Mercer County Regional Planning Commission

Meeting Minutes

Mercer County Regional Planning Commission Meeting
Tuesday, OCTOBER 23, 2001 - 7:30 PM
MCRPC Office, Hermitage

MUNICIPALITY

PRESENT

ABSENT

FARRELL CITY

Jerry Miller

Mark A. Petrillo

HERMITAGE CITY

James A. Rollinson

James Pat White

Rita Ferringer

SHARON CITY

Frank Smeraglia

George Gulla

Lou Rotunno

CLARK BOROUGH

Russell Shaffer

James Carucci, Jr.

FREDONIA BOROUGH

Larry McAdams

Patricia McAdams

GREENVILLE BOROUGH

Burroughs Price

GROVE CITY BOROUGH

Clifford McCandless

JACKSON CENTER BOROUGH

Todd Sturgeon

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

Bob Piccirilli

Alex Kovach

STONEBORO BOROUGH

Samuel A. Scott

WEST MIDDLESEX BOROUGH

Linda Bollinger

Raymond Lucich, Jr.

WHEATLAND BOROUGH

Ray Foster

Thomas R. Stanton

FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP

Jane Clark

Mont Clark

FINDLEY TOWNSHIP

John B. Courtney

Elliott Lengel

HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP

Pamela Brown

Russell L. Dawes

JACKSON TOWNSHIP

Mary Gealy

Linda L. Baun

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP

Robert F. Angermeier

Bert Weston

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP

Dave Beatty

Ron Faull

NEW VERNON TOWNSHIP

Albert W. Law

Frank Cochran

OTTER CREEK TOWNSHIP

Richard Straub

Paulette Young

PERRY TOWNSHIP

Richard Marshall

PINE TOWNSHIP

H. Thomas Paxton

Fred Brenner

PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP

Joseph A. Selnekovic

James F. Rowe

SHENANGO TOWNSHIP



Mathew Frontino

Kristen Robinson

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

Ethel Friede

Jean Hodge

Tom Jack

James L. Hogan

BOROUGHS ASSOCIATION

David George

SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION

Kenneth Seamans

COUNTY COMMISSIONER

Brian Shipley

STAFF

OTHERS PRESENT

Dennis G. Puko, Executive Director
Dan Gracenin, Assistant Director

Don Blakesley, Recycling Coordinator
Jeremy Coxe, Planner
Fred Frank, Planner
Carmen Reichard, Program Administrator
Peg Heldorfer, Associate Planner

Attorney Robert G. Kochems, Solicitor
Don Sebastian, Sebastian Real Estate
Brian Grassa, Heritage Dev. Co.
Other Guests (See Attached Sheet)

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 present.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ANY AGENDA ITEM

A question was raised regarding the MCRPC Financial Report. The report states "YTD Actual vs. YTD Budget". Mr. Puko stated that the Financial Report should state "YTD Actual vs. Budget".

MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 25, 2001 MEETING

A motion was made by Mr. Seamans and seconded by Mr. Paxton to approve the Minutes of the September 25, 2001 meeting with no additions, corrections, or deletions. The motion passed.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

A motion was made by Mr. Stanton and seconded by Mr. Law to approve the September 2001 Financial Statement as presented. The motion passed.

ZONING & SUBDIVISION REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT

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

1. Zoning Map Amendment - City of Hermitage – Mr. Puko noted that the Committee reviewed a request to rezone 14.6 acres fronting on the south side of the Freeway (US 62) between Maple Drive and PA 18 from OBD Office Building District to CC-1 Central Commercial and 0.5 acres on the north side of Morefield Road to the west of Burger King to be rezoned from CC-1 Central Commercial to R-1-100 Single-Family Residential. He explained that the Commission had looked at this rezoning request before, and is back for consideration again. He noted that the property in question is mostly open space. The Committee recommended against the rezoning as proposed for the following reasons: 1) there is suitably zoned property in other areas with potential for new development or redevelopment and able to accommodate the types and scale of development possible with the proposed rezoning in the City; and 2) the existing Hermitage plans, including the City’s comprehensive plan and the Route 18 south corridor plan, suggest no change in land use and zoning for the property in question and suggest there is value in the current Office Building District designation.

Mr. Puko asked if any Commission members had any questions. A question was asked if this was the third or fourth time this request has been reviewed? Mr. Puko said that this is the fourth time. Mr. Puko then asked if any guests had any questions or comments. Mr. Brian Grassa, Heritage Development Company, asked Commission members to reconsider this rezoning request. He explained that since 1993, Lowe’s and Wal-Mart built in a dynamic corridor of Hermitage and retailers depend upon each other to generate traffic and people to help support each others business. Mr. Robert Glimcher, Glimcher Group, stated that he is the owner of the Hermitage Hills Plaza and noted that there is other areas in the City that are presently zoned Central Commercial. He stated that his company would spend millions of dollars and would work with another development group to renovate this plaza. Mr. Bill Sittig, Glimcher Group, stated that there are a lot of vacancies in the City and spreading out the amount of available retail space would not help the redevelopment. A few property owners spoke in opposition of this rezoning. They believe that rezoning this property to Central Commercial would impact the homes in this residential neighborhood. There being no further discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Scott and seconded by Mr. Price to deny this rezoning request. The motion passed.

2. Jackson Township Zoning Issue – Mr. Scott noted that at the request of property owner Richard Tice, the Committee reconsidered action taken last month. The Committee and the full Commission had recommended against rezoning 18-acres fronting on I-79 south of the Jackson Commerce Park from R-1 Rural Residential/Agricultural to I Industrial. Mr. Tice agreed to convey, before a rezoning is granted, a conservation easement to Jackson Township to keep the land in green and open space except for one billboard. He said this should satisfy the Commission’s concern about a lack of legal guarantee that the property would not be developed. Mr. Tice’s attorney argued that there was no logic or justification for additional industrial rezonings for billboards on the property. Mr. Tice stated he would seek no further rezonings. They argued that this should satisfy another Commission concern about a proliferation of rezonings for billboards along I-79. The Committee voted to submit to Jackson Township a new recommendation in favor of the proposed rezoning with the understanding that the property owner will have granted the Township a conservation easement restricting development of the property. A motion was made by Mr. Scott and seconded by Mr. Price to approve the Committee’s recommendation. The motion passed.

FINANCE-PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT

Dr. Brenner, Chairman, reported that the Committee met October 12^th and October 22, 2001 and took action on the following items:

1. MCRPC Preliminary 2002 Budget – The Committee recommended approval of a preliminary budget for the year 2002. It includes no change in the overall total of participation fees received from member municipalities, but does include some adjustments in fees reflecting new 2000 census population counts. Mr. Puko highlighted on a few of the items. A motion was made by Dr. Brenner and seconded by Mr. Hoy to approve the preliminary 2002 budget as recommended by the Committee. The motion passed.

2. Recommendation for Hiring of Senior Planner –The Committee recommended offering the open senior planner position to Christopher Conti at a salary of $35,000 and including a granting of 3 weeks vacation instead of the customary 2 weeks at the start of employment. Mr. Conti was chosen out of two persons interviewed yesterday and two persons interviewed in June after 6-months of searching for candidates. He is a Mercer County native now working for the Adams County Office of Planning and Development and prior working in planning positions in Beaver County and Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson, West Virginia, Regional Planning Agency. A motion was made by Dr. Brenner and seconded by Commissioner Shipley to approve the hiring of Christopher Conti as recommended by the Committee. The motion passed.

50^th ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE REPORT

Mr. Johnson, Chairman, noted that the Committee met on June 6^th, July 9^th and October 22, 2001 and took the following actions:

1. The Committee recommends the following arrangements needing Commission approval: DATE: Friday, December 6, 2002; PLACE: Rosemont Banquet Center, Sharon; SPEAKER: Norm Krumholz, a nationally recognized planner who recently was President of the American Institute of Certified Planners, prior was a planner for Pittsburgh and Cleveland, where he was director, and now teaches planning at Cleveland State University. In addition, the Committee recommends inviting Governor Mark Schweiker as a special guest, because of the active involvement of his and former Governor Ridge’s administrations in planning and smart growth; ALSO: Musical entertainment and social time with cash bar; and COST: Estimated $20.00 person. A motion was made by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mr. Stanton to approve these arrangements. The motion passed.

2. Mr. Johnson also noted that other plans are in progress. The MCRPC Photo Contest deadline is November 9, 2001. Judging will take place and winners would be announced at the December 19, 2001 Annual Dinner. The Committee is working on a commemorative booklet, which would include photos, memorabilia, and history of the Commission. The booklet would be about 50 pages and would cost around $1,600 for 1,000 copies. Advertising would be sold to pay for publication. The Committee is considering purchasing promotional items for banquet favors and gifts to be given to special persons or bought as souvenirs. The goal is to pay for such items out of advertising revenue from the commemorative booklet and by sales of such items. Also, the Committee is working on a late-spring or early-summer homecoming picnic, possibly in conjunction with the Commission’s annual picnic, which invites and gives recognition to past commission representatives and employees. Other activities will be planned for the picnic. Tentative locations with large picnic shelters are Chestnut Run Swim Beach in South Pymatuning Township and Memorial Park in Grove City.

APPOINTMENT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Mr. Faull appointed a Nominating Committee consisting of the past three chairmen of the Commission: Jeff Hoy, Ray Foster and Dick Mackell. The Committee will present a recommendation for 2002 officers at the November meeting. At the December meeting, nominations can be made from the floor and the election of officers will be held. The 2002 officers will assume office on the 1^st of January.

COOPERATION AGREEMENTS JAMESTOWN & WHEATLAND CDBG

Mr. Puko asked for approval to enter into Cooperation Agreements between the Commission, Jamestown Borough and Wheatland Borough to administer Jamestown Borough’s $500,000 CDBG competitive application for water system reconstruction and Wheatland Borough’s $250,000 CDBG competitive application for housing rehabilitation. A motion was made by Mr. Hogan and seconded by Mr. Scott to approve entering into Cooperation Agreements with Jamestown Borough and Wheatland Borough to administer these projects. The motion passed.

NID, TDD & TIF

Mr. Puko explained a summary of financing options, infrastructure and other improvements associated with development in the Neighborhood Improvement District (NID); Transportation Development District (TDD); and Tax Increment Financing (TIF). (A summary sheet is attached to and made a part of the permanent record of Minutes). He explained how municipalities could use these tools to partner with private property owners to undertake certain improvement projects.

ADJOURNMENT

With no further business or discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Beatty and seconded by Mr. Seamans that the meeting adjourns at 8:40 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

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