Planning Commission
Summary
The Halifax Township Planning Commission met on August 7, 2017, with all five members present — Flo Mallonee, Fred Ford, Dwight Hoffman, Randy Paul, and Chad Lebo — along with Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky and Engineer Frank Gally. The two-hour session was dominated by land development reviews, with the commission advancing three commercial projects toward conditional approval and deferring a fourth.
Lake Tobias Wildlife Park received conditional approval after the commission unanimously waived a traffic study that Engineer Gally had recommended, accepting the applicant's argument that the project would not increase traffic demands. Three additional waivers were granted for preliminary plan procedures and easement requirements. Conditions included designating a proposed well as agricultural use (with public water standards required if later converted), providing sufficient detail for a financial security estimate, and submitting a full parking space inventory broken down by lot area.
A to Z Construction subdivision/land development was deferred due to unresolved issues, including a possible traffic study requirement. The applicant agreed to a timeline extension since the 90-day approval deadline falls before the October meeting.
County comment process concern: Anthony Trost noted that the Dauphin County Planning Commission sends review comments only to the Township, not to applicants or their representatives. The commission recommended that the Board of Supervisors send a letter to Tri County Planning Commission requesting that applicants receive county comments directly.
Mid Penn Bank land development received conditional approval after the commission waived preliminary plan and impervious coverage requirements. Approval was contingent on addressing engineer comments B(1)–(21) and C(1)–(5), with the sidewalk requirement under B(20) resolved through a plan note rather than construction.
Members 1st Credit Union land development was conditionally approved following discussion of entrance/exit design and stormwater management coordination with the adjacent new Sheetz development. The commission approved four plan waivers and waived an additional stormwater ordinance requirement. Conditional approval included a provision, drafted by Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky, indemnifying the Township against third-party claims related to unanticipated additional stormwater runoff.
Borough of Halifax submitted plans that were accepted for formal review.
Who was there
Flo Mallonee (Planning Commission Member) · Fred Ford (Planning Commission Member) · Dwight Hoffman (Planning Commission Member) · Randy Paul (Planning Commission Member) · Chad Lebo (Planning Commission Member) · Bruce Warshawsky (Solicitor) · Frank Gally (Engineer)
Meeting business
Approval of Minutes
Randy Paul motioned and Fred Ford seconded to accept the minutes from July 3, 2017. Motion carried 5-0.
Old Business
Engineer Frank Gally recommended a traffic study, but Lake Tobias argued there would be no additional traffic demands and requested a waiver. Fred Ford motioned and Randy Paul seconded to waive the traffic study recommendation (5-0). The commission then approved three additional waivers related to preliminary plan procedure, easements/right-of-ways, and lake maintenance easement due to Cross-Easement Agreements (5-0). Conditional approval was recommended subject to satisfying Engineer Gally's B, C, and D comments, including designating the proposed well as agricultural use with compliance required upon conversion to public use, providing detail for the financial security estimate, and showing total parking space counts broken down by parking area.
The Planning Commission deferred action due to unresolved issues including a possible need for a traffic study, with the applicant's representative agreeable to an extension since the 90-day approval deadline falls before the October 2017 meeting. Anthony Trost commented that Dauphin County Planning Commission does not share county comments with applicants, and the commission recommended the Supervisors authorize a letter to Tri County Planning Commission suggesting applicants receive county comments directly.
Randy Paul motioned and Fred Ford seconded to accept waiver requests on the preliminary plan and impervious coverage (5-0). The commission recommended conditional approval based on satisfactory addressing of comments B(1)-(21) and C(1)-(5), with B(20) to be addressed by a note on the plan for sidewalks (5-0).
Multiple discussions took place regarding entrance/exit access and stormwater management, with Members 1st working with the new Sheetz to avoid impacts. The commission approved waivers 1-4 (5-0) and waived C(36)/508(12)(c) (5-0). Fred Ford motioned and Chad Lebo seconded to recommend conditional approval based on compliance with Engineer Gally's memo comments, including a note drafted by Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky providing Township indemnification relative to third-party actions due to unanticipated additional runoff (5-0).
New Business
Randy Paul motioned and Fred Ford seconded to accept the Borough of Halifax plans for review. Motion carried 5-0.
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