Meeting Minutes
Mercer County Regional Planning
Commission
TUESDAY, February 22, 2005
7:30pm, MCRPC Office, Hermitage
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MUNICIPALITY
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PRESENT
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ABSENT
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FARRELL CITY
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Jerry Miller
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William Morocco |
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HERMITAGE CITY
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Rita
Ferringer
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James A. Rollinson |
James Pat White |
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SHARON CITY
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Vic Heutsche
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Darin Flower
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Stephen Theiss
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CLARK BOROUGH
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Richard Dunlap
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James Carucci, Sr.
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FREDONIA BOROUGH
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Patricia McAdams
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Ron Boyd
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GREENVILLE BOROUGH
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Burroughs Price
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Robin Douglas
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GROVE CITY BOROUGH
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Thomas D. Shaffer, Jr.
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Clifford McCandless
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JACKSON CENTER BOROUGH
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Debbi
Stevenson
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Marvin
R. McAfoose
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JAMESTOWN BOROUGH
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Doug
McElhaney
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Darryl Pinney
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MERCER BOROUGH
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Jerry Johnson
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Jim
Carnes
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NEW LEBANON BOROUGH
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Janice Good
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Mary A. Ziegler
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SANDY LAKE BOROUGH
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Robert W. Kaltenbaugh
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Brad
Martin
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SHARPSVILLE BOROUGH
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Bob Piccirilli
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Alex Kovach
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STONEBORO BOROUGH
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Samuel A. Scott
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WEST MIDDLESEX BOROUGH
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Tracy Thompson
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Mark David
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WHEATLAND BOROUGH
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Thomas R. Stanton
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Bob
Davis |
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COOLSPRING TOWNSHIP
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Robert L. McGhee
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DELAWARE TOWNSHIP
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Donald Kremm
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Caroline Stoyer
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EAST LACKAWANNOCK TOWNSHIP
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Nancy Givens
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FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP
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Jane Clark
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Mont Clark
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FINDLEY TOWNSHIP
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Elliott Lengel
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John B. Courtney
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HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP
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Pamela Brown
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Russell L. Dawes
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP
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Linda L. Baun
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Mary Gealy
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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP
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Richard H. McCullough
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Bert Weston
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LIBERTY TOWNSHIP
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Dave Beatty
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Ron Faull
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NEW VERNON TOWNSHIP
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John Martin
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OTTER CREEK TOWNSHIP
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Paulette Young
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Richard Straub
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PERRY TOWNSHIP
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Richard Marshall
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PINE TOWNSHIP
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Fred
Brenner
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H. Thomas Paxton
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PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP
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Walter L. Weir, Jr.
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Richard Witten
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SHENANGO TOWNSHIP
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Charles Gilliland
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James
Eakin
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S. PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP
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David
Lapikas
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Mike Nashtock
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SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP
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Judy
L. Hassler
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Larry T. Gruntz
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WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP
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Charles Garrett
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Jeff Hoy
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WOLF CREEK TOWNSHIP
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Mark Smith
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Ray Penland
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MERCER COUNTY
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Larry McAdams
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Julie Widel |
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Jean Hodge
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James L. Hogan
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Jeff Fiedler
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Patty McClusky
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James Hughes |
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BOROUGHS ASSOCIATION
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David George
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SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION
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Robert Birtciel
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COUNTY COMMISSIONER
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Michele Brooks
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STAFF
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OTHERS PRESENT
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Dan Gracenin, Executive Director
Jeremy Coxe, Senior Planner
Andrew Dash, Planner
Chris Conti, Senior Planner
Jill Boozer, Program Administrator
Don Blakesley, Senior Program Administrator
Peggy Heldorfer, Associate Planner |
Robert
Kochems, Solicitor
Tom
Flynn,
Hillcrest
Memorial Park
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CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Tom Stanton, Chairman,
called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE
Mr. Mark Smith, Vice-Chairman,
led the Commission in the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.
ATTENDANCE SIGN-IN
An attendance sign-in sheet
was passed around and representatives present were asked to mark their
attendance. A quorum was not present.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ANY AGENDA
ITEM
There were no public comments.
MINUTES
OF THE JANUARY 25, 2005 MEETING
A motion was made by Mr. Eakin
and seconded by Mr. McAdams to approve the Minutes of the January 25, 2005
meeting with one correction. Mr. Richard McCullough was present at the January
25, 2005 meeting. The motion passed.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
A motion was made by Mr. Price
and seconded by Ms. McAdams to approve the January 2005 Financial Statement as
presented. The motion passed.
STAFF REPORTS
Mr. Conti, Senior Planner
explained that he will be leaving MCRPC by mid March and will be working for
Spotsylvania County, Virginia Planning Commission. In the next few weeks, he
will touch base with those individuals regarding any pending projects and
inform them of who would be taking on his projects. Mr. Gracenin thanked Mr.
Conti for all of his work over the past years and wished him good luck in the
future.
ZONING & SUBDIVISION
REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. Dash, Planner, reported
that the Committee met last week, a quorum was present and took action on the
following items:
1. Zoning Text Amendment –
City of Hermitage – Mr. Dash
explained that the Committee reviewed a request to amend Section 202,
Definitions and Subsection 308.12 to change the definition of cemetery to
reflect a cemetery to be a burial ground for humans and/or pets. This change
was requested to allow a landowner to place a pet cemetery on a vacant lot on
Dutch Lane. The Committee recommended approval of this text amendment. A
motion was made by Mr. Hughes and seconded by Mr. Price to approve the text
amendment to the City of Hermitage Zoning Ordinance as recommended by the
Committee. The motion passed.
2. Zoning Text Amendment –
City of Hermitage – Mr. Dash
explained that the Committee reviewed a request to amend the definition of
Changeable Copy Signs, and include provisions regarding electronic changeable
copy for signs in the City. This amendment was prepared by a subcommittee of
the City’s Planning Commission and Economic Development Commission. The
Committee recommended approval of this text amendment. A motion was made by
Mr. Garrett and seconded by Mr. Price to approve the text amendment to the
City of Hermitage Zoning Ordinance as recommended by the Committee. The motion
passed.
3. Zoning Map Amendment –
Springfield Township – Mr. Dash
explained that the Committee reviewed a request from ASC Development to rezone
approximately 95 acres in the northeast quadrant of the I-79/208 interchange
from C-2 Commercial to C-1 Commercial. This request was proposed by a
developer who wishes to build a big-box retail development on the property, in
which the C-2 zone permits buildings of no more than 80,000 square feet. This
request comes in conflict with the draft comprehensive plan for the area, but
so does any development under the existing zoning of the property. The
Committee recommended approval of this rezoning request by ASC Development,
and recommended that the Township include the BP and the Boot Barn in the
rezoning. Since that time, Mr. Dash stated that he received a letter from
Springfield Township concerning this rezoning. The Township Supervisors and
Wolf Creek COG have been in contact with Graney, Grossman, Colosimo &
Associates to research development at the interchange, particularly in regard
to infrastructure. After discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Price and
seconded by Mr. Garrett to approve the rezoning request by ASC Development,
and recommend that the Township include the BP and the Boot Barn in the
rezoning as recommended by the Committee. The motion passed.
4. Zoning Ordinance Draft
Revisions – Greenville Borough –
Mr. Dash explained that the Borough is in the process of re-codifying their
Ordinances and wish to make changes to their Ordinance to update it with
current land use for the Borough and to make administration easier. Three map
changes were made to the Ordinance: 1) the south side of Clinton Street from
Light Industrial to Commercial; 2) along South Front and South Second Streets
from Multi-Family Residential to Commercial Residential; and 3) the northeast
corner of Mill Hill and Main Streets from Residential Medical to Commercial.
In addition, definitions were added to the Ordinance, and a series of small
additions were made throughout the Ordinance. MCRPC Staff worked with the
Borough Planning Commission to prepare these amendments. The Committee
recommended approval of the revisions to the Greenville Borough Zoning
Ordinance. There being no discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Johnson and
seconded by Mr. Price to approve the revisions to the Greenville Borough
Zoning Ordinance as recommended by the Committee. The motion passed.
5. Zoning Ordinance Draft
Revisions – Shenango Township –
Mr. Dash explained that the Township would like to make a series of minor
revisions to their zoning ordinance. These revisions include provisions for
oil and gas wells, uniform setbacks, storm water management provisions, and
provisions for temporary mobile homes. These changes were prepared by the
MCRPC staff with the Township Planning Commission. The Committee recommended
approval of the revisions to the Shenango Township Zoning Ordinance. There
being no discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Garrett and seconded by Mr.
Price to approve the revisions to the Shenango Township Zoning Ordinance as
recommended by the Committee. The motion passed.
FINANCE-PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
REPORT
Dr. Brenner, Committee
Chairman reported that the Committee met prior to tonight’s meeting, a
quorum was present, and took action on the following items:
1. Staff salary changes for
2005 – The Committee recommended to
the Commission that they approve the salary scale for 2005 to be retroactive
to January 1st. The recommendation is a 3% increase in salaries for
staff with one adjustment to Jill Boozer, Program Administrator, and that
would be to make her salary compensable with the amount of work that is
required in that position. He noted that the salary adjustments are within the
approved budget of the Commission. A motion was made by Dr. Brenner and
seconded by Ms. Ferringer to approve the Committee’s recommendation. The
motion passed.
2. Authorization to advertise
vacant position – The Committee
recommended to the Commission that we advertise for a Planner/Senior Planner
position at a salary range of $27,500 - $34,000. This new position would be a
replacement for Chris Conti, who will be leaving the Commission in mid-March.
A motion was made by Dr. Brenner and seconded by Mr. Garrett to approve the
Committee’s recommendation. The motion passed.
GIS COST SHARING AGREEMENT
WITH THE CITY OF HERMITAGE
Mr. Gracenin explained that
Mercer County is undertaking a GIS project and the City of Hermitage is one of
the major contributors to this project for the local match on the federal
dollars. He noted that no formal action was taken to come up with an agreement
with the City of Hermitage. This agreement would allow MCRPC to bill and
receive up to $62,000 from the City of Hermitage for the Phase One Aerial
Photography portion of the County GIS project. These funds would be used as
local match on the federal transportation funds that have already been
authorized. The money will be pass through funding, used to pay the
consultant. A motion was made by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mr. Hughes to
approve a GIS Cost Sharing Agreement with the City of Hermitage. The motion
passed.
COUNTY-WIDE GIS UPDATE
Mr. Gracenin, Executive
Director, explained that Phase I of the County-wide GIS project has been
completed. All the aerial photography has been received. He noted that we have
color and black and white photography for the entire County. If anybody is
interested in seeing various photos, he would be most willing to show them. He
noted that the next steps would be to set up a small consortium of future
users for the GIS data. Also, he noted that we received $15,000 in local match
from CDBG for Phase II so work can get started on parcelization for the
County, creating road files and some other files that are necessary to start
operating a GIS program. If anybody is interested in participating in this
consortium group, to let him know as soon as possible, as a first meeting
would probably be held by mid-March.
OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Gracenin noted that the
President Bush’s 2006 proposed budget would virtually dismantle the CDBG
program. For over 30 years, CDBG has been the most important federal tool for
implementing local plans and building communities with sewer line
improvements, housing rehab programs, road resurfacing, etc. If this program
were to disappear, communities would be hurting. They cannot afford to lose
such an important federal tool. President Bush is proposing to put a new
program in its place that would be run out of the Department of Commerce and
would be aimed towards economic development, rather than the low to moderate
population. A lot of the professional organizations came up with a number of
letter writing campaigns and created a base letter. He is requesting that this
organization authorize Mr. Gracenin, Executive Director, on behalf of MCRPC to
submit a letter stating that we do not believe this program should be
eliminated. A motion was made by Mr. Hoy and seconded by Mr. Thompson to
authorize Mr. Gracenin to speak up and support the program, as we cannot
afford to lose such an important federal tool. The motion passed.
Mr. Gracenin explained that
PennDOT and the State’s planning organizations are hosting a series of
Mobility Plan/Regional Outreach meetings as part of the development of
Pennsylvania’s long range transportation plan. They are looking for input
from the general public, elected officials, etc. There are two sessions –
March 21st and March 22nd in Oil City. He informed
everyone that we would be sending out information regarding these meetings.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business or
discussion, the meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Submitted and Certified By:
Patricia McAdams, Secretary -
MCRPC
Mercer
County Regional Planning Commission
2491 Highland Road, Hermitage, PA 16148
mail@mcrpc.com www.mcrpc.com
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