Zoning & Subdivision Review Committee

Meeting Minutes

Tuesday – September 17, 2002 – 7:30 p.m. at the MCRPC Offices
2491 Highland Road – Hermitage, PA (724) 981-2412

Members Present	Others Present
Samuel Scott, Chairman	Fred Frank, Planner - MCRPC
Larry McAdams
James Rollinson
James Hogan
Burroughs Price
Ron Faull

Mr. Scott, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. A quorum was present. Mr. Scott noted that the Minutes of the August 20, 2002 meeting were mailed prior to tonight’s meeting. A motion was made by Mr. Price and seconded by Mr. Faull to approve the Minutes of the August 20, 2002 meeting with no additions, corrections, or deletions. The motion passed.

N E W B U S I N E S S

1. Rezoning – City of Sharon – Mr. Frank reviewed this with the Committee noting that we received a request from an applicant who wishes to rezone land situated on Thomas Avenue, south of US 62, adjacent to the Brookfield, OH/Sharon, PA border from Institutional (I) to Central Commercial (C-1) for the purposes of an automobile repair and detailing shop and billboard signage. After staff review, it was noted that this proposed rezoning is not in accordance with the City of Sharon and Sharpsville Borough Comprehensive Plan. The plan calls for this site to remain zoned Institutional. The neighborhood is primarily Residential, with the exception of frontage on US 62. He noted that the maximum height of any building is 100’ in a Central Commercial Zoning District. It was also noted that the City of Sharon Zoning Ordinance does not permit signage to be placed on poles in a Central Commercial Zoning District, which would conflict with their application stating that they want to put billboard signage up. The only way they would be able to do that would be by putting it on a side of a building. He also noted that Sharon City Council would hold a workshop next week to review this.

The Committee discussed this proposed rezoning and noted that they would like the City of Sharon to consider rezoning this property to Neighborhood & Local Business (C-2) rather than Central Commercial (C-1) because the maximum building height of a C-2 zone is more in character with the surrounding neighborhood.

A motion was made by Mr. Hogan to recommend denying the requested rezoning and recommend that the property be rezoned to Neighborhood & Local Business (C-2). Mr. Price seconded it. The motion passed.

2. Zoning Text Amendment – Coolspring Township – Mr. Frank reviewed this with the Committee noting that the Coolspring Township Supervisors wish to amend their Zoning Ordinance to allow health and fitness centers as a permitted principal use in the Residential-Rural Low Density (R-1) Zoning District. After staff review, it was noted that health and fitness centers can become large facilities that generate high amounts of traffic. Many roads located throughout the R-1 Zoning District may be incapable of handling such traffic, and such facilities and/or traffic may disrupt the rural character of the Township. It was suggested that the Township place a restriction on the maximum size of a health and fitness center in an R-1 Zoning District to aid in reducing the negative impact of traffic and possibly place additional provisions for parking, screening and signage to keep the facility from creating negative impacts on surrounding properties.

The Committee discussed this matter and decided that the potential large size and high traffic generation of health and fitness centers would not be in character with the rural environment of the R-1 Zoning District.

A motion was made by Mr. Price to recommend denying the requested proposed Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment and recommend that the Township reevaluate its existing commercial zoning district and look to extend it or create further commercial zones, especially along Routes 62, 19 & 58, rather than allow health and fitness centers as a permitted use in the R-1 zone. Mr. Faull seconded it. The motion passed.

3. Other Business – Mr. Frank stated that on June 18, 2002 the Hearing Examiner in Harrisburg recommended only a reprimand in continuing education for Ron Bittler to the State Board of Engineers, Registered Surveyors and Geologist. Then, on August 19, 2002 the Prosecutor filed an exception to a recommendation stating that it was not severe enough. Mr. Frank asked the Committee if they want to file more complaints to the Hearing Board in regards to Mr. Bittler.

A motion was made by Mr. Hogan to recommend that MCRPC submit further complaints and information on Ron Bittler to the Hearing Board. Mr. Rollinson seconded it. The motion passed.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to conduct, the meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Fred Frank, Planner

 

 

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

 

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