Dollar General variances approved by Amity Twp.

The Board of Supervisors announced Sept. 21 that the Zoning Board has approved two of three variances needed for a Dollar General to open along Route 422.

Those variances are to reduce the required parking spaces from 61 to 30, and to increase the impervious surface from 60 percent to 65 percent on the 1.1 acre lot at 2859 Benjamin Franklin Highway (Route 422).

Both township boards denied Dollar General’s request for a sign variance for a 20-foot-high pole sign.

Township ordinance requires a monument sign of no more than 15 feet high and 160 total square feet.

In other business, the supervisors unanimously approved a 180-day time extension to April 19, 2017, for approval of the Barry Shirey Turkey Farm land development plan.

Supervisor Richard L. Gokey was absent from the meeting.

Besides the two, 700-foot-by63-foot wood-frame, metal roof and siding, dirt f loor turkey houses, Shirey and his son, Michael will build a 40-foot-by-15foot-by- 6-foot high composter, with a concrete apron.

The land development plans will also include landscaping plans for high-intensity buffers on the 75.68 acre property at 6359 Boyertown Pike, (Route 562), as well as a storm management design.

Supervisors’ Chairwoman Kimberly J. McGrath said the township has not received notice of an appeal to the board’s Aug. 17 unanimous conditional approval

of the turkey farm operation.

Police Chief Andrew J. Kensey told the supervisors that Detective Jeffrey Smith will be sworn in as police sergeant at the board’s Oct. 5 meeting.

Smith was hired as an officer by the Amity Township Police Department on March 1, 2002.

Kensey said Smith satisfactorily completed all of the qualifying prerequisites, including the written and oral exams.

His promotion will include a 6-percent incremental salary increase.

Kensey announced that the police department has started a “Park and Walk Program” that will make police more accessible within the community.

“Officers are getting out of their cars and walking, especially at the Redner’s Warehouse Markets and Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores (both in the Douglassville Shopping Center, Routes 422 and 662),” said Kensey.

He said a police presence is currently needed in the area due to recent thefts.