Minutes of the Wilmington Township Planning Commission
Meeting of January 18, 2011
The meeting was convened at 8:04 p.m. at the Township Building.
Members present: William Allen; Frank Antoniazzi, chair; Frederick Neikirk, secretary; and Lynn Williams.
Members absent: John M. Byler.
Visitors: John Bailey, Beverly Martinko, Gary Martinko, Bryce Veon, Brenda Watson, and David Watson.
1. Secretary’s Report
a. The minutes of the meeting of December 21, 2010, had been previously distributed.
It was moved, seconded, and carried that they be approved as presented.
b. The Secretary reported that William Allen had been reappointed to the Planning Commission
by the Township Supervisors.
c. It was moved, seconded, and carried that Frank Antoniazzi be elected as Chairman for 2011
and that Frederick Neikirk be elected as Secretary for 2011.
2. There were no applications for action arising under either the Zoning Ordinance or the Subdivision Ordinance.
3. Without objection, the Commission took up the the proposed amendment to rezone some properties adjacent to Route 208 from R-1 Residential to Commercial (see 12/21/10, item 2). Most of the visitors were present to speak to that proposal. The Supervisors had scheduled a hearing on the proposed amendment early this evening. That hearing was cancelled because it had not been properly advertised. However, Rev. Bailey, the Pastor of New Life Baptist Church, and the Martinkos expressed their opposition to having their properties rezoned to commercial. In the course of the discussion a suggestion was made that perhaps the new zone could be a “residential-commercial transition zone,” thus eliminating the major commercial uses that were at the heart of much of the opposition. Members of the Commission discussed this option and received input from some of those present.
It was moved, seconded, and carried to recommend to the Supervisors that they not proceed with the proposed amendment as presented to them by the Planning Commission in December.
It was moved, seconded, and carried to ask the Secretary, in consultation with the Township Solicitor, to draft an amendment to create a “R-3 Residential-Commercial Transition District” for the area previously considered for rezoning to Commercial with the following definition of the new zone: “Residential-Commercial Transition Districts are intended for medium to low density single-family residential uses, and may include multi-family dwellings and commercial uses consistent with the residential character of the district.” This district would have the following permitted uses: single family detached dwellings, accessory buildings, essential services, and municipal buildings; and the following conditional uses: churches, libraries, professional offices, banks, dental labs, music and art studios, and two or multi-family housing. The limitations of sections 301-308 would be largely maintained with the following exceptions: a section will be added requiring buffer yards where properties with commercial uses adjoin properties containing residences; and buildings used for commercial purposes in such a district will be limited to 10,000 square feet. It was agreed by common consent that the Secretary will include any other necessary conforming changes and will send the draft to the County Planning Commission for their comments. We will consider the draft for final action at our February meeting if the County’s comments are received in time.
4. The Watsons were present because they are looking at buying property in a district zoned Agriculture. They wish to store and service school buses on the site. They had discussed this with the Secretary of the Planning Commission. He told them that, in his opinion, this would not constitute either a permitted or conditional use in an Agricultural District. Thus, for this to be allowed either the property (and likely surrounding properties) would need to be rezoned to either Commercial or Industrial, or the use would need to be added for Agricultural Districts.
It was moved, seconded, and carried to ask the Secretary, in consultation with the Township Solicitor, to draft an amendment to establish a new definition “School Bus Parking and Maintenance Facility: A facility, which may or may not include buildings, where school buses are stored and maintained;” to add this use as a conditional use in Agricultural and Industrial Districts; and to establish the following regulations: the property must abut either PA Route 18 or 208; screening will be required; the total size of all buildings will be limited to 5000 square feet; the setback for buildings and parking areas will be 50 feet in front and 20 feet on the other three sides; buses cannot idle overnight; and all fueling and petrochemical facilities must conform to applicable federal and state regulations. It was agreed by common consent that the Secretary will include any other necessary conforming changes and will send the draft to the County Planning Commission for their comments. We will consider the draft for final action at our February meeting if the County’s comments are received in time.
There being no further business that could be accomplished at this meeting, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
Frederick R. Neikirk
Secretary