7:00 P.M.: Mr. Blenko called the Reorganization of the Planning Commission to order.

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1 NORTH HUNTINGDON TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Monday February 1, 7:00 P.M Center Highway, North Huntingdon, PA Presiding Officer William Chapman, President REORGANIZATION MEETING CALLED TO ORDER 7:00 P.M.: Mr. Blenko called the Reorganization of the Planning Commission to order. ROLL CALL William Chapman President Thomas Kerber Vice Chairman Bernard Solomon Virginia Stump Stephen Cross James McHugh Joe Dykta PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Also : Andrew Blenko Ryan Fonzi Nancy Bolden, Recording Secretary Mr. Blenko asked if there were any nominations for the position of Chairman. Motion: Mr. Cross motioned that we retain the previous committee of William Chapman, Chairman, Thomas Kerber, Vice-Chairman and Virginia Stump, Secretary. Second: Mr. McHugh Carried: ADJOURNMENT OF REORGANIZATIN MEETING Motion: Mrs. Stump motioned to adjourn Reorganization Meeting at 7:02 P.M. Second: Mr. McHugh Carried:

2 PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Mr. Chapman called the Planning Commission meeting to order at 7:04 P.M. ROLL CALL & PLEDGE PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Mr. McHugh Motioned to approve minutes. (Meeting of December 7, 2015) Second: Mr. Kerber Motion Carried: CITIZENS INPUT None OLD BUSINESS SP : Penn Irwin Motel Site Plan. Two commercial buildings proposed on existing motel site. Mr. Blenko said this plan was submitted in July 2015 and was incomplete. It was discussed at the September 2015 Planning Commission meeting. Since that time, there have been several meetings with the developer and PennDot, and we still have no revised drawings. I contacted the developer ten days ago asking what he wanted to do because we only have until this month to approve or deny the plan or there is a deemed approval. There have been three granted extensions. I offered a denial or a withdrawal and he responded to deny the plan. We have to deny it for a reason and it simply could be the deficiencies that were listed in Donald Housley s review letter of August 24, Motion: Mr. Solomon Motioned to deny this site plan due to the deficiencies stated in the engineering review letter of Donald Housley s dated August 24, Second: Mrs. Stump Motion Carried:

3 NEW BUSINESS S : Larry Brugnoli Plan. Proposed lot consolidation involving 4 lots on Guffey Road near the NHT/Sewickley border. Mr. Fonzi read his memo: this is a lot consolidation of four lots into two at the intersection of Guffey Road and Turner Valley Road. Larry Brugnoli of 641 Vincent Drive owns all four lots. One of the lots is located in North Huntingdon while the other three are located entirely in Sewickley Township. Mr. Brugnoli is cleaning up property lines as they relate to a structure that he owns in Sewickley. The newly created Lot 1 is where the structure will be located. The residual land will be known as Lot 2. The part of this subdivision located in North Huntingdon is confined to Lot 2 and is classified as vacant. Lot 2 also meets the minimum dimensional requirements for an R-4 district. There are a couple labeling errors on the plan that need addressed. Once these issues are corrected, I can recommend this plan for approval. Mr. Fonzi said all of the labeling errors have been addressed by Robert DeGlau. Most of the action in this subdivision is going on in Sewickley Township. Motion: Mr. Kerber Motioned to approve this subdivision Second: Mr. McHugh Motion Carried: S : Sroka II Plan. Proposed boundary line revision involving 2 lots along Robbins Station Road. Mr. Fonzi read his memo: this is a boundary line revision involving two lots along Robbins Station Road near the intersection of Spicher Hill Road. Edward and Heidi Sroka of Somerset, PA currently own both lots. In November of 1990, Township Commissioners approved the original Sroka plan which created 3 lots from 1 eight acre parcel. Lots 1 & 2 were smaller lots that had frontage directly on Robbins Station Road. Since that time, the Sroka s sold Lot 2 where there is an existing home. The object of this proposed subdivision is to take the existing Lot 1 and append it to a large portion of the remaining land behind Lots 1 & 2. In doing so, two large residential lots will be created, each with adequate frontage on Robbins Station Road. The proposed Parcel 2 will be acres and the proposed Parcel 1 will be acres in size. Both new lots meet the minimum dimensional requirements for an R-2 district. There are a couple labeling errors on the plan that need addressed. Once these issues are corrected, I can recommend this plan for approval. 3

4 Mr. Fonzi said Dennis Rosatti, surveyor, corrected all the labeling errors and I received the revision today. There were two similar lots along Robbins Station road and a large parcel behind them. They appended the small lot to a rear portion and then created the dividing line down the middle of the large portion. Now there are two sizeable lots. Motion: Mr. McHugh Motioned to approve this subdivision. Second: Mr. Dykta Motion Carried: SP : Compass Bank. Proposed new bank building at the site of Kerber s Dairy on Rocky Road. Mr. Blenko said there has been a lot of activity on this site plan since my memo to the Board ten days ago. We have an application to put a retail bank with two drive-thru lanes on the former Kerber s Dairy store site. We are squeezing that site to the maximum. We received changes on Friday afternoon, January 29, The site has been reconfigured so there is 25 between one set of parking spaces and 24 between the next set of parking spaces. This is sufficient for someone to back out of a space and off the site. There are two one-way drive-thru lanes that will have Do Not Enter signs. That will also serve as a two-way driveway to get cars to 14 parking spaces which is adequate based on the size of the bank. There is one handicap stall provided. RWS is requesting to be allowed to use asphalt curbs instead of concrete around the perimeter of the site. The RWS letter reads as if you are going to leave the existing curbs in place. There won t be a foot of existing curb left. There will be all new curbing and edge to the parking lot. The dairy store did have asphalt curbs. I am not sure how that happened because our ordinance requires concrete curbs and the ordinance was in place when the dairy store was built. I am fine with the reduced aisle-way width without the parking spaces. On one side, the parking spaces are closer to the building than the required 10. There is no perimeter landscaping on that side, the drive-thru side and one other side. What is proposed is some juniper bushes on the front between the edge of the sidewalk and the front of the building. Originally the plans showed a dumpster location with no enclosure. They didn t want to look at an enclosure so they opted out of having a dumpster. I believe Waste Management sends out a one-man truck to pick up commercial cans. Mr. Solomon said I think they are trying to put too much into too small of a space. Personally I cannot vote to approve this. It is too cramped. Mr. Blenko said the biggest problem I still have is the stormwater management. There was an underground pipe utilized for the dairy story that had inlets to get water into the pipe at the edge of the driveway. Nothing is proposed to be done to change that but now the inlet will be in the middle of the driveway. I know from roads that have inverted crowns, this is a horrible drainage way. The argument was made to me today by Tri- County Engineers that the water that doesn t get into this detention system would simply flow down the private drive towards Rocky Road and get into the inlets that empty into 4

5 the front detention pond. That pond isn t really sized for that flow but probably 99% of the storms would be fine. Mr. Chapman asked if there is more impervious surface with this site than the last one? Mr. Blenko said there is slightly more. Mr. Kerber asked Mr. Blenko you mentioned that the stormwater detention pond wouldn t handle anymore? Mr. Blenko said no, I don t think that is the case at all. It wasn t designed for that. I can t tell you that another 15,000 SF area is going to cause that pond to be overburdened. Mr. Kerber said I owned that property for 13 years, witnessed a lot of heavy storms and I have never seen more than 2 of water in that pond (across the road). I think the underground pipes are oversized now; when we put them in. Mr. Blenko said they are not oversized if the water is getting into them. Mr. Kerber said the water was getting into them. Everything from the downspouts to the parking lot. I am speaking to the capacity of the pond. We also received a lot of water from the parking lot, Sunbelt, behind us. Mr. Chapman asked regardless if it is tight, does it meet the requirements for parking? Mr. Blenko said it does meet the requirements for parking. On the bottom you can see there is an easement across the property where the private drive is located. The property line is on the far side of the private drive. Mrs. Stump asked what is the purpose of the sidewalk on the lower right hand side of the building? There doesn t appear to be any parking there. Mr. Robert Shuster, RWS Development, said it wasn t there initially but we had a meeting with Mr. Blenko and decided to put the sidewalk in to carry the garbage to the dumpster. Thomas R. Zezyus, Compass Bank, told me they don t generate more than 2 cans of garbage per week. The sidewalk was there for only that reason. The driveway is 13 high so about any size truck would be able to drive through that area. Mr. Blenko asked since the dumpster is gone, do you still need that sidewalk? Mr. Shuster said no, they won t need it now. As far as the size of this lot, it meets all township regulations. The old building and pavement was actually bigger than what we are proposing now. It was submitted to the Soil Conservation District and Jim Pillsbury sent us a letter stating it was fine. The building is a little larger than Kerber s was but all 5

6 the run off from the building is caught by downspouts and runs directing to the retention pond. We have a lot less water now than there was before. I believe the old building was 1,500 SF and the new building will be 2,600 SF. There is more roof area and it is contained with downspouts and gutters draining directly into the retention system. There will be less pavement than before because the whole area is less. Impervious areas have gone down from what Kerber s had. Mr. Blenko asked if there is no reason for the sidewalk, can landscaping replace it on that side? Mr. Shuster and Thomas R. Zezyus, Compass Bank said they don t have a problem taking out that sidewalk. Mrs. Stump said that was the reason for my question. I was going to suggest putting some greenery on that side. Mr. Shuster asked the Board do you want to have the sidewalk removed and replaced with plantings? The Board agreed that was a good idea. Mr. Shuster said this building is made out of stone and is beautiful. It is designed like one of our high-priced homes. Compass Bank is financing 80-90% of our construction mortgages. Mr. Blenko said there is a problem with removing that sidewalk. There is an exit door on that side of the building. It may be an emergency exit but I think by the building code, you would have to have possibly a 5 x 5 pad outside that door. Mr. Shuster said that won t be a problem. We will omit the sidewalk on right-side of building and add a 5 x 5 pad outside that door. Mr. Blenko asked Mr. Zezyus where will the armored truck sit when they come onto the site? Mr. Zezyus said the armored truck parks at the front doors. It comes before we open and is there a maximum of 5 minutes. Mr. Dykta asked if there was an ATM in the drive-thru lanes? Mr. Zezyus said yes, there will be an ATM on the back wall of the drive-thru and another one in the lobby/vestibule. Mr. Dykta asked if it was well lit? 6

7 Mr. Zezyus said yes. Mrs. Stump asked if the 5 x 5 pad needed to be handicapped? Mr. Blenko said I don t think so. I think just a landing would be required. Mr. Kerber asked where the handicap parking slot and entrance to building was located? Mr. Blenko shared the drawing showing these two areas on the left-side of the building. Mr. Blenko asked if there was an air-tube system in the drive-thru? Mr. Zezyus said yes, it will run through the roof. Mr. Dykta asked when plowing snow, where do you place the snow and who plows the private drive? Mr. Shuster said I think the township will use the 5 buffer and there is plenty of room in the front. Mr. Kerber said they never had a problem with the snow on this site. Mr. Shuster said the Turnpike owns the Park and Ride area and there was an agreement with Kerber s, now passed onto Compass Bank, that they maintain that area. If it falls apart, the Turnpike will have to handle that. Mr. Kerber said Sunbelt opens the road with one of their big front-end loaders for the first Motion: Mr. McHugh Motioned to approve this site plan with the 4 requested waivers. Second: Mr. Kerber Motion Carried: (Mr. Solomon voted No ) ADVISORY HEARINGS None 7

8 DISCUSSION ITEMS Mr. Blenko said Mr. Solomon spoke with me about Rocky Road being named during the 911 street renaming. The Planning Commission had discussed and agreed to name it Fort Way during this 911 renaming. They had picked Fort Way due to the history of this area, Fort Walthour. Fort Walthour was the original fort in this area. I was out of town when the Board of Commissioners met and it was named Rocky Road. Mrs. Stump said the only objection I have is it sounds like Fourth. In Westmoreland City, there was a Fir Street and a First Street. There was confusion with a fire call one time. Mr. Solomon said it is Fort Way for this reason not Street. It was the Walthour residence surrounded by a stockade palisade where the area s settlers went during Indian attacks. Mr. Chapman asked how many residents are on that street? Mr. Blenko said three: Kohl s, Sunbelt and the new site plan, Compass Bank. Mr. Solomon was thinking this was a good time with the change in one of the businesses. Mr. Shuster said I feel this is going to cause a lot of problems. It will take years to have it updated in the GPS system and it will cause confusion to the truck drivers looking for Rocky Road. Mrs. Stump and Mr. Kerber said that is a good point. Mr. Kerber said the county didn t allow the use of Fort Way during the 911 street renaming. Mr. Fonzi said the county wanted to eliminate the split street issue by eliminating the Northern stub. I do remember there were a bank of names and Fort Way was designated for the strip but then we allowed property owners to suggest a name. Mr. Kerber and I had talked and he suggested Rocky Road. I submitted that to the county and they accepted it. I can t remember if they turned down Fort Way. Mr. Solomon said it was called Rocky Road because of Mr. Kerber. 8

9 Mr. Cross said I think we should get input from the two residents using the current address about the change. If all three are in agreement, then the change is fine but if one doesn t want the change, I think it should be left alone. Mr. Solomon and Mr. Kerber agree that was a good idea. Mr. Chapman said it will have to be done fairly quickly due to this new bank coming in. Mr. Blenko said Mr. Fonzi and I will pursue this issue. CHAIRMAN S REPORT None COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT Motion: Mr. Kerber Second: Mrs. Stump Motioned to adjourn. (7:40 P.M.) Motion Carried 9

TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HUNTINGDON, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING, THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2017, 7:00 P.M.

TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HUNTINGDON, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING, THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2017, 7:00 P.M. 11279 Center Highway, North Huntingdon, PA 15642 Presiding Officer Tony Martino, President, Board