Township postpones development hearings

Amazon, shopping center developer on agenda

Presentations on upcoming land development projects scheduled for public hearings have been tabled.

TOWAMENCIN >> Several presentations on upcoming land development projects scheduled for public hearings on Oct. 9 have been tabled for future meetings.

Supervisors Chairman Chuck Wilson announced delays to several scheduled discussions at the start of the board’s Oct. 9 meeting.

“The public hearing on the self-storage facility, as well as consideration of the ordinance, is not on the agenda this evening. That will be moved to Nov. 13,” Wilson said.

In August the board heard a concept for a code change to allow a storage facility in the township’s Ccommercial district, which would be located on Franklin Street just west of Bustard Road and south of Sumneytown Pike. There, a total of eight parcels have been purchased by a developer seeking to demolish several vacant houses and construct a three-story storage facility.

A public hearing followed by a vote on an ordinance for that code change were both scheduled for Oct. 9, but Wilson said they were delayed due to problems with the legal advertisement, and will instead be heard during the board’s Nov. 13 meeting.

A separate hearing had also been on the Oct. 9 agenda, for a request from global shipper Amazon to waive the formal land development process for modifications to the loading and parking areas of their new distribution facility on Gehman Road, which opened in July.

“That document is not yet ready for consideration. That will be held at a future meeting, most likely on Oct. 23,” Wilson said.

Last but not least, developer PSDC had also been scheduled to give an update on plans for revitalization of the Towamencin Village Shopping Center, located at Forty Foot and Allentown Roads. PSDC has already gotten a joint zoning overlay for that shopping center and the adjacent SKF Inc. office building they own, and permission from the township and North Penn School Board for a LERTA tax incentive to gradually phase in the taxes on a proposed community of age-restricted housing to be built between the two.

“The PSDC presentation planned for this evening was cancelled by PSDC, and they’ve asked to be on the agenda for Oct. 23,” Wilson said.

Staff are continuing to meet with PSDC to discuss outstanding issues that have been brought up in previous public meetings, he added in response to resident questions, but the next meeting is unlikely to bring any formal action or approval for that project.

“Oct. 23 is an update on the shopping center. That’s not a vote, it’s not an action on that, it’s just an update,” Wilson said.

Both the Oct. 23 and Nov. 13 supervisors meetings will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the township administration building, 1090 Troxel Road.

Budget meetings announced: Wilson also announced the dates and times of the next public workshops to discuss the township’s 2020 budget.

On Oct. 16 and Nov. 6, both at 7 p.m., staff and the board will continue discussing the planned budget in depth, and the board could vote to advertise the budget during its regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 26, then for final approval at regular meetings at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 or, if necessary, on Dec. 26.

Turkey Trot registration open: Early registration is now over, but normal registration remains open for the township’s annual Turkey Trot 5K race, which will be held this year on Nov. 16 at Fischer’s Park.

Those who take part in the certified, chip-timed walk or run will receive a long-sleeved event shirt, and overall male and female winners will receive turkeys, with the top three in each category also receiving medals.

Pets and strollers are welcome, and a children’s fun run for those age 10 and under will also be held. The award ceremony will be held immediately after the race, with light refreshments available for runners and spectators.

No walk-up registration will be available on that day, but online registration is available for $35 per person until Nov. 10 under the “Events” heading of the township website.

Veterans Park ceremony planned: Supervisor Rich Marino announced plans by the township’s Veterans Committee to host a tribute to fallen veterans.

Public Works staff are currently working to install a flagpole at the township’s Veterans Park, located at the Tennis-Lukens cemetery and open space on Allentown Road just west of Forty Foot Road.

On Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, the committee will hold a ceremony at the park, raising a flag on the flagpole at the park for the first time, Marino said. More details will be publicized as the event date nears.

Several other public works-related projects are also ongoing, Marino told the board. Staff have identified several trees in the area of Grist Mill Park that appear to have been impacted by the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive green insect that eats away trees from inside.

“We’re currently working to ID those trees, and get some money in next year’s budget to take those trees down preemptively, before they fall on their own,” Marino said.

Staff have also met recently with residents on Central Drive to discuss storm drainage issues in that neighborhood and are discussing possible capital purchases, such as a vacuum truck and/or a dump truck for the department, and road repairs that could be considered for funding in the 2020 budget.

Towamencin’s supervisors next meet at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 23 at the township municipal building, 1090 Troxel Road.