[0:02] Good evening and welcome to this meeting of the Middletown Township Board of Supervisors, would everyone please stand and join us in the pledge of allegiance.

[0:34] Well, tonight we are thrilled and privileged to have the National Anthem performed by students from Carl Sandberg Medical Middle School.

[0:43] So if everyone would please join me in welcoming the Sandberg Sound Waves

[0:47] choir who will be singing the National Anthem, this group is the Advanced

[0:50] Choir at Carl Sandberg Middle School and consists of fifth through eighth grade

[0:54] students.

[0:55] Their choir has already made waves performing at the Philadelphia Wings Lacrosse

[0:59] Trenton Thunder and was the winner of the recent B-101 Christmas

[1:02] Choir Competition.

[1:04] Please welcome Carl Sandberg's Occupella Group, the Sound Waves Choir.

[4:21] I'm a fantastic.

[4:22] Thank you very much.

[6:14] We're good Paul,

[6:18] actually next on the agenda, Mr. Corporal, would you please call roll?

[6:21] Yes, I will. Mr. Keseck?

[6:24] Ms. Hanna, here, Ms. Cain.

[6:27] Mr. House?

[6:28] Here.

[6:29] Also, when attendance is a township manager, Ms. Tilly Cools, a township assistant township manager, Mr.

[6:34] Valla, township solicitor, Mr. Esposito, township engineer, Mr. Kessler.

[6:39] Chief of Police, Joseph Bordenrelli, director of building in zoning, zoning,

[6:44] in NS, Director of Parks and Rec, Paul Capara, Director of Finance, Laura Hucklebridge, Director

[6:50] of Public Works, Eric Gardeminer.

[6:53] Thank you, Ms. Corporal. Our next Board of Supervisors meeting will be Monday, May 12th,

[6:58] 2025 at 7 o'clock. Well, this is a big night here because we have some more recognitions.

[7:04] Next on the agenda, we have our recognition of two local youth basketball teams.

[7:14] The

[7:14] the Langhorn Athletic Association for the recent success at the Pennsylvania State Basketball

[7:19] Championships held on March 14th to 16th in state college and these are the Langhorn

[7:41] So first we would like to acknowledge the 4th grade Lady Rebels, and they are coached by Coach Bill Shirley.

[7:56] The Lady Rebels had an impressive run of four wins and one lost in an earned a third place finish in the top division.

[8:03] And next, wanting you guys to come up to, we'd like to recognize the eighth grade spiders, and they are coached by Jason Trespleachius.

[8:19] The spiders actually won all four of their games culminating in an overtime victory in the championship game to earn a first place finish in the top division.

[8:27] Congratulations girls,

[8:36] and if you guys hang out for one second, we have certificates for both of them you can take a picture with the board.

[10:38] Testing 1, 2, 3 testing,

[10:50] testing 1, 2, 3 testing.

[10:52] All

[11:03] right, more recognitions, this is really an impressive night.

[11:05] Next on the agenda, we have recognition of Natalie DeCrossa,

[11:09] Girl Scouts Award, Gold Award, Troop number 21603.

[11:16] Natalie, the Girl Scouts Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting.

[11:22] The Girl Scouts Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting.

[11:28] Gold Award, Girl Scouts have shown remarkable dedication to improving their communities and the world.

[11:33] by leading a team to affect measurable, lasting change, as they take action to transform their

[11:38] world.

[11:39] They gain tangible, real world skills and prove that they are leaders that campuses and communities

[11:44] need.

[11:46] Natalie DeCrosste created a YouTube video on the benefits of rescuing cats and kittens

[11:50] rather than buying them.

[11:51] She also made 75 starter kits filled with items needed when adopting a kitten or cat.

[11:56] These kits were given to anyone who adopted their pet from a local cat and rescue where Mr.

[12:01] across the volunteers weekly.

[12:03] Let's have a round of applause for Natalie DeCop.

[13:05] OK, next on the agenda, we have a local government month

[13:09] proclamation, and it reads.

[13:12] Whereas local governments throughout the Commonwealth

[13:13] provide valuable services to the citizens of the communities

[13:16] they serve, and whereas in recognition of the work

[13:18] performed by local governments, the Pennsylvania General

[13:20] Assembly designated the week of April 6th to April 12th.

[13:23] As local government, we can Pennsylvania.

[13:26] Whereas local government is often referred to

[13:27] as the level of government that is closest to the people,

[13:29] providing importance to this in services such as law enforcement, public health, and safety,

[13:34] recreational opportunities and public works, and we're as many individuals, including employees

[13:38] of the township and numerous volunteers, participating in providing local government services

[13:42] to the residents and businesses in the middle town township, and now, therefore, the

[13:45] middle town township where the Supervisors proclaimed that April 2025 is hereby designated

[13:50] as local government month in the middle town township, and be, therefore, resolved that the

[13:54] middle town township where the Supervisors will continue to work to promote civic education

[13:57] and engagement in an effort to educate citizens about their local government, strengthen the

[14:01] sense of community, and engage the next generation of local government employees and volunteers.

[14:07] And following up on that, we have a proclamation, recognizing autism awareness months.

[14:13] Minnesota.

[14:15] Thank you.

[14:16] Whereas autism is a complex developmental condition that affects communication, behavior, and

[14:20] social interaction impacting individuals and families and diverse ways.

[14:25] And whereas early diagnosis, intervention, and access to support services can significantly significantly improve the quality of life for individuals on the autism spectrum and powering them to reach their full potential.

[14:39] And whereas it is essential to promote acceptance, inclusion, and understanding to foster a society where individuals with autism can thrive in their communities, schools and workplaces.

[14:51] And whereas Autism Awareness Month serves as an opportunity to educate the public,

[14:57] support research efforts and advocate.

[15:00] Advocate for policies that enhance the well-being and rights of individuals with autism, and

[15:05] whereas communities, organizations and individuals are encouraged to participate in activities

[15:11] that raise awareness and show solidarity with the autism community. Fostering a more inclusive

[15:17] and supportive world for all, and now be there for resolved that the Middletown Township

[15:22] Board of Supervisors proclaims April as autism awareness month.

[15:28] Thank you, Ms. Hannah.

[15:31] Next on the agenda, we have an Earth Day Arbor Day Proclamation in the Strauss.

[15:37] Thank you.

[15:37] A Proclamation recognizing Earth Day and Arbor Day in Middletown Township,

[15:41] whereas Earth Day celebrated annually on April 22nd,

[15:44] and Arbor Day observed on the last Friday of April's

[15:46] service reminders of our responsibility to protect and preserve our natural

[15:49] environment for current future generations.

[15:51] And, whereas trees play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance by improving

[15:55] air quality, conserving water, reducing soil erosion, providing habitat for wildlife and

[15:59] about inclimit change through carbon sequitration, and whereas communities, organizations, and

[16:04] individuals are encouraged to engage in activities such as tree planting, waste reduction,

[16:07] water conservation, and environmental education to promote sustainability and ecological stewardship.

[16:13] And we're after this imperative that we foster an awareness of the interconnectedness

[16:17] between humanity and the natural world and inspiring action toward a healthier planet.

[16:21] Now, be it therefore resolved that the Middleton Board Township Board of Supervisors here by

[16:25] April 22nd, 2025, as Earth Day and Arbor Day in Militant Township, I urge all citizens to participate in activities that support environmental sustainability, plant trees, and make conscientious choices to protect and preserve our planet for generations to come.

[16:39] And we really live this in Militant Town as evidenced by our next announcement.

[16:45] I'll write in the heels of that.

[16:46] I am pleased to announce that middle-time will be celebrating Earth Day on Saturday April 26, 2025.

[16:52] And that will be from 11am to 2pm at Core Creek Park.

[16:55] So everyone, please come out and join us for Earth Day Saturday April 26 from 11 to 2 Core Creek Park.

[17:02] All right, and that brings us to the consent agenda items and they are as follows.

[17:06] Item A consideration of authorizing payment of the April 12, 2025 bills,

[17:09] less than the amount of 1,249,799 dollars and 24 cents.

[17:14] Be consideration of approving the March 10, 2025 minutes

[17:17] of the public meeting of the Middletan Tangent Board of Supervisors.

[17:19] Seek consideration of approving resolution number 25-99R,

[17:23] applying to the Department of Community and Economic Development,

[17:25] PA, Small Water, and Silver Grant,

[17:28] and item de-consideration of approval of a stipulation

[17:29] and settlement of tax assessment appeal of mixed-stone COCRAVCO Inc.

[17:34] for tax parcel number 22-057-043.

[17:38] Is there a motion?

[17:40] I move to approve the consent agenda as red.

[17:43] Thank you, Mr. House.

[17:44] A second.

[17:46] Thank you, Mr. Corporal.

[17:47] There's been a motion.

[17:47] A second.

[17:49] Are there any board questions?

[17:51] Any questions in the public?

[17:53] Seeing none others in favor say aye?

[17:56] Opposed.

[17:57] carries 5-0.

[17:59] Next on the agenda.

[18:00] Consideration of preliminary and final land development approval.

[18:02] Pereira, 2351 Big Oak Road, proposed contracting office with Accessory Warehouse and outside

[18:07] storage area in the M1 Light Manufacturing Zoning District, SLSLD, number 24-2, yes, Mr. Murphy.

[18:14] Good evening.

[18:15] Thank you.

[18:17] Here tonight on behalf of the Carl Pereira and Pereira properties, as I think most of you know,

[18:24] Carl and his family have resided in middle town for almost 40 years, and their business

[18:30] Bigger Road has been there for 35 years.

[18:33] What's being proposed tonight is to expand the business by building almost a mere image

[18:39] of a slightly bigger of their existing facility across Bigger Road, from their current

[18:44] location.

[18:47] That's pretty much it is.

[18:49] Mr. Murphy, your very tall, can you pull that up towards your little, there we go.

[18:55] Shadow come out if we need you.

[18:56] have forgotten feedback.

[19:12] The only problem is that they won't hear you at home. What a shame.

[19:20] Okay. So, what's proposed is a land development plan for the development of a property

[19:25] across the street, which per areas have owned for some time. The plan was first reviewed

[19:31] last fall by your planning commission received the favorable recommendation. We've been

[19:36] to the Senate hearing board and obtain approval for some relatively minor types of relief.

[19:43] What's in front of you tonight is, as you indicated, a preliminary final land development

[19:47] plan for the opportunity for the next generation of the prayer is to construct a new facility

[19:54] across the street.

[19:56] The intention is not, I repeat, not to sell the existing facility where they are presently

[20:02] operating.

[20:03] They want to continue to be perhaps one of the few of all the good neighbors on Big O'C Road

[20:10] Because if you get out of Big O'C Road, this property is exemplary and we could think of other

[20:15] Descriptions for some of the other neighbors including the one right next door and there was a fair amount of commentary before about

[20:23] Whether or not

[20:25] Prayer is whatever considered selling to the next door neighbor who by the way has not been a particularly

[20:32] respectful neighbor to prayer it as well. So we have a lot of issues. We're not

[20:37] selling. We certainly would not sell to the neighbor, but we deal with the

[20:41] environmental issues much like the township does with this neighbor. And it is a

[20:47] constant source of concern for us as well. So having said that, the review

[20:53] letters are all well-compliant issues. We don't with all those. In terms of

[20:57] the seedling, what we're looking for is a preliminary final recommendation of

[21:01] approval so we can move forward with the next step.

[21:05] We can talk about individual comments if you like the plan or the elevation of the plans

[21:10] on the screen.

[21:12] But again, we are good neighbors, we will always be good neighbors, and we want to stay in

[21:17] middle town, which I think is a feel good story for all of us.

[21:21] So just for orientation purposes, the parcel that Perair is looking to build on is the

[21:27] of Big Oak Road that a bunch of the train tracks, correct?

[21:33] And now, I'll side if you will.

[21:34] If you view their property on the north side, it is on the south side.

[21:38] And currently, this is essentially directly across the street from the existing property.

[21:42] It is.

[21:44] And so the intention is to keep the existing property.

[21:48] What any thoughts on the future use of that property?

[21:50] It'll be a back office continued to be part of the prayer operation for now.

[21:55] that the intention is, this is not a short-term project that's going to take a number of years to complete the transition from one side of the street to the other, so hopefully they'll continue to own and maintain that going forward.

[22:09] Okay. Any questions from any board members for Mr. Murphy?

[22:13] I have a question about the tree replacement. Can you explain that process for me?

[22:17] Yep, just in genoty from dynamic is the project engineer.

[22:21] Sure, good evening.

[22:22] So we do have a zoning variance for true replacement.

[22:26] Basin is quite your ordinance.

[22:28] It's basically the amount of trees that get taken.

[22:30] So, in the existing trees that are surrounding the site, which we are not going to be disturbing, we can only plan a certain

[22:34] nine trees on that property. So, the zoning variants and all subsequent conversations with the township and township engineer would be to replace those trees.

[22:43] Elsewhere in the township, or there'd be a fee in lieu of contribution to the township as well.

[22:50] I don't know if that's Isaac or if it's Mr. Cooper. Could you explain how we decide where that's going to get, where the trees are going to go after that process?

[23:01] We'll try to maximize the number of on-site plannings possible.

[23:05] Again, Isaac will confirm that.

[23:07] After that, it would be up to the staff and Isaac.

[23:10] If there's opportunities for us to plan elsewhere, or a theme look.

[23:15] That's not our call that's the Township's staff and principally icing.

[23:19] Correct.

[23:19] Yeah, that would be really determined in the number of replacement trees on the site.

[23:24] that can be accommodated, anything outside of the property would coordinate with the

[23:28] township staff and identify any placements of those.

[23:32] And that variance was already granted by the zoning here in Boyd.

[23:35] Correct.

[23:36] That's correct.

[23:37] Thank you.

[23:38] What about, I know there are, this is a currently, this is a vacant property

[23:42] correct, and there are wetlands, and I know one of the issues that was before the zoning

[23:46] here in Boyd was disturbance of wetlands, so can you just talk about what the impact

[23:50] and fire mentally will be?

[23:51] Sure.

[23:52] So we are not going to be disturbing wetlands so that the purpose and I think some of the

[23:56] comments in the letter were mostly pertain there being a fence line that was going through

[24:01] the wetlands at one point. So in talking eyes that can the township staff, we are not going

[24:05] to have that fence going through the wetlands anymore. But the extent of the improvements which

[24:08] you see on the screen, the building, the laid-on yard, the parking lot, those are actually

[24:13] outside of the delineated wetlands on the property.

[24:17] Okay, that's great.

[24:18] We'll go ahead.

[24:23] I actually had a question about one of the you had noted in the review layers that around the parking, the amount of spaces.

[24:33] Could you explain why we're putting it looks like 67 spots when over only 33 are applicable to the development?

[24:43] Sure.

[24:43] So that's based on operations.

[24:45] So they know the amount of staff that they have,

[24:47] the people that come in and actually take vehicles out

[24:49] for their own vehicles out onto the road.

[24:52] So they do need 67 spots for their operation.

[24:55] They want to make sure all vehicles are parked

[24:56] on the property and not on the street,

[24:58] not have any issues with that,

[25:00] with either staff turnover or daily staff.

[25:03] So that's because of they know they're used.

[25:06] Right, and on the property, those wetlands and the wooded area

[25:11] Are they going to be kind of dated as open space or potentially developed?

[25:16] No.

[25:17] So they will never be developed.

[25:19] So they are protected wetlands.

[25:20] Okay.

[25:20] And a comment in the letter and something we're going to comply with is that the wetlands will

[25:23] be within a conservation easement.

[25:25] So they will be the woodlands that you see on the plan and the associated wetlands within

[25:29] those woodlands will be preserved forever.

[25:33] Okay.

[25:33] Just if you can.

[25:34] It's not shown very well in this plan with the area but where those wetlands are on the

[25:38] property.

[25:39] Sure.

[25:39] I don't know, there's one other plan.

[25:44] So the wetlands on the plan, as you see, all the woodlands along the back of the property

[25:49] are going to stay, but the woodland line follows around the perimeter of the site all the way

[25:53] up to the road.

[25:54] So this area basically can find with a railroad tracks is a wetland, but everything without

[26:00] outside of that area where we are disturbing and showing improvements is not a wetland.

[26:06] So the conservation easement will follow the perimeter of our site, essentially, what

[26:16] in the view you had before this prior slide, you're on the train track side of Big Oak Road.

[26:24] So if I'm a resident on Apple Valley, what should I expect in terms of increased noise,

[26:30] truck traffic, anything like that?

[26:33] So you said correctly. So when we laid out this site, we put the building on the street.

[26:37] And we're going to have the landscaping along the front of the street.

[26:39] They'll machine the use behind. So a lot of the equipment storage and laid down your

[26:43] is going to be behind the building. But as far as the residents, the actual use is moving further away

[26:49] from the residents. It's going to be in confined. It's on the south side of Big Oak Road,

[26:53] and it's being confined by the railroad tracks. So the actual use that's operating

[26:57] on the north side is actually going to be relocated to the south side.

[27:02] So they'll actually see more of an office feel on their side and more of me and you factoring

[27:07] heavy side will be closer to the train tracks.

[27:09] And our trucks do not use Woodburn Road, trucks go on big oak and get to the highway as soon as possible.

[27:15] So there is no benefit or interest or advantage for us to use Woodburn Road.

[27:20] Understood, thank you.

[27:21] Would this be a 24-7 operation or what would be the hours of operation?

[27:27] The hours, I think, are identical to what they are now, which are six to six.

[27:37] Any other questions from any board members?

[27:42] If not, I can consider a motion.

[27:43] I make a motion to grant preliminary and final land development plan approval per

[27:49] per error properties L.P. proposed warehouse and contracting office big oak road

[27:52] Langhorn PA 19047 SLD24-2 with the following conditions.

[27:58] Applicants shall comply and full with all requirements at the Middletown Township

[28:01] Subdivision and land development ordinance in the Middletown Township Zoning

[28:03] ordinance unless relief was granted by the body having jurisdiction.

[28:07] Two, any remaining review comments shall be addressed in full, three partial

[28:10] waiver from Section 44510B of the subdivision and land development ordinance to provide

[28:15] curbing and cartway widening along Big Oak Road.

[28:19] Partial waiver is based on the applicant providing a financial contribution to the estimated

[28:22] cost of the improvements along the frontage of 2350 Big Oak Road, estimated cost will be determined

[28:27] by the Township Engineer and Township Traffic and Transportation Engineer.

[28:31] For applicant will pay a fee in lieu for the installation of sidewalk along 2350, the

[28:36] Code, cost estimate for the installation will be determined by the Township Engineer.

[28:40] Applicant will coordinate with the Township Engineer to determine the number of replacement

[28:44] trees that can be accommodated on site.

[28:46] This is covered in the testimony evidence contained in the June 14th, 2023 zoning hearing

[28:50] board decision in order.

[28:51] Additionally, applicant will provide off-site replacement trees at locations determined by

[28:55] the Township or in the event of the Township determines there are no appropriate locations

[28:58] for the replacement trees.

[29:00] The applicant will provide a fee in the determined by the Township as required under

[29:03] of the June 14, 2023 zoning hearing

[29:06] for decision and order.

[29:08] I'm happy to accept all those conditions.

[29:10] Okay, thank you.

[29:10] Thank you, Mr. Ms. Strauss, thank you, Mr. Murphy,

[29:12] is there a second?

[29:13] A second?

[29:13] It's been a mostly in a second,

[29:14] any more questions at this time.

[29:16] Any questions from the public?

[29:19] Yes?

[29:25] Hi, my name is Lauren Leroy.

[29:26] I live at 18, Michael Pair Road in Levittown.

[29:29] I am Chair of Milltown's Environmental Advisory Council.

[29:32] We wrote a letter in regards to this property,

[29:34] but we were powerless to say what we wanted to say because they went to the zoning hearing board

[29:40] and got variances for the tree removal. I appreciate that you guys are going to enforce that they

[29:47] plant these trees somewhere else. But like according to what they're removing, they should be planting

[29:53] 400 trees, and the zoning board...

[30:00] This area, given the fact that there's a wetlands there, given the fact of flooding issues, and the fact

[30:07] that that's right next to a train that carries hazardous materials. I wish to caution you from

[30:13] approving these plans, because the zoning board did not sufficiently deal with the environmental

[30:19] regulations there, and it's a disaster waiting to happen. I don't think that whatever the engineer

[30:26] said was sufficient for replacing those trees is actually sufficient. And I think that if we build

[30:31] this there, the flooding that used to be a problem in big road, big road is going to get worse

[30:37] and given that train that passes through there, I think this is a no-brainer that we shouldn't

[30:43] approve these plans.

[30:47] Thank you.

[30:49] I can one of you clarify the comments around the amount of trees because it sounded like we were

[30:56] going to be consistent with what the ordinance shows.

[31:02] So I just want to make sure that that is true.

[31:06] It's consistent with the zoning board hearing from 2023, which is not consistent with the ordinance.

[31:11] They were granted a variance so they wouldn't have to comply with our ordinance as written.

[31:16] So what you're agreeing to as far as the zoning goes, it's been changed.

[31:21] You're not agreeing to the original ordinance when you say that meeting on July 23rd.

[31:27] to clarify the variance that was granted on June 14th, 2023.

[31:34] It's to limit the number of replacement trees required for planting to those which can be reasonably accommodated on the property whereas the planting of 411 replacement trees would otherwise be required so they did a get a reduction of the required number of trees with that variance and that's what was described by the applicant.

[31:53] So there's a there's a there's a they were granted a variance to reduce the amount that have to be

[31:57] Replanted on site because 400 or whatever the number was it's not practical

[32:02] But from what I understood that there will be trees planted elsewhere in the township is there a number as to how many trees will be planted elsewhere in the township

[32:11] That's what I just heard that we would work with the township to plant them elsewhere that if the property couldn't hold it

[32:17] because there's so many trees can take it down,

[32:19] but we will plant them elsewhere, or a fee in lieu.

[32:22] So I guess clarification on what that fee in lieu is.

[32:25] Yeah, but what I said 10 minutes ago is the relief we got,

[32:30] we're going to plan as many of those required trees

[32:32] as we can physically accommodate.

[32:34] So if you can play 400, you'll play 400.

[32:35] Yeah, whatever the number is, we will plant that number

[32:38] and Isaac will determine the difference if we can't accommodate

[32:41] them all on site, we'll either plant them all site or pay a fee in lieu.

[32:45] So it looks like 411 are what would be taken down.

[32:52] I don't have the zoning hearing board decision front of me.

[32:54] That would have been the required amount without the variance of the variance amount.

[33:01] Do you have that available the amount that was in the variance?

[33:04] Sure.

[33:05] I don't have that in front of me.

[33:16] The variance says to limit it to the number that can be reasonably accommodated on the property.

[33:24] The variance itself

[33:35] specifically says any 100 replaced in trees for every acre, so that's where that it wasn't just 100 trees total.

[33:49] But they're not moving when either they're moving forward.

[33:54] Yes.

[33:54] They are an amazing 400, which is about right in one.

[33:57] Subject to the relief of the zoning here and that's it.

[33:59] The zoning here, we're even relieved and said they didn't have to provide the effort.

[34:03] The variance is that they don't have to try to put four or eleven trees on that property.

[34:11] That's my understanding.

[34:13] Yes.

[34:13] I don't think the variance says that.

[34:20] I read it as whatever they can't reasonably get on the property, that difference is going

[34:26] to be planted elsewhere in the township.

[34:29] Is that correct?

[34:31] That's what the relief in the zoning

[34:33] herb or decision says, correct.

[34:35] Paragraph 4 says, the variance

[34:37] to provide less than the required number

[34:39] of replacement trees on the site, correct.

[34:43] So in the variance has already been granted

[34:45] by the other very important.

[34:47] So to some extent, this is, I guess, water under the branch.

[34:52] But I think what I do have a question about

[34:55] is the comment, Miss Loro made with regard to stormwater and potential flooding.

[35:00] So I don't know if you can speak to that or Mr. Castro, if you can speak to that.

[35:03] We can certainly speak to that, too, and if Johnson wants to give you a little preview

[35:07] of what the design of the stormwater system on the site is, henceforth, there is no stormwater

[35:12] today.

[35:13] So I think Johnson will confirm that what we're doing is going to dramatically improve it.

[35:17] Sure.

[35:18] So I'll start by saying we already, we have our NPS permit from PADP, which certifies that all

[35:22] improvements are going to be handled from both of rate, volume, and water quality perspective.

[35:27] So on the site, yes, we are taking down some trees and we are putting in a parking lot in

[35:30] the paved area, but there's going to be a really large infiltration basin located in the

[35:35] front of the site to control all stormwater runoff.

[35:38] I mean, not to give an education to you guys that already know it, but the way stormwater works

[35:43] is you have to control the rate of runoff all for your property to the rate of runoff

[35:47] today, or less than, and you're going to require a reduction in runoff.

[35:51] So, the infiltration basin that's being proposed will reduce the amount of runoff coming off

[35:55] of that property today.

[35:57] So, and that's already been designed in a review by your township engineer and approved

[36:01] by PADP as part of our NPDS permit.

[36:04] Thank you, Mr. Kesak, and you can confirm that.

[36:06] Yes, that's correct, and Mr. Murphy pointed out the current site has no management of storm

[36:12] water.

[36:13] Not to say that the wooded area, you know, manages some of that, but the actual storm

[36:19] management system would be able to, I would say, handle more of an influx of some kind as compared

[36:26] to the existing site that's there now.

[36:28] We do see the improvements for the overall site by having an actual system on the property.

[36:35] Thank you.

[36:36] Any other questions from the public?

[36:40] Yeah.

[36:42] Could I just request that the township review where they could put those 400 trees that won't fit on this property?

[36:49] It's my experience with the EAC and our tree-planting measures that we struggle to find places to put trees.

[36:55] So if the township doesn't have a place to put these 400 trees that won't fit on these property,

[36:59] this building should not go forward.

[37:01] And it should be predicated on you finding that space for those 400 trees.

[37:05] Otherwise, it's like wishful thinking.

[37:08] Please be good stewards of our land.

[37:10] Thank you.

[37:13] Any other questions from the public?

[37:16] I have a question, where has there been any idea or planning of where these trees might go?

[37:30] Has that been discussed or reviewed? Not with us. At least not yet. Mr. Capero, do you guys have spaces where you're planning on putting trees?

[37:40] Yeah, we have a plan that's part of the plan set that shows suggested locations for street trees and other type of low profile plannings around the buildings.

[37:50] It's up to the staff to determine what the count is and then how and where and the cost of doing so if we can't physically accommodate them.

[37:59] on site we're off site.

[38:01] I am.

[38:02] But I think the township has yet to come to us and say, if you can only do 50 and the extra

[38:08] have to go to the township park or some other location, that has not been kicked out.

[38:12] If I can interrupt.

[38:14] Just to satisfy your question, this happens all the time.

[38:19] It's very typical, the development gets approved with this type of situation, Isaac will

[38:25] work with our team at the Township Building to identify where the trees can be planted.

[38:31] It's a big town. We have plenty of room to plant those trees.

[38:34] I was just asking the egg clarification because I know they're trying to plant trees now and

[38:38] they've been trying to find spots. And I know that they have ideas of where they can go.

[38:43] I just wanted somebody to speak to that. I appreciate that. Thank you.

[38:49] Any other questions from the public?

[38:52] All right. So we have a motion and a second. I'm going to call for a vote. All those

[38:55] favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed. carries five zero. Thank you Mr. Murphy.

[39:01] Thanks.

[39:05] Next on the agenda, we have consideration of preliminary and final

[39:08] land development approval for five 80-middle town Boulevard TMP-22-057-056-22-057-057

[39:16] and 22-057-059 in the GB general business district SLSLD-25-2. Mr. Murphy, you

[39:24] Yep. Good evening again. This one is really straightforward. What is proposed is the drawing

[39:34] of a single line of subdivision. Today on the screen you'll see outlined in yellow a series

[39:43] of four existing buildings. Three look like they're on a single parcel and then the fourth

[39:49] one is to the West by itself.

[39:53] We are proposing to create that red line that would subdivide those three buildings from

[39:59] the fourth one and for more financing purposes to create a new lot for that existing building.

[40:07] Interestingly, your township ordinance has a specific provision that must have been contemplated

[40:14] perhaps when the ring road was built, that would specifically allow the establishment of this subdivision

[40:21] for this very purpose. So the review letters that I'm sure you've seen are as straightforward

[40:27] and clean as you can be. We have no issues with those. All we're seeking is approval of that

[40:33] minor subdivision to allow the creation of that line where the red line proposes to take that

[40:40] line into two, and that's it.

[40:43] I did just want to add just for clarification.

[40:46] This is just the minor subdivision.

[40:47] There's no land development associated with it, so I'll go to the agenda item, red, preliminary

[40:53] final land development.

[40:54] This is just the minor subdivision request.

[40:56] And I should have said an Isaac's right that no improvements are contemplated by this at all.

[41:01] And it came up in one of the review letters that Jim and Isaac and staff would need to review

[41:07] cross-easement and cross-access agreements that would need to be created to allow the same traffic pattern

[41:13] to exist after the subdivision has exist today.

[41:16] So that's all for me.

[41:19] Any questions from Mr. Murphy?

[41:24] All right.

[41:24] I'll make a motion to grant minor subdivision plan approval for 580 middle-town Boulevard Langhorn

[41:29] PA-10190 for step-in-nash-lastality number 25-2 with the following conditions.

[41:33] Applicant shock-compliant full-bathal requirements of the middle-town township subdivision

[41:36] at Land of Almanornants and the middle-town township zoning ordinance unless relief is

[41:39] by the body having jurisdiction and to any remaining review comments, so I'll be dressed

[41:43] in full for the second.

[41:47] Thank you, Ms. Corporal. There's been a motion in a second,

[41:48] any more questions? Any questions from the public? Seeing none of those in favor say aye.

[41:54] Sorry, aye.

[41:56] Opposed carries five.

[41:57] Thank you.

[41:58] Thanks Mr. Murphy.

[42:01] Next on the agenda consideration of a petition number half of Wood School's to

[42:04] reason Wood Services Inc. and Wood Services Foundation to create an overlay district for certain

[42:08] the middle town township would schools line on PA 19047.

[42:13] Yes.

[42:13] Hello, good evening.

[42:14] I'm shorter than everyone else.

[42:16] So I'll move it.

[42:17] Just Mr. Murphy.

[42:20] Hello, everyone.

[42:21] Good evening.

[42:21] My name is Dawn Diamond and I'm the CEO for Wood Services.

[42:25] Thank you for the opportunity to present tonight.

[42:28] This ordinance is very important to us.

[42:30] It's very important for our future.

[42:32] And we know that it's very important to many in our community.

[42:36] For us, this journey started about six years ago.

[42:39] We've been working very hard since then, and especially over the last several months to collaborate with others to bring to you an ordinance that we feel not only has key mission aligned elements, but also those that will benefit the entire community.

[42:56] I know that you know a lot about woods or you're familiar with woods, but we are a very different organization today than we were a year ago.

[43:05] Sorry, 10 years ago, together with our affiliate partners, we serve and support over 50,000 individuals in Southeast Pennsylvania and the entire state of New Jersey.

[43:20] Together with our affiliates, we provide supports and services that are primarily healthcare related and services for individuals with intellectual disabilities autism and traumatic brain injury.

[43:32] The hub of those services, especially our healthcare services, are located here in Langehorn on our campus.

[43:42] Most of the supports and services they receive through our healthcare arm operate

[43:46] out of a particular corridor on our property.

[43:50] We have a short video for you tonight that we want you to see.

[43:54] I think showing that video will help you have a better understanding of what we do on the property,

[44:01] where our organization is headed and why this ordinance is so important to us.

[44:06] I promise it's only two minutes.

[44:09] And afterwards, Michael and Eric will come to the podium.

[44:17] For more than a service has been a trailblazer,

[44:20] providing the best possible support and care

[44:23] to individuals, intellectual and developmental disabilities,

[44:27] autism and complex medical and behavioral challenges

[44:30] live up to their full potential.

[44:33] In true wood smashing, it's time to take it up to the next level.

[44:37] Wood's is proud to introduce the wood system of care.

[44:40] comprising of 21 affiliates and partner organizations,

[44:45] including wood services, wood system of care,

[44:48] now provides comprehensive, integrated health care

[44:51] to an even broader range of individuals, including those with mental health

[44:56] and substance abuse challenges.

[44:57] W.S.O.C offers more than...

[45:00] And two hundred programs to serve more than 52,000 individuals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

[45:07] What makes Wood System of Care so unique and impressive is that there has never before been a coordinated

[45:13] and seamless way to address all of a person's needs across their lifespan. WSOC offers this revolutionary

[45:21] approach that is based on the idea of integrated care. By working together across disciplines,

[45:26] providers can now address the social determinants of health, extremely important factors

[45:31] that have been ignored for too long. As a leading population health management organization,

[45:37] Wood's system of care, connects prevention, wellness, education, behavioral health,

[45:43] and social services with coordinated integrated health care delivery. Innovative services like

[45:49] the medical center at Wood's and Pendantal Medicine at Wood's offer an unprecedented level of

[45:54] access to high quality care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and

[46:00] complex challenges, while the Center for Behavioral Health at Woods adds much needed mental

[46:05] health care to anyone who needs it.

[46:07] This approach ensures that every individual receives the opportunities and supports they need

[46:13] to thrive, fostering self-determination, dignity, respect, and the joy of achievement across

[46:19] the entire lifespan.

[46:21] With over 800 combined years of experience, wood system of care brings a wealth of knowledge

[46:27] and a legacy of success, demonstrating an ability to adapt and thrive across generations.

[46:34] Wood's elevates outcomes and enhances the lives of every individual it serves.

[46:40] Join us in celebrating the wood system of care where we are dedicated to creating a brighter,

[46:46] more inclusive future for all.

[47:02] But allowing us to play that short video.

[47:04] I know many people were supervisors and members of the public

[47:07] or familiar with what wood is does.

[47:10] But I think that video speaks better than our team is going

[47:13] to be able to this evening just to provide a brief snippet

[47:16] at the outset as to why we care so much about this ordinance

[47:19] that's pending before you consideration.

[47:22] So we're here to discuss what we have labeled the CDT

[47:26] ordinance.

[47:28] And this is an overlay ordinance that would cover a portion

[47:31] of the campus, which was owns and operates.

[47:36] So this is a revision to the initial ordinance

[47:40] that was submitted to the Township for consideration

[47:42] that we initially presented to the Planning Commission

[47:45] over five months ago.

[47:47] Since then, this ordinance has been reduced

[47:50] to remove over 100 acres and a majority

[47:54] of the non-residential uses, which were initially proposed.

[48:00] Before we get into the what in the ordinance and I have very close with me from Gilmour

[48:05] and Associates, we're going to sort of walk through that together in a minute if we could.

[48:09] I want to go back in time a little bit and get to the why here.

[48:14] So I think as a threshold issue, I would like to submit to the supervisors that the existing zoning

[48:22] for the Woods campus really makes no sense given the historic use and the projected use in the future.

[48:28] The entirety of the Woods campus is zoned R1, presently.

[48:35] And what that means, since the R1 district is designed to promote single-family detached

[48:39] dwellings, is that anything that Woods does requires only relief in the township, a new

[48:46] building, a building addition, all of it is not permitted, all of it is a pre-existing, non-conforming

[48:53] use.

[48:53] And I think it's worthwhile to take a second if I could to try to address the question that

[49:00] we have heard through this process.

[49:03] And that is, why is that a problem?

[49:06] Why don't you come to the zone of hearing board every time you seek to do anything on

[49:10] this campus?

[49:12] And my short answer to that is that that is not good planning.

[49:18] Every single use in the township, it'd be at residential, commercial, industrial, has an underlying zoning district.

[49:27] And ideally, that zoning district bears some semblance of reality to what the ongoing use is on the parcels which are zoned in a particular manner.

[49:39] So, in our case, I think about two years ago, we looked at this and said, this zoning for what is,

[49:48] if not the largest, one of the largest private landowners in the township does not make sense.

[49:56] The entirety of the campus is non-conforming.

[49:59] So, what we'd like to do is propose an ordinance, some ordinance, two years ago, that fixes the situation both for woods,

[50:08] and for the township and perpetuity.

[50:11] And I think the initial analysis was, okay,

[50:14] middle town, just like any other municipality has a quite a list

[50:19] of permitted zoning districts.

[50:21] And maybe we could just do a map of amendment

[50:23] to modify this to a professional or general business

[50:27] or some other sort of zoning district.

[50:29] But the reality is, because of diverse subset of uses

[50:34] that was has, there is no singular zoning district

[50:38] in the township that makes sense.

[50:40] If we modify the zoning to professional for general business, we would run into the same

[50:45] issue that we have with the R1 district.

[50:50] So the natural answer to that, I would suggest, is an overlay.

[50:56] In the overlay that we have proposed, I think, recognizes and respects the multiple uses that

[51:03] currently exist on the site and the projected continuation of multiple uses into the future.

[51:10] And we have created, I think, in ordinance, that blends the combination of what is existing

[51:17] presently with what Woods looks to accomplish in the future.

[51:24] So we get into the ordinance in a second, I would state that any zoning ordinance, any

[51:30] overlay ordinance is probably not perfect, but big picture. This is a much better, much

[51:41] more appropriate solution for this campus. It allows woods to remain a thriving viable

[51:48] member in Middletown Township for decades to come, and it rectifies a long-standing zoning

[51:56] in the planning issue in a way that we think is satisfactory both to the Woods team and

[52:02] is protective to the township.

[52:04] And I think we're going to hopefully explain why we believe that in a second.

[52:09] So if I could bear with me for a moment, I'd like to take the supervisors through a couple

[52:19] actions in this ordinance, and then I'm going to have Mr.

[52:25] Place discuss what I'm sure may be some concern.

[52:30] Regarding, performance standards, as they're always a concern within the overlay ordinance.

[52:36] So I would like to state as a threshold issue that the entirety of the ordinance in terms of the uses that we're proposing are governed by conditional use.

[52:47] The exception to that, which I'd like to address at the outset, is the apartment use that we're proposing.

[52:56] Section 522052 in this ordinance allows for one apartment building in the entirety of the

[53:04] overlay district and we know where this apartment building would be located.

[53:12] First of all, it will be all attainable housing which we know is an important directive of

[53:17] the township.

[53:18] It's an important issue for Woods.

[53:20] Woods discussed at the Planning Commission

[53:22] that the 42 unit portion of phase one

[53:25] of the apartment building will have nine units

[53:29] that are specifically earmarked to individuals

[53:31] with intellectual disabilities.

[53:34] This has been relocated,

[53:37] and I don't know, Eric, if you can point out,

[53:39] maybe on the map, if you don't mind.

[53:42] In an area that I would suggest is internal, right there,

[53:47] to the Woods campus.

[53:49] That parcel is, I believe, 3.78 acres and the supervisors may recall or may not recall because we never came before you for consideration.

[53:59] There was a prior iteration of this proposed elsewhere on the campus in an area that is no longer covered by the overlay district.

[54:07] We had gone to the zoning hearing board, we did multiple nights of presentation, there was some concern, particularly given the height and the location, adjacent to Taranton and the proximity to the burrow, regarding traffic and building size, that might not be the ideal location.

[54:27] And while we believe that that was, in fact, a good location, we have, back we asked

[54:32] to those suggestions and we've relocated it internally.

[54:37] And why I'm pointing that out is this is the only portion of the overlay ordinance that

[54:43] Woods has developed and designed land development plans for.

[54:46] Most overlay ordinances, you have an ordinance that's drafted and submitted where a specific

[54:51] building or buildings are envisioned, often they're submitted in tandem with the development

[54:57] application. In our case, the only thing we have that we're ready to submit is the apartment

[55:03] building. We have a minimum acreage of three acres, and we have a maximum number of stories

[55:11] of four stories, and then we have an notation in the ordinance that access for ingress and

[55:17] egress should be through parcels within the overlay district, which again guarantees that there

[55:23] is not going to be direct access to a main thoroughfare

[55:28] in the township.

[55:29] And the reason why I'm pointing out the acreage

[55:32] is I think it's a reasonable position,

[55:36] perhaps, to be concerned in a vacuum,

[55:39] if you have a site that is two acres or three acres

[55:44] or four acres, and you have a four story building,

[55:47] the impact that that may have on a neighboring parcel

[55:50] in the view shed.

[55:51] That has been ameliorated by locating it in this location.

[55:57] You have the front edge, and then you have a border on parcels internal to the Woods

[56:03] Campus.

[56:04] And as we discussed at the Zone of Hearing Board, when we presented it and as we discussed

[56:08] at the Planning Commission, this is going to be a building which, A, we think looks beautiful,

[56:15] will look beautiful, will be a good, additive component to the Middletown Township

[56:21] residential lifestyle, but also something that is important both

[56:25] for members of the community and on the woods and to things with the clients

[56:30] that could serve.

[56:32] Everything else in the ordinance is governed by conditional use.

[56:37] And I know everybody at the township on the board of supervisors,

[56:41] the township consultants are aware what a conditional use is,

[56:44] but I think it's worth just reiterating this.

[56:47] specifically tying it to what I just said a minute ago with what we're proposing immediately.

[56:55] Sometimes, in my experience with ordinances, with overlay ordinances, you have very specific

[57:03] performance standards that are set within the ordinance, particularly with respect to things like

[57:09] natural resource protection, buffering, open space, etc.

[57:13] For this is an ordinance that spans multiple parcels, all of which are adjacent to each

[57:24] other internal towards campus and only with one development that is immediately envisioned.

[57:32] We wanted to create an ordinance that was appropriate five years from now, ten years from now,

[57:38] 15 years from now, which again was fitting for Woods's desires, but also had the flexibility

[57:46] to protect the township during any land development submission.

[57:53] So other than the apartment again, if there is a future development proposal that would submit

[57:58] to the township, in addition to going to the Planning Commission and addition to coming

[58:03] to the Supervisors for a typical land development,

[58:06] it will come before you as a conditional use.

[58:09] At that point, the Supervisors,

[58:11] if there are any concerns about a particular use

[58:14] or the placement of a proposed building,

[58:17] can work with the Woods team to place safeguards

[58:21] on the development to allocate space

[58:24] for open space, buffering, et cetera.

[58:27] We'll go through an inerical discuss particular sections

[58:31] and how that would impact things.

[58:32] But we did want to state that the conditional use component of this was intentional and

[58:38] provides that extra layer I would suggest a protection to the township.

[58:44] When you turn to page 3 in the ordinance, that covers the uses which would be added if

[58:52] this overlay were to pass.

[58:54] And I do think it's important to take a second to note what has been removed in this version

[58:59] of the ordinance from what we had proposed initially.

[59:03] In the initial ordinance, we had a bank,

[59:07] daycare, health and fitness, personal service shop,

[59:13] restaurant, mental health, inpatient, rehab facility,

[59:16] in and residential boarding, nursing home,

[59:20] a small and specialty hospitals, as uses, which were allowed.

[59:23] In addition to an overall mix use, which was permitted.

[59:28] Those have all been removed and what's left and I'm going to go through these and then I'll turn it over to Eric.

[59:38] But I would suggest you will see what is left specifically correlates almost entirely to existing uses that would is already operating on their campus.

[59:53] So, for example, business or professional office.

[59:59] This is existing.

[1:00:00] As I'm sure you know, there are a number of offices for professionals who support woods and woods system of care onsite.

[1:00:10] This campus location which you may not know supports eight affiliates across two states.

[1:00:17] Many of these offices need some updating or potential expansion.

[1:00:21] This ordinance would permit what is already occurring to move forward through the conditional

[1:00:29] use process in a reasonable manner.

[1:00:34] Second, medical office uses, including medical, dental, physical rehabilitation, behavioral

[1:00:39] health facilities, and medical aesthetics without surgery.

[1:00:43] I think the video actually touched on this, you saw some of the dental services which

[1:00:48] which is offering, there are medical office spaces currently existing on campus.

[1:00:55] This is, in many instances, unfortunately, a situation which is a capacity, which needs to

[1:01:00] have the ability to continue to offer these services and expand in reasonable ways where

[1:01:08] necessary.

[1:01:09] This, again, is an existing use, which is occurring on campus.

[1:01:15] One of the uses, which is not existing, but I would suggest a small scope and make sense,

[1:01:21] given who was is and what was does, is a pharmacy.

[1:01:25] And I think the potential impact of a pharmacy, located internal to wood's campus, is negligible

[1:01:32] to the township or any of its residents.

[1:01:36] The next item that is permitted via conditional use, which I think caused some confusions

[1:01:42] So I want to take a second and note it is a retail store, but they maximum of 10,000 square feet

[1:01:48] of gross floor area within the entire CDT district.

[1:01:52] So again, big picture, 10,000 square feet across over 100 acres.

[1:01:58] But once again, this is a use which is already occurring on Woods's campus.

[1:02:04] Woods has three small businesses, yellow daffodil, which is a flower shop, woodswear, which

[1:02:09] a print shop and common grounds, which is a cafe, I think in the aggregate, it's about

[1:02:14] 6,500 square feet.

[1:02:17] So what we're discussing in the maximum scenario is an addition of around 3,500 square

[1:02:25] feet to permit retail stores on this campus.

[1:02:30] These stores help woods clients learn job skills in a safe and supported environment.

[1:02:40] These are unfortunately presently in inadequate buildings.

[1:02:45] They need the ability if necessary to demolish one of those buildings

[1:02:50] and build a new building to offer these same or similar services.

[1:02:56] Once again, I hate the blabber of the point, but I think it's important with this overlay.

[1:03:00] This is a pre-existing use that's non-conforming on campus.

[1:03:06] We have a new use, but again, like the pharmacy use, I would suggest, has a limited impact.

[1:03:13] And that is a family guest house, which we have noted, related to the mission and serving the needs of the institutional use,

[1:03:21] which is limited to no more than 10 rooms.

[1:03:24] Again, I think this is obviously Woods mission-related 250 families don't know that the

[1:03:34] planning commission live far away from the campus.

[1:03:37] This is an option for housing for families who are coming to visit loved ones.

[1:03:44] It is low cost, it will be run by Woods, it has no impact whatsoever in a negative way

[1:03:50] on the township or any of Woods's neighbors.

[1:03:54] And then finally, the only other non-residential use

[1:04:00] that this ordinance allows is a public or private educational use

[1:04:07] in conjunction with the mission of the institutional uses.

[1:04:12] So Woods, again, Crestwood School exists.

[1:04:17] building is approximately 70 years old, needs updating, might need replacement, might need

[1:04:24] minor expansion, not allowed right now in the R1 district.

[1:04:29] It's a pre-existing use.

[1:04:32] I just covered all of the non-residential uses that are allowed here, and I apologize

[1:04:38] if I took a minute or two longer than was probably necessary, but I think it is really worth

[1:04:46] reiterating the fact that this ordinance is woods. It's the woods campus. This is not

[1:04:58] some green light to permit someone to come in here and remake middle town township. This

[1:05:07] is an ordinance that, as I said, at the beginning, is mission driven, it allows was hope

[1:05:16] to continue to be such an important partner to the Middletown Township community.

[1:05:24] And that was our goal at the beginning when we, again, two years ago, started trying to

[1:05:31] what an ordinance would look like, that is where we have ended up with the non-residential

[1:05:38] uses, and then the rest of the ordinance we crafted, I'll get back to the comment about

[1:05:44] the conditional use, but we crafted performance standards and development requirements that

[1:05:50] we think, again, provide flexibility on the townshipsend during the conditional use process,

[1:05:57] but we're green energy forward, had a number of design standards to protect the

[1:06:03] township as well. We put a lot of time into this and we think it's a good

[1:06:10] ordinance. We believe in the ordinance we believe in woods and I would like

[1:06:14] to have Eric just briefly address the supervisors regarding this from an

[1:06:21] engineering standpoint and I do want to know actually just as a very quick

[1:06:25] Housekeeping item. One of the comments that came up at the Planning Commission, which we indicated we were fine modifying was on page 4.

[1:06:37] Again, we understand that open space is an important component in the Township.

[1:06:41] I think Mr. Tantalla made a request to modify at 22054C reasonable efforts to best efforts and we're agreeable to that with respect to incorporating open space amenities within the city.

[1:06:55] like design, and then we, when we flip to page seven, for non-residential uses, there was

[1:07:04] a suggested cap of impervious surface ratio of 75% and we are requesting or suggesting whatever

[1:07:13] the appropriate verbages to reduce that to 60%.

[1:07:17] We do not need, I think the 75% was correlated to some of the prior uses and prior iteration

[1:07:24] of the ordinance and that is not necessary for this moving forward.

[1:07:28] So those are the two.

[1:07:30] Minor amendments that we are requesting in conjunction with the ordinance, but I appreciate you listening and taking your time this evening to consider this, and I know the entire wood's team is appreciative as well.

[1:07:44] So with that, I'd just like to have Eric address the supervisors.

[1:07:48] I'm sorry, I just want to mention one other minor revision that was suggested I think we should do is on page two under A1.

[1:07:59] Yes.

[1:07:59] This is a professional office where it's limited to 50% in the clarification that will be based

[1:08:05] on square footage.

[1:08:07] That's correct.

[1:08:07] Mr. Tantel also suggested that and that's just a clarification as it's drafted and we're

[1:08:14] agreeable to that.

[1:08:15] Yes.

[1:08:15] Thank you.

[1:08:15] Mr. President.

[1:08:18] Thank you.

[1:08:21] Good evening.

[1:08:22] Eric Lace from Gilmourn Associates, the site civil and the project.

[1:08:25] Uh, in considering the development requirements, which is on page four of the overlay ordinance section 2205-4.

[1:08:35] Uh, the theme of the overlay ordinances to consider the 113 acres as an overall track.

[1:08:41] Uh, so as each individual land development would come before you, there would be a tracking mechanism, whether it be resources, impervious, et cetera.

[1:08:50] But the overall track is always going to be held to the standard.

[1:08:55] So that I wanted to start with that.

[1:08:57] So under 22.05.4A, there's a threshold that not more than 90% of the overall track

[1:09:05] could either be residential or non-residential, but it could be somewhere in between.

[1:09:11] There will be common roads, there could be common stormwater facilities, pedestrian connections.

[1:09:18] So all in all, the theme of again is the overall track is considered but within that track you can't have 90 percent more than 90 percent of non-residential and not more than 90 percent of non-residential.

[1:09:31] B. In each individual phase, again, we could come through with a land development that may not meet one of the requirements completely, but the overall tract will always have to meet it.

[1:09:45] So with each land development submission, there's going to be a master plan. The township will have that master plan as updated with each submission. So the township can know that the end of the day, all 113 acres will meet all requirements.

[1:09:57] like I said, each individual land development might not meet it on its own.

[1:10:02] It's like a trade here, a trade there, but the overall track will always meet the requirements.

[1:10:09] Number three, as Mike stated, all the best of reason I hope best efforts will be made to provide open space,

[1:10:18] which include passive lawn areas, sidewalks, trails, greenways, landscaping,

[1:10:23] pocket parks, gardens, water features, gazeboes, et cetera.

[1:10:28] Those efforts will be made with each individual land development.

[1:10:31] And again, every land development that comes in front of you

[1:10:34] with the exception of the apartment buildings

[1:10:36] a conditional use.

[1:10:38] So you have to say, every land development that

[1:10:41] comes in front of the board, you can add conditions

[1:10:43] that apply what you're looking for.

[1:10:47] Under D, which is 22.05.4D is the natural resources.

[1:10:52] The natural resources will be calculated on an overall tract area.

[1:10:57] So when we're doing the calculations, you will have the comfort that all 113 acres will meet the natural resource requirements on page 5 now, which is buffers.

[1:11:11] All efforts will be made to work with the township on providing buffers.

[1:11:16] Now, the buffers we are talking about as part of this ordinance is the overall tract.

[1:11:21] internal to the Woods campus, there may be some desire for the Woods people to provide

[1:11:27] buffers between certain uses, but for the overall township we're talking about buffering

[1:11:33] the overall track from roadways, adjacent properties, et cetera.

[1:11:39] F, stormwater management, stormwater management will be an approach to meet township requirements,

[1:11:46] the EP requirements, but also using best management practices.

[1:11:51] G. With this design, there's going to be cross easements. There will be green spaces, natural

[1:11:57] resources. Again, the theme here is it's an overall 113 acre overlay district. It'll be

[1:12:05] the overall tract. So we will have all the pieces will be interworking together.

[1:12:22] And that's

[1:12:23] to their formal presentation, Mr. McGunis?

[1:12:26] No, that's, that's, we'd be happy to.

[1:12:29] Okay, questions in the board.

[1:12:35] I have a couple of questions.

[1:12:37] You had said phase one of the apartments.

[1:12:41] Can you just walk me through that?

[1:12:43] I was looking at the review letters,

[1:12:45] and one of the review letters from the Bucks County Planning Commission

[1:12:50] was to reduce the amount of units from 75 downward.

[1:12:56] So I know this is a little bit higher than I think what the initial one was so can you walk

[1:13:02] through that 75 and it says no more than one building would that be an addition to phase two

[1:13:08] would be added on to that building?

[1:13:10] So I'll let Eric detail what phase two looks like but phase one is 42 units.

[1:13:16] We have a proposal of 29, 1 Bedroom units, 8, 2 Bedroom and 5, 3 Bedroom.

[1:13:25] I believe the initial building that was proposed a couple of years ago was also 42 units.

[1:13:32] Phase 2 is going to be, we have projected 28.

[1:13:37] So a little less than the 75 together it would be 70 units.

[1:13:41] And the split that we have now would be 16-1 bedroom, 8-2 bedroom, and 4-3 bedroom is the proposed break down in phase 2.

[1:13:51] And then Eric, if you want to discuss what phase 2 would look like if it's built.

[1:13:55] I don't know that we have the metal broke.

[1:13:57] Slide, but I think it basically would form a U essentially.

[1:14:02] So the phase 2 would be connected to the phase 1 structure and would look almost like a U.

[1:14:11] And then walk me through, so one of the things I was concerned with, and it looked like the review letters were as well as the next building height.

[1:14:19] Is that necessarily the four stories necessary for that building height?

[1:14:25] Yeah, we've looked at this, I mean, I think about four years ago when we initially submitted the application the zoning.

[1:14:34] And the design we have laid out here with our consulting team is very convinced that the

[1:14:41] four floor design is the most appropriate design.

[1:14:44] What I tried to hit at understanding, even if it would be disingenuous, I agreed with

[1:14:53] the concerns that the zoning hearing board, which were expressed, but I understand the concerns

[1:14:57] at the zone of hearing board with a prox...

[1:15:00] Assembly to where that building was proposed, and its location, vis-à-vis other residential properties.

[1:15:07] Here, by having it relocated internal to the wood campus, one of the things that I hit on at the outset was, generally, the reason why you have a larger minimum acreage

[1:15:23] that's tethered to the building height is to make sure that a structure that is built that

[1:15:28] is going to be large is not sufficiently close to an adjoining property so as to disturb the

[1:15:34] view shed. Here we're in a unique situation. I think the entire ordinance is a little unique because

[1:15:40] woods as neighbors are woods in that location. So I obviously, in bias, but I'm not as concerned

[1:15:47] about a four story building in that area because there is no negative impact in terms of the

[1:15:54] view and the height with respect to any adjoining parcels.

[1:15:59] All right, one of the things that I've been I guess most concerned with the overlay is just the

[1:16:07] amount of impervious that's allowed versus what's allowed today.

[1:16:10] Do you have the calculations of what currently the percent impervious is of the overlay today?

[1:16:19] It's approximately 26 and a half percent.

[1:16:22] 26 and a half.

[1:16:23] Within the area that's covered in this overlay district, correct?

[1:16:29] And why I thought why we thought it was appropriate to reduce the impervious surface percentage

[1:16:36] downward is when we were looking at the mixed use development because of the nature of that

[1:16:43] development it necessitated I think a higher impervious surface percentage looking at your

[1:16:49] ordinance I think for example the shopping center the CS district is 60% the M1 district I believe

[1:16:56] is 60% a lot of the non-residential zoning districts are either 50 or 60% so that's where I thought

[1:17:04] It made sense to reduce it from 75 to 60 because I think a concern was probably correct that

[1:17:10] 75 is a little bit much.

[1:17:13] But obviously, Woods values the green space as a amenity to its employees and to its clients.

[1:17:20] We're going to do everything we can to maximize the green space, buffering, foliage, et cetera

[1:17:24] on this property.

[1:17:26] But we put the maximum percentage in there to correlate to the other, what I would suggest

[1:17:32] of the other zoning districts in the township that envisioned non-residential.

[1:17:39] Now, in the review letters, there's a lot of impacts studies that they talk through the

[1:17:46] National Resources Protection Standards, the Transportation Impact and the Physical Impact.

[1:17:52] So can you walk us through why those aren't included yet?

[1:17:56] Well, we did submit impact studies but the practical reality of that is that is a moving

[1:18:06] target with the overlay and what I mean by that is in a theoretical world that we know

[1:18:12] is not occurring if the result of this was to build five new office buildings that naturally

[1:18:22] has a different impact on the township than if there was a pharmacy and another medical office building that was constructed.

[1:18:33] Since there is no development that is proposed at this time with the ordinance other than the apartment building,

[1:18:40] providing a traffic impact or a fiscal impact is entirely speculative.

[1:18:46] I wouldn't even know where to begin was something that is truly substantive.

[1:18:49] So what we're doing and what we're suggesting to do, and again, that's how it's related

[1:18:53] to the conditional use, is with each portion of the development that comes through.

[1:18:57] We are certainly happy to supplement and to provide specific facts and figures economic

[1:19:03] environmental traffic impact for the township and township staff and consultants to analyze.

[1:19:08] But at this point, since we do not have development proposed, that was something that we did

[1:19:14] submit, but we don't think substantively will be sufficient without supplementation at each

[1:19:22] phase of the development.

[1:19:25] Can you walk me through the reduction from the total overlay to just the 1337?

[1:19:33] Sure.

[1:19:33] Because one of the things that I guess concerns me is that we're removing the lands that are

[1:19:38] and most forced it and most applicable for open space preservation.

[1:19:46] So, we can put it if someone doesn't mind it back on the screen.

[1:19:52] I would, if I can suggest, I think from the township's perspective, and is, I believe

[1:19:59] you're probably talking about the bottom right portion on the screen.

[1:20:05] So, my, again, my position on that is that is to the township's benefit, and the reason is if and when those parcels were included in the overlay was what have the ability to modify those parcels to develop those parcels potentially subject to the provisions in this ordinance by keeping those parcels in the R1 district we can't touch them.

[1:20:33] It doesn't mean that through a conditional use process because they're

[1:20:37] owned and controlled by woods that would couldn't volunteer some

[1:20:41] restrictive provision to say, well, you know,

[1:20:44] parcel ex were willing to put into a conservation easement.

[1:20:47] We're not precluded from doing that.

[1:20:49] But by removing those from the overlay ordinance, it provides an

[1:20:53] additional assurance on the township's end that those parcels

[1:20:56] are not going to be modified, absent a change in zoning or zoning

[1:21:02] variants. We still have the obligation for the improved portions of the parcels highlighted

[1:21:07] in red to provide open space with our best efforts during the development process, but

[1:21:15] it doesn't preclude us if the township would like to, again, for the bottom right parcel,

[1:21:21] to keep that wooded conservation easements, open space, et cetera. It just removes

[1:21:26] sort of ability to develop it.

[1:21:29] So when we decided to take out in particular the parcel

[1:21:34] on the Plan South East, we did that because we thought

[1:21:37] that was a good overture to the township saying

[1:21:40] that is a undeveloped predominantly,

[1:21:44] undeveloped portion of the campus.

[1:21:46] We want to keep it that way and our assurance to you

[1:21:49] that is going to remain that way

[1:21:51] is to not have it in the ordinance.

[1:21:53] But if we're submitting a conditional use application

[1:21:55] and there was a suggestion that, hey, maybe a couple acres in that portion need to be explicitly

[1:22:00] preserved. That is not anything we're precluded from doing.

[1:22:05] Okay, so that was actually at my point, right? Because it says in the open space, a lot of the,

[1:22:11] hey, if we can't do it within the particular parcel, we can do it within the district, which means

[1:22:17] those are kind of specifically carved out. So that was my one concern.

[1:22:25] Well, I have a question. Can you talk about the actual units you say?

[1:22:30] Some are one bedroom, two bedroom, three bedroom, some are dedicated to the patients or the residents

[1:22:39] that live there providing them for managed housing, correct?

[1:22:45] Okay. Can you talk about that? How do you determine what units there will be in? Is it one, two, or three

[1:22:52] bedrooms? How is that going to be managed? Is there an outside company that manages that and what does that

[1:22:59] So,

[1:23:06] through the PHFA process, we are required to use a third party entity as a property manager.

[1:23:14] That entity has to apply with all, comply with all of the fair housing.

[1:23:20] So, any individual, we have nine units earmarked for people with intellectual disabilities, autism or traumatic brain injury.

[1:23:28] Any individual who has one of those diagnosis would be eligible to apply to live there.

[1:23:33] We are hoping because we have over 24 apartments that we

[1:23:37] run at market rate, apartments in town homes, that a good number

[1:23:40] of the individuals we already support would be interested.

[1:23:43] And we know that some are interested in applying.

[1:23:45] They would go through the process with everybody else, the ones

[1:23:48] that are earmarked for us, would go through the property management

[1:23:51] and to deal with the support of their case manager

[1:23:54] to make sure that they get a unit or the apartment that they want.

[1:23:58] A number of our individuals do cohabitate with a roommate.

[1:24:03] So, some might want to choose a two-bedroom unit, we have some better in the Terrence and Town homes that might want to go over with all three or room with somebody else, that it'll be managed by third party entity.

[1:24:17] And who do the other units go to, who are they meant for?

[1:24:21] They're all attainable housing, affordable housing, and they would go to anybody in the community who would be eligible to apply based on income.

[1:24:31] And they all go through that they all have to go through the third party property manager would

[1:24:35] it does not have any say and any of that.

[1:24:40] Thank you.

[1:24:46] Other questions from the board.

[1:24:48] What I'm going to do this before we get into a motion, I think it makes sense to take public

[1:24:53] comment now on this particular agenda item.

[1:24:56] So I'm going to ask if there are any members of the public.

[1:24:58] We did have a sign-in sheet, but I don't know that folks specifically signed up based on the agenda item.

[1:25:03] So let us ask you to come up one at a time.

[1:25:04] if you have public comment or questions in this specific item,

[1:25:07] please step up to the microphone,

[1:25:08] state your name and address.

[1:25:13] Look at him, okay?

[1:25:15] Joey Mac 2, 52, 57, Southwest on Street,

[1:25:19] Langhorn P.A., I'm here to represent myself

[1:25:21] in two nice little girls who are from Langhorn community.

[1:25:26] And actually for the last 30 years,

[1:25:28] we kind of got beat up in Langhorn,

[1:25:29] but a boy's Langhorn, okay?

[1:25:31] And I can tell that story in some time on the about it.

[1:25:36] And by the way, and I'm just one for the record, I'm a national urban design expert, okay?

[1:25:41] I'm a guy who comes to your town and you tell me, I do a study of your town like

[1:25:47] I guess he's your town.

[1:25:49] Myself and some my daughters and some other people from the community.

[1:25:52] We did an urban design plan from George School to the Boon Farm.

[1:25:57] We did the history, we read the book on the Boon Farm, okay?

[1:26:01] And then we did the history of Maldives was,

[1:26:04] Bellevue Avenue, we did the history of LINE-1, 1692, OK?

[1:26:10] And so we kind of tell a story.

[1:26:13] But we're also also in architecture, OK, in design.

[1:26:18] And less five years, OK?

[1:26:21] Well, actually, one Oliver Hackman closed in 2016, OK?

[1:26:25] We met with Oliver Hackman, we were

[1:26:28] looking at buying that school with a friend of mine from King of Prussia, and then when we heard

[1:26:34] I had a medical problem, I was at a work for year and a half, so I missed the opportunity

[1:26:38] for that.

[1:26:39] But we wanted, in the giving a little, I worked in Long Island, from Long Island to, I mean from

[1:26:47] be shaving to Long Island, I worked from main department stores, Lord and Tower, okay, I was

[1:26:54] in charge of hiring a new real estate rep,

[1:26:57] training a new real estate rep in corporate real estate,

[1:27:00] a real estate manager, every lawyer.

[1:27:02] My job was great job in 2000, I took this job.

[1:27:07] Actually, I lived on 425 Belvia Avenue,

[1:27:10] and they hired me to study all the essential business districts

[1:27:14] in the Northeast.

[1:27:16] I did two articles for New York Times

[1:27:18] when the future of our essential business districts.

[1:27:20] My boss was a CEO of Woolworth, okay, and we used to talk about how communities don't connect to their essential business history.

[1:27:29] You know, we walkable by gravel.

[1:27:31] Communities.

[1:27:32] When we did our study, too, when we did the study from George School,

[1:27:36] we took the time to look at your new multi-notal improvement program.

[1:27:40] We didn't each section, okay.

[1:27:43] And, you know, I tell people, and when you come to a community, the first thing we wanted

[1:27:50] to do from value avenue and lying on was to walking past two to shops of flowers miller.

[1:27:56] In 1995, I came in here from Long Island, okay?

[1:28:01] And I noticed that property was settled in the corner, and I called the real estate broker

[1:28:05] and I got it on the agreement.

[1:28:06] Myself and my friends in the industry was I put the shops of flowers, and I got 100%.

[1:28:11] Okay, I also worked with Ernie Bewell, Bewell Field, okay, when that was here, and I worked with Disney, if you want to know about me, look up Disney celebration, it's a playing community, I worked with Anna's abortion, Sesameplace, we wanted to relocate Sesameplace, off a route one behind the shops, the flowers, and put walking pass, you can walk from a 55 number development to the village, we wanted to get them how they actually got them,

[1:28:39] But then we got crushed by some people, whatever,

[1:28:43] but I did get the shops of flowers, no one.

[1:28:46] But then yeah, I wanted to,

[1:28:49] when we do a project like this in Urban Design,

[1:28:52] we tell the histories of the community.

[1:28:55] And like with Disney said, we look at the architecture.

[1:28:57] We wanted to design the architecture on Bellevue

[1:28:59] who I have to, also all over Hackman,

[1:29:03] but the walking pasting.

[1:29:04] And then do a town square on the corner of Maple

[1:29:08] have, you know, and flowers, no roof. Okay. But we wanted to do it. So the architecture

[1:29:13] is part of the historic community. And everybody gets to see the table. Okay. I put

[1:29:19] together. I put together.

[1:29:35] But I am here to comment on what service for the last five years.

[1:29:41] Okay. This is just going on for 30 years. Last five years. Every time we try to call somebody

[1:29:46] We try to get a hold, we want to call with the service, we call it done time, we call it Simon Cummins office, we want the Frank Fairies office.

[1:29:57] We never got one return phone call.

[1:30:00] We saw that they hired curing and timber lake architects in Philadelphia in 2020. We finally called them.

[1:30:08] They called us back. They said, well, it doesn't use this anymore, because I'm the guy that gets, I take care and

[1:30:14] the landscape architects. We designed all the buildings we go and

[1:30:19] tell you I have you and you know to to the shops as well but I'm

[1:30:25] beyond us we this isn't a way to do it. The community should be involved.

[1:30:29] The kids should be involved. We wanted to include the high school students

[1:30:33] from the Shamani, from George School and Holy Family University and

[1:30:38] County University. We never had that opportunity. We got we got ignored by

[1:30:44] I don't know what the problem is, but when my grain, my grain's daughter calls you calm back, engage with him.

[1:30:54] We went to Frank Ferry's office, we got no return phone loss.

[1:30:59] I'm on record five years, but we sent him certified letters, too.

[1:31:02] We never got a phone call.

[1:31:04] I grew up here.

[1:31:05] My grandfather was a little one.

[1:31:07] He was an architect for your studies of Philly.

[1:31:10] He designed Pendel Burrow Police Barrage.

[1:31:13] He designed the league grade school,

[1:31:15] and a lot of those stuff in Philadelphia.

[1:31:17] But I love architecture, a muscle, a national retailer.

[1:31:21] I'm the guy that talks to all the tenants.

[1:31:24] I had two great tenants for the area,

[1:31:27] so I picked the local tenants.

[1:31:28] I negotiated all the leases.

[1:31:31] So, for example, good news court in Langwon, in Newtown.

[1:31:35] The good news family called me.

[1:31:37] I signed the agreement on July 5th.

[1:31:40] I broke around on December 15th, the same year.

[1:31:43] The community liked it.

[1:31:44] We engaged with all the community.

[1:31:46] They liked the architecture that we're all part of.

[1:31:50] We had a contest on the Irish pub.

[1:31:52] It had to be a really good looking Irish pub.

[1:31:56] We did that 100, 100, 75 days.

[1:31:59] Because we know we're doing it.

[1:32:01] We wanted to be part of the solution.

[1:32:03] Read the six pages there.

[1:32:06] And it's unfortunate we never, you know, never going to, again, I think I know what the problem is, but, you know, again, we're getting ignored by the community. So it's all I got to say.

[1:32:18] Thank you. Other public comment on this agenda item? Yes, ma'am.

[1:32:23] Okay, you next Mr. Bruno.

[1:32:28] I've been, I've been following this for quite a long time.

[1:32:34] And I was at the planning commissioners meeting the other night.

[1:32:37] And I'm sure that you all know that all five of the unanimously, unanimously, turn this

[1:32:42] stamp.

[1:32:43] They're finding them to be deceitful and untrue in their statements.

[1:32:47] My biggest remark here is, they're going to do 68 apartment buildings.

[1:32:53] Nine of them are going to be for wood's services, the rest of them, which is what 59 or so.

[1:33:00] They're going to rent to outsiders.

[1:33:03] So I don't understand why they need to build 68 apartments.

[1:33:08] If they're only going to have 9 for their people,

[1:33:10] why can't they build an apartment building with 10,

[1:33:13] and just how's their own?

[1:33:14] Why are we bringing people in from maybe Philadelphia,

[1:33:19] wherever to fill these?

[1:33:21] Because they're low income.

[1:33:23] So to qualify, their income has to be under a certain amount of money.

[1:33:27] I don't know that anybody in the neighborhood can qualify

[1:33:29] anybody in here, their children. They probably make just a little bit more that it takes

[1:33:35] to be qualified for those apartments.

[1:33:39] Along with that, those units that are not,

[1:33:43] 59 or 60 units that are outsiders that are coming into our community, what is the chance

[1:33:50] that they might prey on those handicapped people over there? I think the other night the room

[1:33:55] was packed with the planning commissioner from everyone in the neighborhood who was against

[1:34:01] this. Unfortunately, those people didn't realize that from there it came here. That's why

[1:34:06] they're not here this evening. But as a whole, the community is really against this. They're

[1:34:12] against all that it's going to do and the harm that it's going to bring to the clients.

[1:34:18] It doesn't seem right in a fair. The planning commissioner, the other night, did a phenomenal

[1:34:24] job of uncovering things that it's a shame that these didn't get to witness that because

[1:34:30] it was really unbelievable how it went down. So I encourage you not to vote for this or let

[1:34:38] them have their way because they want this overlay and they're just going to continue to the

[1:34:42] planning commission felt that they just wanted card blanche so to speak so they could do whatever

[1:34:47] or they wanted whenever they wanted, so thank you.

[1:34:52] Can you talk to about how the people are going to use it

[1:34:56] in outside source was going to select the residents

[1:35:00] that would come in?

[1:35:01] Is there a certain amount of residents

[1:35:03] that have to be from middle town?

[1:35:11] So let me just respond and debunk one of them this there.

[1:35:17] So there are 42 units in phase one that are planned nine,

[1:35:20] 20% is the earmark through PHFA for individuals with disabilities.

[1:35:25] If there were to be a phase two and there would be 70 units, phase two would also be a

[1:35:30] PHFA funded program and would also have to have an earmark.

[1:35:36] So the total number of units would be 20% of the additional 30 if phase two ever came to

[1:35:41] fruition.

[1:35:42] So it's not just nine units.

[1:35:46] I also want to comment, I don't think that folks realize

[1:35:50] I think when people envision the woods residents, they have a particular vision, they also have that of our staff.

[1:36:00] We have more homes that we serve in Langhorn Falls, Bristol Townships than we do actually on the campus now.

[1:36:10] We have more than 60 people who live in apartments safely in our B2NR rehab program, they live independently.

[1:36:21] They have been out there in the community for the 28 years that I have been at woods.

[1:36:26] So, we are not getting reports that they are getting prayed upon now.

[1:36:30] I can't imagine when they are closer to us that they are going to be prayed upon.

[1:36:35] What we hope, none of those units that they are right now are fully accessible.

[1:36:39] We're going to have more than eight units, I think, total that are fully accessible.

[1:36:44] So our individuals who ambulate by wheelchair or walker or a new track systems currently

[1:36:49] will be able to live nearly fully autonomous in those apartments that don't currently

[1:36:53] meet their needs now.

[1:36:55] So I just wanted to offer that up.

[1:36:59] As far as how they're selected, they'll be able to apply because of the way that they

[1:37:05] are supported through Reshab program dollars Medicaid, they'll be applying through that third

[1:37:11] party entity to be eligible.

[1:37:14] We obviously will be working with them to make sure that they know where to look as far

[1:37:18] as the diagnostic criteria, but we cannot make sure that indivisible.

[1:37:30] Or a certain percentage of them are under the way the PHFA is structured legally. You can't do that. We can't say that they're all going to be of a certain age, either, or look a certain way, or just not allowed to do that.

[1:37:45] Do you know how they, I'm sure there's more that apply than apartments available? Do you know how that they go about deciding who gets an apartment and who doesn't?

[1:37:57] I do not know.

[1:38:00] Can I just ask, and maybe this question is better for Mr. McGinnis, but the other comment

[1:38:04] that Ms. Grouse made, which I know is something that was raised at the Planning Commission

[1:38:07] as well, which is this idea that the overlay will give would's carte blanche to do whatever

[1:38:14] they want in the future, and this concern about how things will work going forward.

[1:38:17] Can you just talk about how the process would work going forward in the future as different

[1:38:21] projects come along?

[1:38:23] And maybe also just differentiate how that is different from how the process would work today

[1:38:28] if what's wanted to do the same project.

[1:38:30] Sure, absolutely.

[1:38:32] So next week, if the overlay didn't pass and Woods said,

[1:38:38] you know what, we are servicing too many individuals

[1:38:42] for our capacity for dental needs.

[1:38:45] And they said, we need to build a 5,000 square foot

[1:38:48] edition equipped with the appropriate medical equipment.

[1:38:53] That would get supplied to the township.

[1:38:55] The township would say this is not permitted

[1:38:56] as a use in the R1 district, and we would go to the zoning hearing board, which, again,

[1:39:03] middle town has a very good zoning hearing board, but that is another bureaucratic

[1:39:07] layer to any process which the vast majority of businesses and homeowners in the township

[1:39:15] do not have to go through when they are seeking a reasonable addition to their property because

[1:39:21] the underlying zoning correlates to the use.

[1:39:26] So anything that would does whatsoever currently

[1:39:30] has to go to the zoning area board, which

[1:39:32] is an entirely different process, added expense,

[1:39:36] a different form of regulation.

[1:39:38] And again, we've gotten comments that, well, what's

[1:39:42] the big deal?

[1:39:43] And the big deal is twofold.

[1:39:45] First, when we proposed the apartments before,

[1:39:49] that was multiple nights of hearings, there was a different legal standard that's applied and there was a question at the planning commission, which we answered, I think, very candidly, that that process, and the legal burden and the pellet rights, anything that Woods does really could be tied up subsequently for two, three, four years that Woods needs on their campus as an amenity for Woods Klein.

[1:40:19] And I think the concern, which is if this ordinance passes, that woods has free reign to do whatever it wants on his campus.

[1:40:29] And we've tried to address that in two ways.

[1:40:32] First of all, as we indicated in the outset, we have massively reduced the scope, both in terms of the location of the parcels and in terms of the uses.

[1:40:40] But we have kept everything via conditional use.

[1:40:44] So, in that same example, where there is a 5,000 square foot addition, we would have to submit that not only for land development, but through the conditional use process.

[1:40:53] We would submit it to the township and Mr. Kessler, Mr. Esposito's teens would review it for conformance with the ordinance.

[1:41:00] They would issue review letters. We would have to come before the planning commission who would make recommendations and suggest conditions.

[1:41:06] Then we would have to come before the supervisors and not only would we have to do the things that every single land

[1:41:13] Development application has to do which is conform with the stormwater regulations and the other

[1:41:17] Regulations that are promulgated in your subdivision and land development ordinance

[1:41:21] But the supervisors and the township consultants would have the ability to place

[1:41:26] reasonable

[1:41:27] Restrictions and conditions on each application. So maybe one building that is entirely to the interior of Wood's campus

[1:41:36] It's like not need buffering from an adjacent parcel or two parcels that would zones, but maybe one building does need more buffering.

[1:41:45] And that is something where Professor Kessler, Mr. Esposito and the board would look at it and say,

[1:41:50] We think in order to approve this, as I'm speaking as the township at this point, you need to add 50 trees.

[1:41:58] you need to modify your landscape plan.

[1:42:01] You need to do any number of things

[1:42:03] that we would agree to or have to agree to

[1:42:07] in order for that to be approved by the township.

[1:42:10] So there's an entire, another layer of regulation

[1:42:14] with this that the township still has in terms of oversight.

[1:42:18] The only thing that's modified is we do not have to go

[1:42:22] to the zoning hearing board, but we are replacing it

[1:42:25] with providing additional oversight

[1:42:27] to the supervisors that the supervisors ordinarily would not have.

[1:42:31] And what I mean by that is if we were to receive a variance from the Zony Harry board for that same office use, for example,

[1:42:40] then we would submit our land development application and not to use an example, but it was discussed earlier this evening with a different application.

[1:42:49] When the Zony Harry board grants relief, we would submit preliminary final land development and the supervisors may be constrained as to the conditions

[1:42:56] that they could place under the existing zoning regimen.

[1:43:00] If this is past, it's true.

[1:43:03] We do not have to go to the zoning hearing board,

[1:43:05] but you, as the board, have another layer of rights

[1:43:09] and conditions that you could impose

[1:43:11] via the conditional use process that does not currently exist.

[1:43:17] Thank you, Mr. Regan.

[1:43:17] All right.

[1:43:21] Any other public comments?

[1:43:22] Yeah, Mr. Bruno.

[1:43:31] I wrote it down, so I can be quick.

[1:43:33] Eric Bruno, seven nights we come.

[1:43:35] That was a great presentation and it all sounds great sort of like a creation of a

[1:43:40] rejuvenation of the wood school.

[1:43:42] Here's the problem.

[1:43:44] I don't trust them.

[1:43:47] For the last five years I've been coming to this board.

[1:43:49] The wood school has been trying to create developments and and or selling off parcels

[1:43:54] two developers for increased density and commercial uses that we do not have the capacity

[1:43:59] for working in the township.

[1:44:00] So again, I've seen you here many times and forgive me if you're asking for this for an internal growth process and I just don't believe it.

[1:44:10] But if you are going to approve this asked to readstone and overlay, I want a very tight leash.

[1:44:20] If that means we have to push this motion and take a month to craft land and go to it,

[1:44:24] they will no longer, whether it will not allow this overlay to extend to anyone but the wood school.

[1:44:32] Maybe that's what we have to do.

[1:44:33] I want no back doors to cart blanche.

[1:44:37] Frankly, it should be slowed down by the bureaucraccy,

[1:44:40] about the bureaucraccy process that Mr. Regus was talking about.

[1:44:43] That's how the township residents are protected.

[1:44:48] That's it.

[1:44:50] Thank you, Mr. Bruno. Other public comment.

[1:45:00] Look at the plan and I think would provide a lot of great services. Nothing in this plan says to me that they're trying to extend those services to their current clients.

[1:45:12] They, the nine, and I've said it before to you guys, the nine units or the 20 percent units is window dressing for you guys approving apartments that the community just doesn't want.

[1:45:23] That's what it wants to do if we give them conditional use in their conditional use that they set it 90% up to 90% can be residential of this conditional use

[1:45:35] So while you guys have some say and how they develop this land none of that has to be a dental

[1:45:42] Building or a new pharmacy if they decide they just want to keep building apartments. I think that's where the community would have an issue and I think we'd be getting it on

[1:45:53] I said it at the Planning Commission the first night they presented this plan if they brought

[1:45:58] to the zoning and the Planning Commission, hey, we want to build a demo office on wood services.

[1:46:03] The issues that Mr. McGinnis is saying they would have are not exist. There's not a person

[1:46:07] in the community that wouldn't say, man, that is great wood services providing more services

[1:46:12] to their people. Nobody would step up and say a negative word about it. They probably asked

[1:46:18] board to get every variance they could because it would be providing the services that these

[1:46:23] clients need what this is is a money grant that's what this is. So I believe they should go

[1:46:32] through the exact same process as everyone else and this should similar to what the zoning

[1:46:37] board did in the planning commission and they declined to approve it and I think you

[1:46:43] I should agree with the people that you guys set up in those boards to give you guys counsel.

[1:46:50] The other issue I have is, which is part of why I came here to speak tonight, part of

[1:46:58] these departments, people are going to be going into our school district.

[1:47:02] So most recently at the school board are one of the committee meetings for the school board.

[1:47:07] They did a 10 year capacity analysis.

[1:47:10] So, to break it down pretty simple for you guys, I looked at student enrollment over the last eight years, okay.

[1:47:17] And starting 2017 up until about 2021, the Shemny School District average in total, K-312, about 93 to 94 hundred students.

[1:47:29] Over the last four years that has jumped to around 98 to 99 hundred.

[1:47:34] That's a lot of jump in four years.

[1:47:37] I wonder why we jump that high.

[1:47:39] Look at all the development.

[1:47:41] That 10-year capacity study.

[1:47:43] Well, I think the individual that did that study

[1:47:46] did a really good job.

[1:47:48] They also left out a couple of developments,

[1:47:51] or maybe just didn't know that they were approved,

[1:47:54] that would have added even more to the numbers.

[1:47:58] And we have a really critical issue

[1:47:59] within the next five years in the Chinese school district

[1:48:03] already.

[1:48:03] We don't even have to add any more people to our community, any more kids.

[1:48:08] We have a critical issue where we're going to have to reorganize our elementary and middle

[1:48:12] schools, where the high school are probably not going to have enough room for our high school

[1:48:18] kids. And this is at Max Capacity. We're talking classes. Sometimes I have 35 kids in a high school

[1:48:24] class. Our kindergarten class is 25 kids. I don't know if you guys would familiar with education,

[1:48:30] But the more the numbers go up, the less the education occurs in a classroom.

[1:48:35] We are overburdening our teachers already.

[1:48:38] So whether it's 10 units, whether it's 20 units, whether it's 100 units,

[1:48:43] middle town, there's Germany school district, just can't take it.

[1:48:47] If Woods wants to add additional housing for their clients, then they should do that.

[1:48:53] And I think this board would probably listen to it,

[1:49:01] So why are we giving them an overlay that is somewhat of a car block?

[1:49:05] Yeah, you guys have some oversight, but it is somewhat of a car block.

[1:49:08] So I think it's disingenuous to say, hey, let's do this.

[1:49:13] So I don't see the benefit to middle-town township or the citizens of middle-town townships.

[1:49:17] I see all the benefits to wood services, which scares me.

[1:49:22] Similar to some of the people that spoke up here.

[1:49:24] So thank you, Board.

[1:49:27] Yeah, and I'm going to ask if somebody from woods maybe can address some of those comments as well because I think this is another thing that we've heard about this process, which is this idea that what is really happening here is just woods heading down a path of just converting to more and more residential or divesting itself a property and this is nothing to do with the long-term sustainability of the woods mission, this is just it's all about them being able to make more money to use their land in other ways.

[1:49:52] And I know there's been a lot of talk about the change in their model of curbs, care, model of the service.

[1:49:58] So I don't know if you can answer that or maybe somebody from woods can address that.

[1:50:02] I can answer part of that and then maybe you can be supplemented.

[1:50:05] One item that was discussed is apartments, plural.

[1:50:11] The ordinance is one apartment.

[1:50:14] So the original iteration of the ordinance as it was proposed had the apartment used,

[1:50:20] coupled with the other uses, we modified that in the current ordinance, which is pending

[1:50:27] before you.

[1:50:28] So if that is a real concern that concern has been addressed, I will also note the comment

[1:50:35] that or the suggestion, which is a comment suggestion that would should follow the same process

[1:50:41] that everyone else in the township follows.

[1:50:44] And my report to that is that is why we're here.

[1:50:48] We're requesting this so that we can follow the same process that 90% of businesses or residential homeowners follow when they want to do something on their property.

[1:51:01] What was has right now is the extreme anomaly, not the current situation.

[1:51:06] This ordinance would allow us to go through the process the same way that 90% of the other property owners in the town should do already.

[1:51:16] But to the last question, and I welcome anyone on Woods's end to supplement this, our one permits housing already on this property.

[1:51:30] And one of the things that I commented last week at the Planning Commission is, despite some concerns or comments to the contrary, we have tried to be incredibly transparent throughout this process.

[1:51:42] So, when we came to the Planning Commission with the prior iteration of the ordinance, we brought the entity that we were selling the 20 acre parcel across from Flowers Mill to and disclosed to the township in advance of that ordinance being considered what our plans were.

[1:52:04] instead of asking the township to consider an ordinance and then a couple of months after the ordinance passed theoretically

[1:52:13] unveil

[1:52:14] a large development project without disclosing that both to the township and to the members of the public. So I think we have been

[1:52:30] Woods wants to stay in middle town. Woods, again, I'm sure many of the members of the Woods team would be happy to answer any of those questions if the board has it.

[1:52:40] But this ordinance is the exact opposite of what the concern is.

[1:52:45] This ordinance is a shot in the arm in a positive direction to allow Woods to continue to thrive, grow and be viable here.

[1:52:56] is not the opposite of that. Woods could turn and sell their entire campus tomorrow to

[1:53:01] somebody build single-family detached dwellings over the entire 237 odd acres that Woods controls.

[1:53:09] This is an ordinance that is Woods related. I challenge anybody to go through the non-residential

[1:53:17] uses list and say that somehow this is a commercially driven financial driven ordinance at this point.

[1:53:24] The uses are directly in furtherance of Woods's mission.

[1:53:30] This ordinance, if it passes, has very little incentive or attraction to a third-party developer.

[1:53:37] This is Woods's mission-related uses that if pass will allow Woods to continue to be relevant,

[1:53:45] thrive, and grow in the township.

[1:53:50] Thank you, Mr. McGinnis.

[1:53:52] All right, how they're public comment.

[1:53:57] Hi, Lorna Roe, 18-cycle pair.

[1:54:02] So I appreciate what Woods is trying to do here, and it's really sad that the government

[1:54:09] has cut all of their funding so now they have to send us sell-off parcels of land to

[1:54:13] make ends meet.

[1:54:14] I think this is a tragedy all around.

[1:54:17] But unfortunately, you know, the original plans that they submitted in December were 220 acres

[1:54:25] and yes, they disclose that they wanted to, could we have the map up again?

[1:54:30] They disclose that they were going to, you know, take 20 acres of protected woodlands and just completely share it

[1:54:36] and put up an apartment complex with another Amazon food store.

[1:54:41] And they wouldn't tell the planning commission why they needed to do the whole overlay, and it required the EAC to disclose that.

[1:54:51] The EAC revealed that they couldn't legally do that by itself.

[1:54:56] They had to include the entire parcel together.

[1:55:00] The EAC rejects this current revision because it still does the same thing.

[1:55:05] It's still 113 acres, and if you look over here,

[1:55:25] according to the National Wetlands Overlay,

[1:55:27] there is a wetlands right here,

[1:55:29] and there's another wetlands right here,

[1:55:31] and there's also woods around this wetlands.

[1:55:35] The apartment buildings that they want to build here,

[1:55:38] why can't they just build that there?

[1:55:39] Why do they need to have this whole tract?

[1:55:47] And they keep bragging about how the whole tract

[1:55:50] is going to comply with our ordinance,

[1:55:51] However, by deluding the size of these properties to 113 acres, our natural protections are no longer protecting.

[1:56:03] So they're still deluding our resources.

[1:56:05] They're still deluding our ability to protect these lands.

[1:56:09] And that's why we shouldn't allow this to happen.

[1:56:14] What happens when the apartments that they're going to build here,

[1:56:18] when the money that they get from that runs out?

[1:56:20] You know, these plans are unsustainable.

[1:56:23] It might be, you know, a shot in the arm right now, but then they're going to come back.

[1:56:27] They need to build more.

[1:56:28] They need to build more.

[1:56:29] They need to sell off another parcel of land to another developer so they can have the funding

[1:56:34] to do this, this, and this.

[1:56:36] What happens when wood is no longer sustainable in-line horn, and they have to sell their property

[1:56:42] completely to some business that already has a state in the overlay district.

[1:56:46] And then we get our little celebration of our own in middle town, where we don't have a say because that developer is going to have control.

[1:56:55] And it's up to the developer to share what the deed restrictions are.

[1:56:59] It's up to the developer to share what else is going on in the overlay district.

[1:57:02] It takes away your oversight.

[1:57:05] We have enough trouble with the zoning board, granting variances that put you in a bind that say, I know this isn't good for the township,

[1:57:13] But I legally can't say no because they'll take me to court and I'll have to spend more money fighting it in court.

[1:57:18] This is your opportunity to nip it in the bud and prevent the zoning board from taking your power away and from taking your ability to

[1:57:27] oversee the ordinances and make sure that they get fulfilled the way they should be fulfilled.

[1:57:32] I wish that Woods had another alternative but I don't think this is the solution we want it to be.

[1:57:39] And I think it's just going to become a problem for the township.

[1:57:42] It's going to set a precedent.

[1:57:44] What's going to stop sesame place from wanting to make their overlay district?

[1:57:49] What's going to stop, say, Mary's hospital from wanting to make their overlay district?

[1:57:54] You're charting down dangerous territory.

[1:57:56] And it's not even going to do the good thing it's going to do.

[1:58:00] And I urge you to follow the advice of the Environmental Advisory Council

[1:58:04] and the Planning Commission and reject this proposal.

[1:58:11] Could I ask a question? What is the long-term plan for the non-residential spaces on there?

[1:58:23] When we're talking about the pharmacy, the medical office, are there plans actually in place?

[1:58:27] Is there a design in place for that? Have you secured the funding for your grant yet?

[1:58:33] Has them been awarded to you guys yet?

[1:58:43] I just want to address some of the statements that were just made.

[1:58:46] respectively, most of it's not true.

[1:58:49] We do have 113 acres in the overlay district.

[1:58:52] We have to respect for the overall track,

[1:58:55] all resource calculations, all zoning requirements.

[1:58:58] There's a term called transferable development rights.

[1:59:01] All we're asking for is, if in one particular location,

[1:59:06] if you go over a little bit on tree disturbance,

[1:59:08] you have to then pick another section of the Woods campus

[1:59:10] and overprotect.

[1:59:12] That's why I keep going back to the overall 113 acres.

[1:59:16] When you're looking at the overall overlay district, which is the 113 acres, we cannot violate the ordinance and just start really nearly picking things and disturbing items, what lands was suggested.

[1:59:28] We can't disturb what lands by ordinance, so that's not a truthful statement.

[1:59:33] So I just wanted to clear up some of the statements that were made.

[1:59:36] This isn't an ordinance that allows woods to do whatever they want.

[1:59:40] It's an ordinance that creates an overlay district that matches what they do today, but gives them some leeway

[1:59:45] that when they come in front of you, if they want to develop a certain area and there just

[1:59:49] happens to be a little bit more trees in that location.

[2:00:00] We have to overprotect in another. That's as simple as it is.

[2:00:04] The fact that wood does not have another land development plan set designed for the non-residential

[2:00:15] use, I think just buttresses are argument this evening, which is what this ordinance is predominantly

[2:00:23] is codifying the existing reality on these parcels with providing us the ability to expand

[2:00:31] reasonably and with oversight from the supervisors, not the zoning hearing board, if we

[2:00:38] need it in the future, that's all.

[2:00:42] And I think the one thing that I am still struggling with, and I see we are coming from,

[2:00:47] right, giving more control to the board of supervisors, but it may not be us, right?

[2:00:51] It may not be these professionals.

[2:00:53] It may not be someone that has the same sense of open space and preservation that we have.

[2:01:00] That's my biggest concern.

[2:01:01] I wish in the ordinance there was more minimum with respect to those things and not a lot of

[2:01:10] give and take.

[2:01:12] We'll do this here.

[2:01:12] We to the best reasonable efforts.

[2:01:14] We'll do that.

[2:01:15] That's really where I'm struggling because we're putting the decision in someone else's hands

[2:01:20] that may not be us up here.

[2:01:24] Understood?

[2:01:26] All right, other public comment.

[2:01:31] Do we want to go in twice?

[2:01:34] Any other questions to many board members?

[2:01:37] I do have one more, I'm so sorry.

[2:01:40] My question is for the housing.

[2:01:42] I think there was a good point, and this isn't because I'm against outsiders or people coming

[2:01:47] into our community that are different or diverse or anything like that.

[2:01:52] My question is, if wood services wants to provide additional services to their clientele,

[2:02:00] why aren't the housing options just for their clientele?

[2:02:10] Or employees?

[2:02:11] Why isn't it just that?

[2:02:18] There's a version of that question.

[2:02:20] I think it came up at the first planning commission meeting,

[2:02:24] and back in, like it was November,

[2:02:26] I don't think the Woods team views it as an either or, so first of all, with the PHFA funding,

[2:02:35] there's not an ability to do that and have it the attainable housing, so that's one item

[2:02:40] legally.

[2:02:42] But secondly, I think that's presuming that Woods's only initiative is solely related to its

[2:02:55] is not something that was cares about.

[2:02:58] I can state that we've had a number of conversations

[2:03:00] over the years about that, and the Woods leadership team

[2:03:04] who was here this evening, I will, if I had a Bible,

[2:03:07] I would swear on it, is insistent.

[2:03:10] They are mission-driven, not just with respect to their own

[2:03:14] residents, but because they believe in the mission

[2:03:17] of attainable housing.

[2:03:19] It came up with the first iteration of the ordinance

[2:03:22] because we had talked about attainable housing

[2:03:24] at the Zoning Hearing Board before, and the Planning Commission, I think, asked a fair question,

[2:03:30] which was, okay, well, you say you're supportive of this, how come it's not drafted

[2:03:35] that way in the ordinance? So when we revised the ordinance, one of the items that we put

[2:03:41] explicitly with the apartment building was the attainable housing component, and that's not

[2:03:46] just because it's cares about earmarking the nine units for its residents with intellectual

[2:03:51] disabilities. They care very much about that. But broadly speaking, the Woods team sees a

[2:03:56] dire need for attainable housing in our community. So I would suggest that the apartment

[2:04:01] bill or the Woods resident specifically with a need in our community generally. I don't think

[2:04:08] it's an either or on Woods's end. This was an opportunity to marry both together.

[2:04:14] Okay, I have one more question.

[2:04:22] When it comes to the housing and the attainable housing,

[2:04:27] How does one qualify? What are the, I guess, the, um, their employment or salary limits?

[2:04:35] What, how do they, I don't, I don't have my notes here in front of me, but, um, in general,

[2:04:44] a single person looking to apply for a one bedroom would need to earn approximately 48,000,

[2:04:51] 200 dollars a year in order to be eligible for a one bedroom for a two bedroom, two, and it's

[2:04:59] The dollar amount is also based on household size.

[2:05:03] So for example, for a two-bedroom, a single parent raising one child looking to apply for a

[2:05:08] two-bedroom would need to earn 55,000 in change in order to qualify.

[2:05:13] And the number changes based on household size, and obviously the number of bedrooms.

[2:05:18] It's a helpful.

[2:05:19] Yes, thank you.

[2:05:20] So that's like making $20, $25 an hour.

[2:05:24] It's approximately 24 to 20, we said, and we're at the planning commission, we wanted to comment,

[2:05:31] you know, 48,000, this is around the salaries of our first year teachers in the district.

[2:05:36] There's a lot of our home health professionals.

[2:05:40] And that's who's moving in, right?

[2:05:43] Yeah, I think there was somebody that suggested that this would be low income, and we know we'd be getting people from other areas,

[2:05:49] but the truth is there are a lot of people in our area that are making that income.

[2:05:54] and would benefit probably?

[2:05:56] Yeah, so the term low income is relative, and it just so happens that the median income in

[2:06:01] Bux County is higher than average.

[2:06:03] If it was a different county, a different community might be different, but that's the...

[2:06:09] I'm sorry, 48, 48, 48,000 to 200.

[2:06:13] And do they more or less?

[2:06:16] Or less?

[2:06:17] Yes, you can't earn more than that.

[2:06:18] And do they have to recall if I, on an annual basis, or once they are in there?

[2:06:24] I don't know the answer to that. I don't think so. No.

[2:06:28] But I don't know. I would just be speculating.

[2:06:31] And I guess my last question will not just to.

[2:06:35] So that's the maximum income that would qualify them. Do they have to have income or could they not have income?

[2:06:44] They have to have income. Yes, they can't be rent burdened.

[2:06:46] I don't know the term for that, but they have to have income.

[2:06:50] Yep.

[2:06:50] Yes.

[2:06:54] One question from me, I think it's from Mr. McGinnis.

[2:06:57] The property right now, the personal is zoned entirely R1.

[2:07:02] Is that correct?

[2:07:04] What bars would from selling the entire property tomorrow to toll brothers?

[2:07:11] Thank you.

[2:07:17] Okay.

[2:07:18] You know, we've heard a lot of very thoughtful.

[2:07:30] Questions, comments, concerns, and this process has obviously gone on for quite some time.

[2:07:35] It was twice before the Planning Commission, and we as a Board have had a lot of time to review the ordinance.

[2:07:42] I can't count how many times I've read this thing and had discussions with our professionals about its scope and its content.

[2:07:49] I think a lot of the things that are raised as concerns are not in my mind true concerns.

[2:07:56] The idea that this will become a whole property full of apartments is just not factual.

[2:08:01] I mean, the ordinance explicitly spells out that it is limited to one apartment building,

[2:08:06] which is the one contemplated.

[2:08:08] This idea that it is, this is, they should, we should just make woods go through the same process

[2:08:14] that everybody else has to go through.

[2:08:16] Well, that's completely backwards.

[2:08:18] In fact, the whole purpose for this is that right now woods is forced to go through a step that

[2:08:22] every other resident in this township does not have to go through when they want to do something

[2:08:27] similar to what was just trying to take on.

[2:08:29] And so the purpose of this, I think, is to fix that and to rectify that and to put them

[2:08:33] on level playing field.

[2:08:35] So I don't view that this as necessarily taking away that protection or that process.

[2:08:43] And in fact, it's funny, one of the things that we, I think, probably verbally can complain

[2:08:52] about as supervisors, pretty often up here,

[2:08:54] is that by the time land development projects get to us,

[2:08:57] they've already been through the zoning hearing board

[2:08:59] and have had variants as granted,

[2:09:01] which really impedes and limits our ability

[2:09:03] to do much of anything.

[2:09:04] I mean, by the time it gets to us,

[2:09:06] once you've got zoning approval,

[2:09:07] I know people come in here

[2:09:09] and they just think that we as the board of supervisors

[2:09:10] can just deny anything that we don't like

[2:09:12] and it's just not that simple and it's not legal.

[2:09:14] And I've tried to explain that over and over again

[2:09:17] and I continue to believe that,

[2:09:20] I believe in our responsibility to follow the law.

[2:09:23] I believe that everybody that comes before us deserves to have us follow the law when we're

[2:09:28] making decisions about whether to approve or deny a project.

[2:09:32] But the matter is, this ordinance cuts out the zoning hearing board, and if you look

[2:09:37] at it one way, actually gives us as the Board of Supervisors a lot more control and input

[2:09:42] and power than we typically ever have when it comes to land development, because we will

[2:09:48] the ones deciding whether or not the use is appropriate and we will be given some ability

[2:09:54] and some power to address that and massage that into proposed and require changes to make

[2:10:02] the project more appropriate and consistent with the property and so I don't think it takes

[2:10:08] the way our oversight. I don't have concern that this is going to become a property full

[2:10:15] of apartments or that wood is gonna now slowly

[2:10:17] divest itself of all of its land.

[2:10:19] I think Mr. House's point is a very strong one

[2:10:22] and I hope that folks understand that.

[2:10:25] This is known residential.

[2:10:27] Wood's could decide tomorrow that they're done

[2:10:28] with Middletown, they're done with this property

[2:10:30] and they're gonna sell it.

[2:10:32] And any developer out there told brothers was a great example

[2:10:35] could come in and buy it and build houses.

[2:10:36] And so concerns about increasing population

[2:10:39] or about the school district, just they just,

[2:10:43] They fall flat with me and I just don't think they're legitimate because it's zone residential now

[2:10:48] And so

[2:10:50] Again, I've looked at this thing inside outside upside down side

[2:10:54] I mean it's it's put a lot of time and thought into it

[2:10:57] I think ultimately the bottom line though is

[2:11:00] I trust woods I believe in woods

[2:11:03] I believe in the work that they are doing

[2:11:04] I believe in the people that they are helping

[2:11:06] Not just in our community, but even more broadly in that

[2:11:09] And I think that they want to stay viable, they want to be here for the long term, and I believe

[2:11:16] that this will enhance their ability to do that with this new model of service that they are moving

[2:11:22] towards. And so me personally, I am in favor of approving this overlay. All that anybody I'll

[2:11:30] speak that wants to before we take a motion. So I tend to agree. I feel like wood services has

[2:11:37] a very valuable asset for our community for really years and decades and you know I've worked

[2:11:47] with for an engineer adults I've worked with people with mental illnesses and as a teacher

[2:11:52] for a long time I've worked with many students that are on the spectrum and I know the good

[2:11:57] work that they do. I know that third dedicated to staying in our community and this is going to

[2:12:02] them do that and I also very dedicated to having some affordable attainable housing which I know

[2:12:09] is desperately needed. We have our children that are in their 20s maybe 30s that I don't know

[2:12:16] how they're going to afford housing to be honest with you. This is a bandaid but I feel like it's

[2:12:20] a step in the right direction. It is contained entirely within the wood services. I know they're

[2:12:26] going, you know, the PHFA is going to be overseeing this project, and I know they do a solid

[2:12:34] job of venting people and getting people in, that deserve the housing, and now we'll

[2:12:40] probably be, you know, good neighbors, and I think that as I know, I forget your name, I'm sorry.

[2:12:47] Don't, you were saying that these people in Wood Service, they're already in our community.

[2:12:52] they're already in apartments. I actually was a resident in council for a long time. So I know

[2:12:58] that these people are already in the community. They're not going to be any more of

[2:13:02] risk being within the wood services area. So I just want to put that.

[2:13:11] I'll say for my part the idea that wood could pull up stakes and we would lose their

[2:13:18] valuable mission in our community breaks my heart, the alternative that is a buy-write idea

[2:13:24] that they could sell this property to a developer and put in a couple hundred, third of

[2:13:30] an acre, single-family homes, which would bring hundreds of children to our school district,

[2:13:37] thereby increasing the property taxes that in the shemny school district would have to

[2:13:42] by the way those houses would sell for several hundred thousand dollars.

[2:13:47] We hear over and over again on this board that that's not what the community wants either.

[2:13:52] I am conscious every day that I was not elected to this chair that I sit in.

[2:13:55] I sit in this chair because Anna Paine is no longer with us.

[2:13:58] And her overriding passion was attainable housing.

[2:14:01] Her overriding passion was making sure that middle time was a place that we could have vibrant diversity

[2:14:06] and people of all Ilks being able to live and work in our communities.

[2:14:13] And so I am very committed to the mission of Woods and the mission of attainable housing

[2:14:17] that Anna so, for evently, wanted to have happened.

[2:14:25] I want to agree with a few things.

[2:14:29] I am truly appreciative of the conditional use in the opportunity for us to have some more

[2:14:35] stringent oversight in the whole process.

[2:14:38] I value wood services.

[2:14:41] I have a daughter who is on the spectrum.

[2:14:45] It takes a great deal of energy, devotion, and care to care for those people.

[2:14:53] And the residents deserve that.

[2:14:57] We need to support.

[2:15:00] Woods in that endeavor. I appreciate your attention to attainable housing.

[2:15:10] Many, many times, spoken

[2:15:12] to Annapain about the importance of it. She could not afford buying a home. There are many people

[2:15:19] in our community who are working very hard for $25 to $30 an hour, who cannot afford a house.

[2:15:26] So I believe in that as well and as an educator for 30 years and being an education, the services that you are looking to provide an expand on will help many people in the lower box area.

[2:15:42] So I support this initiative.

[2:15:51] I will just reiterate, you know my comments earlier.

[2:15:55] Again, I fully support Woods, I think they do a phenomenal job caring for those that need

[2:16:01] to be cared for.

[2:16:03] But again, I looking at the ordinance, I wish there was more teeth to the ability to preserve.

[2:16:13] And again, I think why it was originally his own desire one, is that preservation of open

[2:16:19] space given the landscape of it today.

[2:16:23] And I think we should have put a little bit more teeth into the ordinance and not leaving it up to a further future board.

[2:16:33] Anything else from any board members before we have a motion?

[2:16:40] Okay.

[2:16:42] So, this was the S. Rosito.

[2:16:43] I don't see a proposed motion in the papers, so we'll see the proper motion to make here.

[2:16:48] You could be a motion to approve the petition for the overlay ordinance as presented

[2:16:57] And with the revisions that Mr. McGinnis mentioned earlier.

[2:17:04] So I will make a motion to approve the petition to enact an ordinance to create the community

[2:17:10] development or transitional overlayed district subject to the revisions stated by Mr.

[2:17:17] McGinnis earlier.

[2:17:19] Is that good?

[2:17:20] Okay.

[2:17:20] Is there a second?

[2:17:21] Second.

[2:17:22] Then I motion the second.

[2:17:22] Any more questions at this time?

[2:17:24] Any questions from the public at this time?

[2:17:27] Seeing none all those in favor say aye.

[2:17:29] Aye.

[2:17:30] Opposed?

[2:17:31] No.

[2:17:31] carries four one.

[2:17:33] Thank you Mr. McGinnison.

[2:17:34] Your team.

[2:17:43] We're going to take a five minute recess.

[2:17:53] The duration of awarding the North Flowers Mill drainage.

[2:17:56] Flowers Mill Road drainage project.

[2:17:58] Base bid and alternate number one to James D. Morris e. Inc.

[2:18:01] in the total amount of $114,807.

[2:18:05] Mr. Gessler.

[2:18:07] Thank you Mr. Chair.

[2:18:08] fellow board members. This project was before the board a few

[2:18:13] meetings ago for when I went out to bid. This is a drainage project

[2:18:18] that precedes the road program that will be done later this summer.

[2:18:23] North Flowers, Mulrode, right outside the township building here at the

[2:18:26] intersection of Christopher Jones' way. Experiences flooding

[2:18:32] during storm events, icing during the winter months.

[2:18:35] And this is looking to address that.

[2:18:37] So we did open the bids on April 1st.

[2:18:40] We reviewed them for compliance with the township's responsible

[2:18:45] contractor ordinance requirements.

[2:18:47] Total of six bids were received.

[2:18:49] They arranged.

[2:18:50] And this is the base and the alternate combined from 114-807

[2:18:55] to 215-110.

[2:19:00] The recommendation is for the low bidder,

[2:19:03] James D. Morrissey, and that is in the total amount of 114-807.

[2:19:11] I'll clarify real quick, the alternate, the basic data described, the alternate is a location

[2:19:16] just down the road, past the shopping plaza, the shops, the flowers mill that has ponding

[2:19:22] issues in the right turn lanes, so this is also looking to address that water issue as part

[2:19:27] of the same project.

[2:19:29] We have to answer any questions.

[2:19:30] Any questions for Mr. Castler?

[2:19:33] Would it be budget for this project?

[2:19:37] The original estimate for this was 125,000.

[2:19:40] So we're happy to see it become in below that.

[2:19:43] This is budgeted or understanding out the highway aid money for the township.

[2:19:51] Other questions?

[2:19:53] All right.

[2:19:53] I make a motion to award the base bid in alternate bid number one for the North

[2:19:56] Flowers Mill Road during this project.

[2:19:58] in the amount total amount of $114,807 to James D. Morsey Inc.

[2:20:03] Is there a second?

[2:20:05] I don't know who got that.

[2:20:06] In this hand, you got it.

[2:20:08] It's been about 10 second, any board questions?

[2:20:10] Any questions in the public?

[2:20:12] Seeing none of those in favor say aye.

[2:20:13] Aye.

[2:20:14] Opposed.

[2:20:15] Carrie's five zero.

[2:20:16] Next on the agenda,

[2:20:17] consideration of awarding the consortium road materials

[2:20:19] to apply contract for 2025,

[2:20:21] 26 to your request for inquiry in an amount

[2:20:23] not to exceed $65,000 in this department.

[2:20:26] Good evening. Once again every year we have to go through this. So this is a bid from the

[2:20:32] Bucks County Consortium, which we deal with. And once again, this year Marcy won the bid.

[2:20:38] There was five bidters, but Marcy, overall, had the, got the bid from the Consortium.

[2:20:53] Sorry, I haven't my paperwork that, uh, you're Ricka Stone quarry.

[2:20:59] Yeah, it's the same Marcy is you're a guy. Oh, it's all one. Yeah, it's all the same. I'm sorry

[2:21:08] Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you are

[2:21:10] Trying to get you know it's gone there. He just said James the Marcy is yeah, yeah, I know yeah

[2:21:18] It's your recap for all tests for it's your recap stone quarry. Oh, shell font P. I

[2:21:23] Any questions for Mr. Garden there. Sorry, but that guy is no questions. All right, I'll accept the motion

[2:21:32] I move toward the 2025-26 road material supplies contract to you regus stone quarry shellbot PA and then not not to exceed 65,000.

[2:21:42] Thank you, Ms. Quarple, is there a second?

[2:21:44] Second.

[2:21:44] But in most of the second, any more questions?

[2:21:47] Requires us from the public.

[2:21:48] Seeing none others in favor say aye.

[2:21:50] Aye, aye.

[2:21:51] Opposed.

[2:21:52] Carries five zero.

[2:21:52] Thank you.

[2:21:53] Thank you.

[2:21:54] Next consideration of authorizing the purchase and installation of playground equipment at Lions Park playground

[2:21:59] from Margarano Recreation Company in the amount of $19999.99 in

[2:22:03] dollars in 53 cents.

[2:22:06] They did the fund for last, huh?

[2:22:07] They did.

[2:22:08] They did.

[2:22:10] Mr. Grossman.

[2:22:10] Guys had a rough night so they got to end it on a high on a fund note.

[2:22:14] Good evening, Mr. Chairman and fellow board members.

[2:22:16] The park erect department is before the board tonight asking for permission

[2:22:19] to purchase and install a new playground at Lions Park.

[2:22:24] This playground is primarily serves the neighborhoods of snowball

[2:22:28] for Shithya and...

[2:22:30] And deep down east and west. Just for everybody's edification, if you see it's a very high visibility area, right

[2:22:37] at a busy intersection of Levittown at the corner of Trenton and Veterans Highway.

[2:22:46] There we go.

[2:22:47] This playground, I always say we rotate them every 15 years, but this is 28 years old. It was built

[2:22:55] and it was put in in 1997,

[2:23:00] but it's run, it's useful,

[2:23:02] if it's time to go, what we picked is on, this gets used,

[2:23:09] what you see is this was some random Monday afternoon,

[2:23:13] I'm waiting at the light by the,

[2:23:15] what is now the BP gas station.

[2:23:18] You just see small hits and little families coming out

[2:23:21] and to hit this park.

[2:23:23] We've been the EACs, we've been planting a lot of trees in this area.

[2:23:27] Because of the high visibility area, we've picked some very vibrant colors.

[2:23:32] So we have yellow and umbrellas.

[2:23:34] So this is the overhead obviously.

[2:23:37] And you can see all the gear that's laid out.

[2:23:43] And then side picture of course.

[2:23:46] Now this was also part of a grant.

[2:23:48] So when we were going through this whole process,

[2:23:50] And I'm just going to click while I'm talking.

[2:23:56] Each one of our playgrounds, we have 12 total within the township.

[2:23:59] We want different themes.

[2:24:01] So the co-bought ridge was a national demonstration site for inclusive play.

[2:24:09] This is for like run around and be in a kid and get crazy.

[2:24:13] So I had to look up the word braciating because how a monkey climbs from tree tree that's

[2:24:18] called braciating.

[2:24:19] So, that's what this is supposed to do, if like, so if your kids are getting crazy at home,

[2:24:23] this is the park you want to bring them to.

[2:24:28] And just, you'll see the purples, the oranges, all that beautiful stuff, I did want

[2:24:33] to point out, inclusive pieces are always included in every one of our parks, if you look

[2:24:38] to the far right, the swing sets, especially there's some quiet solitude areas underneath the

[2:24:45] playground equipment and off to the left, there's actually what they call a teamwork.

[2:24:49] So it takes two to tango on that little spin around thing so it's like the T cups of Disney without I guess the barfing afterwards

[2:24:57] But I don't know

[2:25:00] And then so there's your appreciating, okay, and

[2:25:06] One more pick so

[2:25:08] If the labor because it was part of a grant so the labor is being paid by the grants

[2:25:15] So that's why on your quote, there's no line item.

[2:25:19] It's about a $37,000 deal, but that grand pace for that.

[2:25:24] So what we're buying is a complete unit install

[2:25:28] from the Maker, Marino Recreation Company.

[2:25:34] Our playground equipment game time in this episode

[2:25:37] is all built in Fort Paine, Alabama.

[2:25:41] All American, no tariffs, no nothing.

[2:25:44] So it's okay, so good stuff, if anybody has any questions for me, I would be happy to answer

[2:25:53] any questions for Ristico Perra.

[2:25:55] What did we get the grant for?

[2:25:58] So the grant was a through PRPS, you just applied for it and they said boom.

[2:26:04] So it was actually funded, it's in your packet, but it was funded by game time to the state.

[2:26:10] We applied, we buy a lot of game time equipment, so I'm not going to argue with how things work out.

[2:26:20] Okay, so is the bottom line that we're paying out the 119?

[2:26:24] Okay, all right, so that's after the grant.

[2:26:26] I want no accolades for coming in 47 cents under the budget amount in the capital budget.

[2:26:32] I do appreciate the budget there.

[2:26:35] And given where the playground is in the two large roads that are next to it,

[2:26:39] when you showed that area have we ever thought about

[2:26:41] potentially fencing in the playground area of this park

[2:26:45] so to help with safety.

[2:26:47] It's all put no.

[2:26:49] So it's been working fine now.

[2:26:51] It's all part of the green belt.

[2:26:53] What the afterthought is, well,

[2:26:55] when we discuss with the board,

[2:26:56] we're actually going to put four parking spaces in there now

[2:26:59] or after we build it so that families come in.

[2:27:02] What they do is drive on the grass now

[2:27:04] so they have a safe exit from their cars

[2:27:09] And we'll, similar to what we did at Cobalt, where we did two handicap spots, we're going to just carve out our snowball and build it.

[2:27:17] We don't need any kind of gates, and it's just another thing that's a pain in the neck, grass cutting, and everything.

[2:27:24] And it's part of the green belt, so we actually have people that just walk the green belt anyway, so it just kind of flows.

[2:27:32] Great question.

[2:27:33] Did I see sidewalks on the one rendering that you had there?

[2:27:38] No, I thought it did.

[2:27:40] Now, so what we're going to just the path into the park.

[2:27:43] So what we're going to do is, again,

[2:27:44] like cobalt, parking lot, path into the playground.

[2:27:49] Everything is ADA compliant to get there.

[2:27:54] I don't see any benches in your rendering.

[2:27:58] And as a mom of three kids, I would love benches.

[2:28:02] Right.

[2:28:03] I love it.

[2:28:04] So there's actually four on the perimeter now, two were recently put in, so that's always

[2:28:10] part of our package.

[2:28:11] It's basically a couple of benches and a couple of trash cans.

[2:28:16] So we just kind of let the area take care of itself.

[2:28:22] Any other questions?

[2:28:24] If not, I can accept a motion.

[2:28:26] I moved to execute a contract for the purchase and installation of Plague Run equipment

[2:28:32] from Mar Toronto Recreation Company, a co-star vendor in the

[2:28:36] amount of $119,999 and 53 cents.

[2:28:42] Thank you, Ms. Corporal. It's there second.

[2:28:45] I've been emotional in a second. Any more questions?

[2:28:47] Any questions from the public?

[2:28:55] I use that pretty often when I walk any chance whatsoever to get a path

[2:29:00] from the playground to that corner because when you're walking at

[2:29:05] Like I'd say, I'm going from snowball to the wall or whatever, it's muddy.

[2:29:10] Any chance of that being included with this?

[2:29:14] We love a trail, connect, Mr. Kaperach.

[2:29:19] And that's why, and that's actually why you don't need a fence because it is actually a good

[2:29:23] distance from the road.

[2:29:24] The whole playground is a good difference or a road, you don't need a fence, but you walk from

[2:29:28] the playground to that corner to get to the light, you do the crosswalk, and it gets

[2:29:32] muddy.

[2:29:33] Gotcha.

[2:29:35] This is short answer, yes.

[2:29:38] Ms. Canaan and Ms. Hanna are working with us on the Park-Aurek comprehensive plan, and, like, you know, from the comprehensive plan for the middle town township, everybody wants trails, trails.

[2:29:49] They want to trails, they want to connect trails to a lot of the conversations we're having now as connecting trails.

[2:29:56] Patrick and I, the Assistant Park-Aurek director, looked at...

[2:30:00] We're doing an asphalt trail all the way along down that snowball drive a couple of years ago, so, you know, we are thinking about things like that to connect people to that intersection and to the other side of that event highway.

[2:30:17] Any other public questions or comment?

[2:30:20] Thanks Mr. Bruno. All right, there's been a motion in a second. All those in favor say aye.

[2:30:26] Opposed.

[2:30:26] carries 5-0. Thank you Mr. Pair.

[2:30:28] Thank you.

[2:30:29] Next concludes all of our formal agenda items.

[2:30:31] So next, I will go to public comment on non-agenda items.

[2:30:35] Is there any public comment on non-agenda items?

[2:30:43] Well, we finally made it.

[2:30:46] Good evening. Sheldon posts from Red Rose Gate.

[2:30:50] I feel as though what I'm about to say is rather trivial compared to a lot that was discussed this evening.

[2:30:56] However, I'm going to say it anyway.

[2:30:57] And I'll try to not keep you here too much longer.

[2:31:00] I came up here, that's probably been at least three or four months ago, with some comments

[2:31:06] pertaining to the way in which agendas are written, specifically for the zoning board

[2:31:12] and the planning commission, and how it's for the average person that I consider myself

[2:31:17] to be, it's impossible to know really what's going on, after that meeting,

[2:31:28] that was another

[2:31:28] email about a month and a half after, and I think, I believe I sent it to all of you as well

[2:31:34] as Ms. Teoli calls.

[2:31:36] And I made a comment in there that at the end of that meeting that this was in error, but

[2:31:42] I said, Ms. Teoli calls and Mr. Kessler spoke to me afterwards.

[2:31:45] It was actually Ms. Teoli calls and Mr. Esposito who spoke to me afterwards, saying to me

[2:31:51] at that time that they felt that's though that was a good suggestion to try and revise

[2:31:56] how agendas are written for those two particular boards, however I've really seen no change

[2:32:02] and I would just like to make a couple of examples or state a couple of examples. One of the

[2:32:09] more recent zoning hearing board agendas. There's three things on the agenda, silver oak village,

[2:32:18] winter star corporation, milnick brothers, sorry, four things, shetland group. I know nothing

[2:32:24] about any of those companies. I assume they're companies. I know nothing about any of those

[2:32:28] companies and there's nothing in the agenda that indicates what it's about. And so as someone

[2:32:34] who might want to go to such a meeting and make some comments about it, I don't know what I'm

[2:32:40] commenting on because there's nothing in there. Your agendas for these meetings are quite the

[2:32:46] opposite. They're usually pretty specific if our police department, street department,

[2:32:50] parts of the department. If they're requesting whatever, it's pretty detailed in your agendas.

[2:32:56] And we know ahead of time that they're looking for a certain amount of money for a vehicle,

[2:33:01] or for a computer, or for weapons, or whatever it might be, park equipment, and so on.

[2:33:08] However, you look at a zoning board agenda and a planning commission agenda, and I at least can't make any

[2:33:15] out of them. I did get one clear it up tonight because earlier tonight I believe it was

[2:33:22] item number nine on your agenda. Was item number three on the Planning Commission's agenda

[2:33:28] back on April 2nd. However, more than half of it is nothing but numbers. Now I know they're probably

[2:33:36] tax parcel numbers or something but it doesn't tell me or anybody else who wants to look and see

[2:33:43] what they're requesting.

[2:33:44] Now, I know that one now because they were here earlier tonight and I know what it was all about at this point.

[2:33:51] So again, I would just like to, you know, make a plea or a suggestion.

[2:33:57] I know you don't write the agendas, but I'm assuming that somebody up here has some input on how those agendas are presented or written.

[2:34:05] So I really think it would be helpful to the community if there could be some detail put into some of these things.

[2:34:11] Back when I spoke the first time, I think I spoke mainly about locations like if this is

[2:34:17] a made up number.

[2:34:18] But if I saw something like 2832 Lincoln Highway, I would have no clue where that is.

[2:34:24] But if I saw like 2832 Lincoln Highway, which is the old Ruby Tuesday, next to the lows,

[2:34:30] is now going to be a Chick-fil-A, that's another sentence in the agenda, but it would be very

[2:34:35] clear what that is about and I really think that would help with those kinds of things

[2:34:41] could be added. So I'm going to remake that plea that perhaps, you know, we can try to be a

[2:34:47] little more specific with the writing of those agendas. I had two other quick things. One is for quite

[2:34:56] a few months, there was a gentleman who came up here to speak about Tower 8, a Pendell Fire

[2:35:02] Department. I'm not exactly sure what his agenda was or is, but as someone who lives about

[2:35:10] 12 houses away from the pretty serious house fire, a little over a month ago, I for one,

[2:35:17] I was very happy to see Tower 8 in operation and being used.

[2:35:22] And I believe there had to have been, I'm going to say, at least four or five different

[2:35:26] fire trucks at that house, and Tower 8 was right in the middle with its overhead doing

[2:35:32] its thing.

[2:35:33] And I for one as one resident would just like to say, I'm happy Tower 8's there and I don't

[2:35:39] really care how I've got there. So it's just nice to know that it's available for our

[2:35:45] township and that it can come in handy like that. And finally I just want to know is the public

[2:35:54] comment going to be permanently at the end of meetings now where. So I'll answer all of your questions.

[2:36:00] I'll go and reverse. The answer to that is that was not on purpose. I apologize Mr. Post. So we moved

[2:36:04] public comment to the end, in the meeting when we were honoring Annapain, because we thought

[2:36:08] it was appropriate to not have public comment kind of smack in the middle of that at the

[2:36:12] beginning of the meeting.

[2:36:13] I understood.

[2:36:14] My fault for just not picking up on the last two agendas that we still at the bottom and

[2:36:18] we didn't move it back up.

[2:36:19] So the answer is no, it will be back up for the beginning of the meeting as it traditionally

[2:36:23] has been.

[2:36:25] To answer your question about the fire companies, I hope that we have expressed as a board

[2:36:30] our commitment to keeping our volunteer fire companies viable and that includes the apparatus.

[2:36:36] And regarding the agendas, you're correct.

[2:36:38] We don't write the agendas for the planning commission for the Zoning Hearing Board.

[2:36:41] I know the process that I go through when I create our agendas and our team works on them.

[2:36:48] I don't know.

[2:36:49] We can certainly look at this.

[2:36:50] We can work on that.

[2:36:51] And we did take your comments into consideration.

[2:36:55] I know immediately there were a couple of agendas.

[2:36:57] I put a perenn former, whatever.

[2:37:00] We'll just have to make sure that we as staff continue to keep that front of mine.

[2:37:04] Who writes the agendas for the, is it the chair for the?

[2:37:09] No, that guy over there.

[2:37:12] Is part of it that, and we speculate, is part of it that there's a notification requirement for affected properties for those two boards.

[2:37:21] And so, like, you know if you're supposed to be there?

[2:37:23] Yeah, I think the zoning hearing board, especially, is a very legal process and the advertisement is written.

[2:37:30] In a very specific way, the way that it's listed on the agenda is a very specific way. We're only required to make sure everything that needs to be on there is on there.

[2:37:42] We can add more. And the same way with the PC, the Planning Commission is really, you know, Jim and Nick and I will put our heads together to remember that.

[2:37:52] You know, we're government geeks, we get deep into the weeds and don't think about it.

[2:37:57] But it's a really good point and we'll work on it.

[2:38:00] All right, I would appreciate that.

[2:38:01] I do notice that they do mention 28 addresses and work contacted or whatever.

[2:38:08] If it's a residential thing to me, at least it probably only affects the houses literally,

[2:38:14] right around it.

[2:38:15] If it's a business, however, it affects everybody in the community, probably, depending

[2:38:19] upon what the business is requesting.

[2:38:21] So seeing that there were 28 people informed or whatever,

[2:38:26] that doesn't really help either because you don't know what the company is,

[2:38:29] and you don't know what they're asking for.

[2:38:32] So it would help, I think.

[2:38:34] And at the end of the meeting public comment,

[2:38:36] I brought that up because I wanted to mention the Tower Eight thing last month,

[2:38:40] because you had it at the end,

[2:38:42] but I was upstairs and you ended about five minutes before us.

[2:38:45] I couldn't get down at a time for it.

[2:38:47] So it's a little old news, but I appreciate it.

[2:38:50] Thank you for the time tonight and you can go home soon.

[2:38:53] Thank you.

[2:38:54] Thanks, Post.

[2:38:55] Any other public comment on non-gen items?

[2:38:59] All right, so that takes us into other business and I will start with Mr. Ballet.

[2:39:05] Thank you.

[2:39:06] I was on a call with Penn not earlier this morning and please report that progress on

[2:39:11] the roundabout and improvements to Woodburn Road are progressing according to schedule and residents

[2:39:16] can still expect during the summer school being out for the summer season for the roundabout.

[2:39:22] on about intersection to be closed as planned.

[2:39:26] Do we have any TA when those projects are scheduled to be completed?

[2:39:30] And in the construction, you might be a little bit into early 2026,

[2:39:34] but still progressing as expected.

[2:39:37] And there's more information on that website,

[2:39:38] for anybody who's listening, they should.

[2:39:40] Thank you.

[2:39:41] Mr. Custler.

[2:39:44] Nothing further.

[2:39:45] Thank you.

[2:39:47] Mr. Esposito.

[2:39:48] I just want to announce that the board did hold an executive session prior

[2:39:50] to tonight's meeting to discuss personnel matters.

[2:39:57] I just want to briefly thank the residents who stuck with us for this almost three-hour session.

[2:40:04] I really appreciate the civic discourse.

[2:40:06] I think all the comments tonight were incredibly well-reasoned and well-stated and well-intended.

[2:40:13] And Chief Bartirilla didn't have to intervene.

[2:40:16] So thank you for being an example of true civic discourse.

[2:40:19] I appreciate it.

[2:40:20] Ms. Cain.

[2:40:23] Nothing further?

[2:40:24] Ms. Heather.

[2:40:25] I just wanted to say that the Crawl Samburg choir did an amazing job.

[2:40:30] Thank you for performing.

[2:40:32] Congratulations to the Rebels and the Spiders.

[2:40:36] And congratulations to Park and Rex for organizing another awesome community cleanup day this weekend.

[2:40:42] Way to go.

[2:40:43] Thank you.

[2:40:45] And I just want to take a moment if I can, to honor, we lost a former colleague recently

[2:40:52] Anna Wells, who was a records clerk with the police department.

[2:40:56] She'd actually just retired after working for the Middletown Township Police Department for 26

[2:41:01] years and sadly she passed away.

[2:41:04] So I just wanted to, if we could, just remember her and maybe just take a moment of silence

[2:41:08] for Anna Wells.

[2:41:19] Thank you.

[2:41:20] And I have nothing further, so that concludes the meeting, I'll accept the motion to adjourn.

[2:41:26] Motion to adjourn?

[2:41:27] Second?

[2:41:28] All right, we are adjourned. Thanks, everybody.

Apr 07, 2025 Board of Supervisors

Agenda

Transcript