There Can Be Only One

Photo by Evan Brandt

Ray Lopez, right, was the unanimous choice of the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners who, Monday night, chose him to fill the seat vacated last month by Shawn Watson. Also applying, from left, were Charles Nippert, Justin Valentine, Bob Franciose and Scott Fulmer. 

It was quick and didn't surprise too many people.

Monday night, the Lower Pottsgrove Township Commissioners unanimously chose Ray Lopez, a long-time municipal and emergency services official, as its newest member.

Lopez becomes the third non-elected member on the five member board, but is actually the only one who will not be on the ballot in November.

But you can read all about that here, in the article in today's Mercury.

The drawing outlining the Spring Valley Farm development.

Another big item on the agenda -- to be handled in a subsequent Mercury article -- was the preliminary approval granted for Spring Valley Farms.

It is a project that will located 178 homes on 144 acres off Bliem Road and was made possible by an overlay zoning changed undertaken last year, that attracted a lot of interest from residents of that area.

The primary idea behind the project is that much of the property will remain permanently protected open space in exchange for a higher number of homes clustered more closely together.

Township Solicitor Robert Brant said the project will receive final approval in phases.

The commissioners granted preliminary approval after removing a waiver regarding the placement of street trees.

Check out the Tweets from the meeting.