2008 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION
February 17, 2009
As mandated by section 207 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, the Wilmington Township (Lawrence County) Planning Commission makes the following report to the Board of Supervisors with regard to the Planning Commission's activities for 2008.
The Planning Commission met twelve (12) times during 2008. All were regular monthly meetings.
The Commission approved seven (7) minor subdivisions or lot line adjustment subdivisions during the course of the year. None of those applications required major revisions by the applicant. However, in virtually every case the applicants requested, and were granted, waivers with regard to technical requirements of the Subdivision Ordinance that did not seem relevant to the submission in question. All applications were approved at the first meeting after the submission of a completed application that met the requirements of the Township SALDO.
We recommended one change in the zoning map to the Supervisors, that being to rezone a parcel off Route 208 from Commercial to Industrial.
At eight (8) of our meetings Mr. Wendell (Butch) Wilson, or his representative, was present as part of his effort to establish a "milk transfer station" on the aforementioned property that was rezoned. At several of those meetings he was seeking the advice of the Commission. He did submit materials in an effort to establish an "industrial complex" on the property since he intends to have several different uses there. The preliminary plan for the land development was reviewed and approved by the Commission. He presented a plan for final approval. However, Mr. Wilson has not been able to get permission to tap into the sewer system of New Wilmington Borough. As such, the Commission cannot approve his final plan. At Mr. Wilson's request the Commission agreed to postpone final action on the request for up to six months (starting from our October meeting).
The Commission also heard from four (4) different individuals who wanted advice from the Commission on various matters regarding zoning, and from two (2) sets of individuals who wanted preliminary advice with regard to subdivisions they were contemplating.
The bulk of our activity during the year was spent on the effort to design an ordinance that would better meet the needs of Amish and other farmers who would like to operate small businesses on their farms. At every meeting from March through December visitors were present who desired to speak on this issue. The Commission first developed a proposed ordinance to create "Traditional Agricultural Overlay Districts" that we hoped would meet the needs and serve to better protect agricultural areas. The public reaction to this proposal was mixed. As a result the Commission did not proceed with this proposal. Over the last two meetings of the year the Commission began to develop a proposal to establish a new use, to be designated "mixed agricultural use," that we hope will meet many of the needs of area farmers. We intend to present a formal proposal to the Supervisors early in 2009.
In addition to the matters noted above, the Secretary reported that he received a number of calls over the course of the year from people seeking advice with regard to matters touching either the Zoning or Subdivision Ordinances. The Secretary sought to acquaint the callers with the requirements of the relevant ordinance(s), and to inform the callers of their options. He sought also to make clear that his comments constituted informal advice and were in no way binding on the Commission nor reliable as legal opinions.
In addition to the above, the Secretary had several meetings and telephone conversations with the Township Solicitor, the Township Engineer, and the Sewage Enforcement Officer relative to various applications, and with the Township Solicitor with regard to the contemplated changes in the Zoning Ordinance.
Further details on all activities summarized in this annual report may be found in the minutes of the Commission that have been submitted regularly to the Supervisors.
Adopted by the Wilmington Township Planning Commission at its meeting of February 17, 2009.
Frederick R. Neikirk
Secretary