed zoning ordinance amendment that would create a Unified Development Area Overlay District. The EAC recommends the Board approve a plan - either the by-right preliminary plan or any future plan - which is consistent with the zoning ordinance. In addition, it is recommended the entire area on the east side of Westover Lane be preserved, the area designated as open space be usable open space for the residents of the development, the existing trails be preserved, the applicant provide the right-of-way for the Route 100 Bypass and the property be serviced by public water with a good recharge system and stormwater management.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:05 a.m. The next meeting will be held Monday, December 7, 1998 at 9:30 a.m. Please call the Chairperson at 469-9858 if unable to attend.