Meeting Minutes

Mercer County Regional Planning Commission Meeting
Tuesday, March 27, 2001 – 7:30 PM
MCRPC Office, Hermitage

MUNICIPALITY	PRESENT	ABSENT
FARRELL CITY		Jerry Miller
		Mark A. Petrillo
HERMITAGE CITY	James Pat White	James A. Rollinson
		Rita Ferringer
SHARON CITY		Frank Smeraglia
		Lou Rotunno
		Pat Miller
		George Gulla
CLARK BOROUGH		Russell Shaffer
		James Carucci, Jr.
FREDONIA BOROUGH	Larry McAdams
	Patricia McAdams
GREENVILLE BOROUGH		Earl Butterfield
		Burroughs Price
GROVE CITY BOROUGH	Clifford McCandless
JACKSON CENTER BOROUGH		Todd Sturgeon
		Lee Tharp
JAMESTOWN BOROUGH	Darryl Pinney
	Doug McElhaney
MERCER BOROUGH	Jerry Johnson	Jim Carnes
NEW LEBANON BOROUGH		Janice Good
		Mary A. Ziegler
SANDY LAKE BOROUGH		Carol Paul
		Robert W. Kaltenbaugh
SHARPSVILLE BOROUGH		Alex Kovach
		Bob Piccirilli
STONEBORO BOROUGH	Samuel A. Scott
WEST MIDDLESEX BOROUGH		Linda Bollinger
		Joseph Walsh
WHEATLAND BOROUGH	Ray Foster
	Thomas R. Stanton
FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP		Jane Clark
		Mont Clark
FINDLEY TOWNSHIP		Elliott Lengel
		John B. Courtney
HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP		Pamela Brown
		Russell L. Dawes
JACKSON TOWNSHIP		W. Jerry Vernam
		Mary Gealy
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP		Robert F. Angermeier
		Bert Weston
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP	Dave Beatty
	Ron Faull
NEW VERNON TOWNSHIP	Albert W. Law	Frank Cochran
OTTER CREEK TOWNSHIP	Paulette Young	Richard Straub
PERRY TOWNSHIP		Richard Marshall
PINE TOWNSHIP	H. Thomas Paxton
	Fred Brenner
PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP		Joseph A. Selnekovic
		James F. Rowe
SHENANGO TOWNSHIP	Kristen Robinson	Mathew Frontino
S. PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP		Mourice Waltz
		Mike Nashtock
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP		Larry T. Gruntz
		Judy L. Hassler
WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP	Jeff Hoy
	Charles Garrett
WOLF CREEK TOWNSHIP	Jim Morton
	Mark Smith
MERCER COUNTY	Richard A. Mackell	Patricia Meehan
	Jean Hodge	Paul E. Mehalko
		Ethel Friede
		James L. Hogan
		Tom Jack
BOROUGHS ASSOCIATION		David George
SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION		Kenneth Seamans
COUNTY COMMISSIONER		Brian Shipley

STAFF	OTHERS PRESENT
Dennis G. Puko, Executive Director Julie Widel, Assistant Director Don Blakesley, Recycling Coordinator Carmen Reichard, Program Administrator	Barb Conroy, Springfield Twp. Joan Courteau, Otter Creek Twp. Irvin R. Greenlee Sally Jazwinski

CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Ron Faull, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mr. Larry McAdams, 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 FEBRUARY 27, 2001 MEETING

A motion was made by Garrett and seconded by Mr. Stanton to approve the Minutes of the February 27, 2001 meeting with no additions, corrections, or deletions. The motion passed.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

A motion was made by Mr. Hoy and seconded by Mr. Scott to approve the February 2001 Financial Statement as presented. The motion passed.

STAFF REPORTS

Mr. Puko noted that the 2000 Census Population Counts are available and overall Mercer County’s population is down by 710 people. He also noted that in the next month or two we should receive more numbers in detail. He stated that regular users of the Internet could receive data on line at www.census.gov. He also shared with the Commission a handout concerning being a public official in the eyes of Gifford Pinchot, who was a forester and then Governor of PA. He next explained that the positions of Assistant Director and Planner had been advertised for a couple of weeks, and the response has been slow.

Ms. Widel commented that the Lakeview Area would be holding their next roundtable meeting for their comprehensive plan on Thursday, March 29^th to review the final future land use plan and to begin the natural and historic resources preservation plan.

Mr. Blakesley stated that a Pay as you Throw Video Conference would be held on April 10^th at the Midwestern IV Unit in Grove City, which is sponsored by DEP, PROP and the MCSWA. He noted that reservations are limited and the Video Conference is free. If anyone is interested, he asked that he be notified. He next commented on the 3^rd Annual Recycling Poster Contest, which the deadline to submit posters is April 6^th. Next, he noted that about a month ago he mailed to the municipalities a copy of the MCSWA’s Grant Funding Program. He noted that the response has been good – quite a few applications received for various types of projects.

ZONING & SUBDIVISION REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT

Committee Chairman, Sam Scott, reported that the Committee met last week, a quorum was present and took action on the following items:

1. Major Subdivision - Preliminary Plan – Greenlee – Lots 1-17 and Lot "A" – Hempfield Township – Mr. Scott noted that this preliminary plan was reviewed by the Committee. The plan includes 17 building lots and 1 adjoiner lot, plus a 1,200’ cul-de-sac approved as a modification at the February meeting and 2 private driveways. The subdivision is located off Methodist Road east of Greenville. All lots would be served by a public sewage collection system and the plan meets all requirements for a preliminary plan and the Committee recommended approval. A motion was made by Mr. Scott and seconded by Mr. Garrett to approve the Greenlee Subdivision - Preliminary Plan – Lots 1-17 and Lot "A". The motion passed.

2. Major Subdivision - Preliminary Plan – Village Park – Phase 4C through 4G with new streets – Pine Township – Mr. Scott noted that the Committee reviewed this preliminary plan. This preliminary plan covers all remaining phases of the residential development of PA 173 south of Grove City. It includes 70-acres, 105 lots, new streets and public water and sewer system. The street system includes a through connection to the Airport Road. The plan meets the requirements for a preliminary plan and the Committee recommended approval. A motion was made by Mr. Scott and seconded by Mr. Garrett to approve the Village Park preliminary plan, Phase 4C through 4G. The motion passed.

3. Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment – City of Hermitage – Mr. Scott stated that the Committee reviewed a proposed text amendment to permit adult uses in the City of Hermitage. Due to deficiencies found in the amendment, the Committee tabled this zoning ordinance text amendment and directed the staff to alert the City and help correct the deficiencies.

4. Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment – City of Hermitage – Mr. Scott noted that the Committee reviewed a zoning ordinance text amendment dealing with day care centers. The amendment would allow day care centers as a permitted use in the Central Commercial and Highway Commercial Zoning Districts. A Pittsburgh company desires to locate a day care center in a Hermitage Commercial area where many workers in need of day care are located. The City of Hermitage Planning Commission recommended approval of the amendment and the Committee likewise recommended approval. A motion was made by Mr. Scott and seconded by Mr. Garrett to approve this proposed day care center amendment. The motion passed.

GROWING SMARTER CONFERENCE REPORT

Mr. Puko stated that he attended Pennsylvania’s first-ever land use conference and it was a huge success. The conference featured keynote speakers and work sessions highlighting best practices in smart growth. The conference focused on the quality of growth, the design of development, and the lasting livability and special character that each community needs to be economically viable in the new century. The conference dealt little with zoning, land use controls, and ways to stop sprawl.

PITT/GSPIA COOPERATIVE PLANNING PROJECT REPORT

Mr. Puko commented that a number of local officials have been participating with a group of about 20+ members on a local steering committee with a team from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and have reached a point where MCRPC input would be valuable. He noted that this group has identified key positions and criteria from which to explore cooperative planning under the new Act 67 in 5 sub-regions of Mercer County. Positions and criteria deal with growth and rural resource areas, zoning across multiple municipalities, and dealing with developments of regional significance. He also stated that these sub-region meetings would begin in April and would be facilitated by MCRPC. In discussion, the steering committee thought the school districts would be the ideal manageable units for finding partners. Ms. Widel noted that the Lakeview area have been working cooperatively on this type of planning and have been very successful. Dr. Brenner asked if by crossing the County line, would it benefit those municipalities that sit next to another County? Mr. Puko said yes it could be beneficial. He also thought that the municipalities should encourage cooperative venture to pay for a central facility and a cooperative venture to share in the return that it would bring.

OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Faull stated that the next Commission meeting is scheduled for April 24^th, which is the same time the Township Supervisors Association’s Convention would be held. It was suggested that if we would hold the Commission meeting at that time, it would be difficult to obtain a quorum. Mr. Faull asked those in attendance if we could tentatively set the April Commission meeting for Thursday, April 26^th. Someone commented that this would be when the Borough’s Association is holding a quarterly dinner, so this day would not work either. Mr. Puko suggested that since there is a fifth Monday in April, maybe we should hold our April meeting on Monday, April 30^th. Those in attendance agreed.

ADJOURNMENT

With no further business or discussion, the meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

Submitted and Certified By:

Clifford McCandless, Secretary - MCRPC

Mercer County Regional Planning Commission
2491 Highland Road, Hermitage, PA 16148
mail@mcrpc.com    www.mcrpc.com

 

home    about mcrpc    planning projects    community development    transportation    zoning    subdivision