New $8.2M Lower Pottsgrove Building Unveiled

Photos by Evan Brandt

An artist's rendering of the proposed new Lower Pottsgrove Township building as seen from South Pleasantview Road that was presented last night to the township commissioners and the public. 

At left, is a look at the building footprint on the corner.

The public got its first look at the proposed new Lower Pottsgrove Township building Monday night as well as its hefty $8.2 million price tag.

The presentation was made by Alloy 5, the Bethlehem-based architecture and engineering firm that has been working with the township commissioners' infrastructure committee for months.

The building, if the commissioners continue to move ahead with the plan, would be located at the southeast corner of East High Street and South Pleasantview Road.

Here is the video of the virtual tour of the new building as presented last night:

The current police headquarters is in the basement of
the Lower Pottsgrove Township building.

As proposed, the single-story building would be 16,000 square feet divided into two connecting wings; one for township administration offices and another, larger wing for the police department.

The current township building at the corner of Buchert and North Pleasantvew roads was built in
1989 is only 7,500 square feet, said Township Manager Ed Wagner.

The police station, located in the basement of the township building, is unsafe, said Commissioner Earl Swavely, himself the former chief of the West Pottsgrove Police Department.

"The need is there," said Commissioner Robert Mohollen. "We have no cells. They have to handcuff a suspect to a bench while they're trying to hide him from a victim. That's terrible."

The blue area of the floorplan is devoted to the police department
which would face South Pleasantview Road. The gold area at the
left is the administration area, which would face East High Street.

But the police area may not have to be so big, said Commissioner Mike McGroarty, who said the work of the infrastructure committee has dragged him "kicking and screaming" to the conclusion that a new building is needed, and that the current building cannot be practically expanded.

But he said he remembers being told the plan has space for 30 officers and the current force is at 20. "So we might be able to scale that back for some savings," he said.

Commissioner Ray Lopez, who heads up the infrastructure committee, said if the commissioners decide to move forward with the new building, the current building would most likely be sold.

However, because of a glut of office space in Montgomery County, he said he doubts the township could get much more than $1 million for it.

Michael Metzger

Mohollen said the township's infrastructure tax was set up a few years ago to pay for projects like this, although some borrowing will probably be necessary. He said any tax increases to pay for the building would be incremental.

That was cold comfort for resident Robin Smith who said the township's taxes are already too high.

"Have you seen how many houses in town are up for foreclosure?" she asked "We can't afford any more taxes."

Architect Michael Metzger said the current estimate is for $282 per square foot. For comparison, the firm looked at new township buildings being built in Upper Uwchlan, Whitehall and Hampden, which have prices of $300, $295 and $359 per square feet respectively.

"We're trending right where we need to be," he said of the price estimates.

This view shows how the building is aligned at the corner
of the intersection of E. High Street and S. Pleasantvew Road.

Whether or not the building is where it needs to be was another question raised Monday night. The current plan calls for the building to be nestled up against the corner of the intersection.

But former commissioner Tom Troutman pointed out that an increase in traffic might require a left-turn lane to be added to South Pleasantview Road, as was done on the other side of High Street.

The current location might preclude that in the future, he warned.

If constructed as planned, the commissioners would meet in a
1,000 square foot room with seating for 78, considerably larger
than the current public meeting room.

Borough Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. said should the commissioners decide to move forward there is no required time frame, but the next step would be to approve the schematic; then hire professionals to do the full blow architecture and engineering drawings.

That done, the commissioners would then have to put the project out to bid, and, when those bids are received, decide whether to accept them or not.

"At the same time, you should also probably investigate the financing for the project," said Garner. "There are at least three or four votes ahead of you before construction begins."

Before settling on a design for the new building, township officials
visited numerous other municipal buildings for input.

When (and if) it does, the project would probably take 18 months to complete, said Metzger.

But before things get to that point, several residents asked if the matter could be put to the voters in a town-wide referendum.

Garner said there is no way to force the commissioners to put the matter on the ballot and he said he is not even sure such a matter is among the things election law allows to be decided in the voting booth.

And with that, here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Building for the Future

Changes Made to Sanatoga Green Plans

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: Here are the remaining free summer concerts at the Sanatoga Park bandshell.

Several interesting items from last night's meeting are worth telling you about.

Perhaps the biggest impact item was Township Engineer Chad Camburn's report that the nearly 500-unit project called Sanatoga Green has seen major changes.

He told the commissioners that both the second and third phases have been completely re-designed.

The second phase, which had called for a hotel and a medical office building will now instead include two medical office buildings and no hotel.

The third phase, which consists mostly of apartments, has bee completely re-designed. Camburn said

The original Sanatoga Green site plan.

his firm, Bursich Assoc., feels the new design is an improvement for traffic flow, and will also result in fewer apartment units, but he could not recall exactly how many.

The first phase of the $146 million project was approved in December and called for the construction of 147 townhomes.

Located on a total of 57 acres, the project called for the construction of 490 housing units comprised of the approved 147 town homes; 343 apartments in 17 buildings; a 50,000 square foot medical office building and a 108-room hotel. Now the hotel has been eliminated and a second medical office building is being added.

The site is located off Evergreen Road, near the entrance to the Costco and Philadelphia Premium Outlets, both of which are in Limerick.

The "Site" marker shows where the shopping center near Sanatoga 

Green and the Costco is proposed.

Camburn also reported that the sewer planning modules for Sanatoga Marketplace, the proposed shopping center on High Street next to the Turkey Hill at Rupert Road, can be submitted to the state.

As for the shopping center proposed for property between Sanatoga Green and Route 422, Camburn said so far, the township has received only a sketch plan.

In a related development, Camburn said road improvements for Evergreen Road and the Santoga interchange, to accommodate Sanatoga Green and the other shopping center, known as LFT Commercial, are under review.

Also of interest was some disappointing news for improvements planned for the township's Gerald Richards Park off Buchert Road.

The township hops to improve the parking lot, re-grade two Little League fields, construct a new practice field, replace deteriorated trails and improve handicapp access, as well as stormwater improvements.

However only two bids for the project came in and they are more than double the estimated budget.

Township Manager Ed Wagner said the township has $80,000 in grants, but the bids came in at more than $247,000.

"The contractors don't need the work and they're telling us the red tape associated with the Montgomery County Conservation District requirements is driving up costs," Camburn told the commissioners.

Wagner said the stormwater improvement requirements along "are more than a quarter-million dollars."

There were two public hearings last night. One was to set off negotiations with Verizon to begin negotiations for a new franchise agreement with the township, which expired in March. Comcast also serves the township.

Only two people spoke, and she praised Verizon, said the company's customer service was excellent, that the signal rarely went out and "they're much better than Comcast.

The other speaker, who lives off Deer Ridge Lane, said Verizon wanted thousands of dollars to run a line to his home, but Comcast did it for free. The township is now commencing negotiations, said Township Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr.

The other hearing was for an ordinance change to allow people living in the Spring Valley Farms subdivision, now under construction, erect decks and other outdoor structures more easily. It was unanimously adopted by the commissioners.

And here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Setbacks, Sanatoga Green and Your Cable Provider

Farewell to Sgt. Greenwood and Bamboo in Lower

Photo by Evan Brandt

THANKS SGT: Congratulating Lower Pottsgrove Police Sgt. Robert Greenwood, third from left, on his retirement after 34 years of service to the township police department last night were, from left, Township Commissioners Mike McGroarty, Bob Mohollen. Chairman Bruce Foltz, Ray Lopez, Earl Swavely Jr. and Police Chief Mike Foltz.

At right, a parade held in January was organized by area police in honor of Greenwood's retirement.

The township said goodbye one final time Monday night to retiring Lower Pottsgrove Police Sgt. Robert Greenwood.

Greenwood officially retired in December and in January, police gathered for a parade in his honor.

Monday night it was the commissioners' turn. I was going to embed a video here of what Commissioners Chairman Bruce Foltz had to say, but since YouTube has decided my wish is not their command, I will instead have include this link and suggest you click here if you want to see it.

Sharon Holloway, from the Pottstown Regional Public Library board

of trustees, invites the commissioners to take a tour of the library.

Several other things of note happened at last night's meeting, which was only 50 minutes long.

Sanatoga Green

Bursich Engineer Chad Camburn reported that the plans for the sewer system at the 500-plus unit Sanatoga Green project was approved and submitted to the state.

"We anticipate PA DEP will reply with comments based on the extremely wet 2018 and its impact on the projected future flows compared to the capacity of the sewer system," Camburn wrote in his report to the commissioners.

He also reported that 32 of the 59 lots in the first phase of the Spring Valley Farms subdivision off Pleasantview Road have been approved and the water, sanitary and stormwater sewer systems for phase 2 have been installed.

2148 E. High St. in Sanatoga.

Self Storage Units

His firm is also reviewing plans for between 177 and 300 self-storage units along North Charlotte Street between Orlando and Mauger's Mill Road.

Another self-storage project, a new $3 million facility at 2148 E. High St., the site of several former car dealerships, is now seeking zoning relief and the commissioners Monday approved a list of 13 conditions Township Manager Ed Wagner will bring to the zoning board and ask for them to be imposed on any approval granted.

Wagner and Camburn also reported that the two phases of the planned improvements at the busy and popular Gerald Richards Park have finally been approved by the Montgomery County Conservation District.

"Finally, after 18 months," said Wagner, who added that the entire approval process was "ridiculous and over-the-top."

Police Report

Police Chief Mike Foltz reported that the department answered 944 calls for service in February, 12 fewer than last February. There were 124 criinal investigations, 28 adults arrewsted and 11 juveniles handled.

He also said police are planning on stepping up enforcement on Lynn Drive, between Cindy Drive and North Adams Street after several residents complained and two accidents occurred there. Pottsgrove High School students who park there will be notified in advance of the enforcement, he said.

There were five arrests at the high school in February, one each for criminal mischief, theft of a laptop computer, a student with a vaping device and a drug violation. the school resource officer also investigated a report of a student with a knife at Lower Pottsgrove Elementary School.

New Township Building

The next step in the township's slow-motion decision toward building a new township complex at the corner of East High Street and South Pleasantview Road occurred last night.

The board awarded a bid for the demolition of homes on the parcels the township has purchased. BRB Contractors of King of Prussia will be paid $69,900 to knock the buildings down and cart away the debris.

The Old Bamboo

Bamboo is an invasive species known for speedy growth.

The commissioners also embarked on an unexpected discussion of dealing with bamboo.

Township Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. provided the commissioners with three examples of ordinances from other townships aimed at controlling or even banning bamboo.

"It's an invasive species and it spreads quickly above ground and below ground," Garner said.

Garner said most ordinances he found allow bamboo where it has already been planted, but prohibits new plantings unless they are contained, say in a pot, where they cannot spread.

"It spreads very quickly and can be very difficult to contain," he said.

This didn't seem to come as a shock to Chairman Bruce Foltz, who said he was aware of one property where it had been planted and subsequently spread to 10 other properties.

The board took no action on a bamboo ordinance, but seem inclined to consider one in the future.

And with that, here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Goodbye Greenwood and the Old Bamboo

New Cop in Lower, More Route 422 Work Coming

Photo by Evan Brandt

NEWEST ADDITION: Michael Tantorno's children hold The Bible as he takes the oath of office Monday night as Lower Pottsgrove's newest police officer as administered by District Judge Edward Kropp while his family, Police Chief Mike Foltz and township commissioners look on. He will fill the vacancy left by  Sgt. Bob Greenwood, who retired last week after 34 years of service.

Talk about burying the lead.

It wasn't until the very end of last night's Lower Pottsgrove Commissioners meeting that Township Manager Ed Wagner broke the big news.

For the past six years, residents and drivers on Route 422 have been dealing with the $307 million project to replace two bridges over the Schuylkill River, at Armand Hammer Boulevard, over the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks, as well as pavement and access ramp re-construction.

Well, far from being over, another phase is about to begin.

Wagner said he received notice from PennDOT that the roughly five miles from the Royersford to Sanatoga interchanges is the next area to be under construction.

The work is slated to begin this spring and will last into 2021, Wagner said.

Pavement will be repaired and replaced, as will bridge decking along with drainage repairs and the installation of rumble strips.

"Lane closures will occur on the non-peak hours," said Wagner in what could certainly be called cold comfort to those whose patience has already been frayed daily by six years of delays and construction.

But that's not all folks.

The construction of one of two new Route 422 bridges

over the Schuylkill photographed in 2014.

According to the web site set up by PennDOT to track Route 422 work, more is coming.

Design work is currently underway for work on 1.7 miles of expressway from the bridge over the railroad to the bridge over Park Road. 

A $60 million, four-year project, the site anticipates the project to go out to bid in the summer of 2020, while the work in Limerick is still going on.

This project includes two bridges carrying Pleasantview Road and Park Road over U.S. 422, and two bridges carrying U.S. 422 over Porter Road, Sanatoga Road and Sanatoga Creek. One culvert at Sprogels Run, located just east of Porter Road, will be removed and a new two-span structure will be built over Porter Road and Sprogels Run. The acceleration lane for the westbound on-ramp from the Sanatoga Interchange will also be improved as part of this phase.

The $35.6 million project on the section of highway from the Berks County Line, east through the Stowe interchange now underway is expected to be finished by this coming October.

And next month, final design is set to begin on the section of Route 422 from the Keim Street interchange to the Route 724 interchange.

This $40 million project will last three years with the earliest bidding date coming in summer of 2021, according to the site, which was last updated in November.

Parking Changes

In the headaches-for-drivers department, the township commissioners also authorized the advertisement of a change in parking restrictions on Hause Avenue.

After police conducted a safety study, the department recommended, and the commissioners agreed, that no parking restrictions should be extended from the intersection with High Street north past the curve in the road that makes it dangerous.

And with that, here are the Tweets from the meeting:

More Route 422 Work Coming Our Way

Lower Pottsgrove OKs 1st Phase of Sanatoga Green

An early rendition of the Sanatoga Green plan.

With little fanfare and no comment, the Lower Pottsgrove Township Commissioners voted unanimously Monday night to approve the first phase of a $146 million project which, when finished, will construct nearly 500 housing units near the Limerick outlets.

The first phase, which is what was approved Monday night, calls for the construction of 147 town homes. The final site plan for this phase was recommended by the township planning commission in October, said Township Manager Ed Wagner.

A rendering of the town homes planned for Sanatoga Green.

Construction is set to begin in the spring.

Located on a total of 57 acres, the project calls for the construction of 490 housing units comprised of the approved 147 town homes; 343 apartments in 17 buildings; a 50,000 square foot medical office building and a 108-room hotel.

The site is located off Evergreen Road, near the entrance to the Costco and Philadelphia Premium Outlets, both of which are in Limerick Township. 

The project was first envisioned in 2014, when the township commissioners agreed to change the zoning to “gateway mixed use” at the suggestion of the developers, Castle Caldecott, LLC.

The project won preliminary site plan approval from the township commissioners in July, 2017.

Commercial Comes Next

Township Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. said a clause remains in place that requires the commercial phases of the project to be built next, before the apartments, otherwise the developers can be subject to a penalty of $375,000.

A rendering of the medical office building proposed for
Sanatoga Green.

The commissioners had previously expressed concern that if all the housing were built first, the commercial properties might never get built.

That would be of gravest concern to the Pottsgrove School District, which benefits from tax revenues from commercial properties because they do not add to the district's enrollment. Residential development, on the other hand, does.

Last year, Pottsgrove School District Business Manager David Nester shared the results of a demographic study that forecast the district could see growth of as much as 3,700 more students in the next 10 years.

However, the scenario the consultant hired by the board in November considers the most likely is an 8-percent increase in the next 10 years, which works out to 262 additional children.

Nester said the buildings most likely to see the greatest impact under this scenario are Lower Pottsgrove Elementary School (53 more students) and Pottsgrove Middle School, which would see 109 more.

The primary drivers behind this forecast are the residential units in Sanatoga Green, the Spring Valley Farms project now under construction at Pleasantview and Bliem roads — both in Lower Pottsgrove — and the 58-unit rental development off Moyer Road in Upper Pottsgrove.

“We’ve never had his kind of influx of housing before. These numbers are conservative, and frankly they’re still twice what developers said,” Nester told the board last year.

Tax Windfall?

But Castle Caldecott's analysis predicted the Sanatoga Green project will generate only 58 additional students for the school district and will be a tax windfall.

Estimated to generate just over $3 million in additional tax revenue for the school district, a 2016 analysis done for the developers, estimated $1.1 million in costs to the district.

That leaves Pottsgrove Schools $2.6 million on the positive side when Sanatoga Green is completed, according to the analysis.

As for the township, which has a much lower millage rate, the total revenues would rise by $627,159, minus $385,400 in costs for township services — again, undocumented — leaving a net gain of $241,759.

More Traffic?

The exact impact the project will have on local traffic was not immediately available Monday night.

Plans for a new ramp at the Sanatoga interchange are in the works.

However, more homes usually equals more cars.

As it stands, PennDOT is already moving ahead with upgrades to Route 422's Sanatoga interchange, which is nearby to the project.

The $3 million project will allow traffic driving away from the Philadelphia Outlets and Costco to get onto westbound Route 422 without having to cross opposing traffic on Evergreen Road as it does now

The project is expected to take most of 2019 to construct and is not likely to be ready for use until 2020.

Sewer Impacts

Sanatoga Green will generate 78,000 gallons of wastewater per day. It will be pumped to the Pottstown Wastewater Treatment Plant with the help of $500,000 worth of improvements to a township pump station.

The state, concerned about the amount of stormwater and groundwater infiltrating Lower Pottsgrove’s sewer system, approved the additional flow after the township increased its efforts to stem that infiltration from $175,000 per year to $435,000, said Wagner.

No Tax Hike

In other business, the commissioners also voted unanimously to advertise the 2019 budget which calls for a 1 percent increase in spending, but no tax hike.

Wagner said the 2019 budget is $6,366,989, which is only $35,059 more than the current budget.

However, the budget nevertheless calls for using $328,749 of reserve funds to balance the budget and avoid the tax hike.

He said during the budget process more than $400,000 in spending was cut from the 2019 budget draft to get it to this point.

Sewer fees remain $136 per quarter, as they have been since 2014, Wagner said.

The commissioners are expected to adopt the final budget at the Dec. 20 meeting.

Police News

District Judge Maurice Saylor, in robe, administers the oath to 

Lower Pottsgrove's newest police officer, Aaron Diefenderfer.

The township swore in a new police officer Monday night. His name is Aaron Diefenderfer and he previously worked in Philadelphia, has emergency medical training and is currently pursuing a master's degree, according to Police Chief Mike Foltz.

Another candidate, Michael Tantorno Jr. has also accepted a conditional offer of employment and will be sworn in at a meeting in January.

Foltz also reported that during an intense rainstorm on Nov. 2, one of the department's patrol carts was "overcome by flood water."

Moisture remains trapped in patrol car 88-2 after
it was flooded during 

a Nov. 2 rainstorm.

"I imagine it has quite bit of mildew inside it now," said the chief. An insurance claim has been filed.

Foltz also fielded a complaint made Monday night by a resident of Pebble Beach Drive about residents of the Rolling Hills public housing development creating problems on his street.

"They steal from our cars. When I come home at 2 and 3 in the morning, they're walking down the middle of the street," said Brian Sacks. "I feel like I'm living in the hood."

He asked for a fence to block access, but Foltz said he did not think that would work because there is a fence between Rolling Hills and neighboring Walnut Ridge development and "it keeps getting torn down."

And with that, here are the Tweets from the meeting:

1st Phase of Sanatoga Green Approved

$3 Million Self-Storage Facility Proposed for Vacant Auto Dealership on High Street in Sanatoga

Photos by Evan Brandt

A mock up of the self storage facility presented to the Lower Pottsgrove Township Commissioners Monday night for the vacant car dealership property on East High Street in Sanatoga Village.

After a series of owners tried to make a go of it as a car dealership, a property on East High Street is now being considered for a $3 million self-storage facility.

Called Moove-In Self Storage, the company has just had a facility approved in Amity Township, owns and intends to spend $500,000 on expanding the existing self-storage on South Pleasantview Road and now wants to add the former car dealership to its holdings.

"We also have 20 other locations in Maryland and New Jersey," said developer John Gilliland of

The basic site plan for the project. High Street is at the top.

Investment Real Estate Group.

The investors had informally met previously with staff and Township Commissioners Chairman Bruce Foltz, "and we told them we weren't interested, that they needed to improve their plan, and they did."

Gilliland said self-storage facilities are in demand -- he said there is a waiting list at the South Pleasantview Road location -- offer tax base with low impact, no school children, little to no impact on police services and low traffic.

He said studies show the average unit renter visits twice every 13 months.

Gilliland said the units would be a neutral color and face inward, so as not to disturb residents of the town homes neighboring the rear of the property and would generate much less light pollution.

The existing office/showroom building would be gutted and converted to climate-controlled storage units, he said.

The commissioners also heard from a speaker who is considering purchasing the old Saylor farm off Pleasantview Road and using the barn as a wedding venue, but wanted to make sure the commissioners do not object before making an offer on the property.

Township Manager Ed Wagner said the property is in the R-2 zoning district, and so a use variance would be required for the business to open, but the commissioners said they have no objections.

Police Chief Michael Foltz updated the township on a computer program he has purchased for the police cruisers which shuts down the computer system in the cars when they are in motion, "to cut down on distracted driving."

In a similar vein, he asked for, and the commissioners approved, a new policy that prohibits officers texting while driving, or using a hand-held phone while driving.

And with that, here are the Tweets from the meeting:

From Car Dealership to Self Storage Units

Lower Pottsgrove Awards Police Commendations

At left, Lowers Pottsgrove Police Chief Michael Foltz explains the circumstances of a June 3 strong-arm robbery at the Turkey Hill convenience store solved by, from left, Det. Daniel Kienle, Officer Matt Musselman and Sgt. Robert Greenwood. Next to them are township commissioners Earl Swavely Jr. and Ray Lopez.

A deceptively light agenda for Monday's Township Commissioners meeting gave way to an unannounced ceremony honoring police officers for four major investigations in recent months.

Despite the absence of a previous announcement, there was no shortage of family and well-wishers on hand to laud their achievements.

Here is a breakdown:

May 7, Landis Store Robbery

From left, Lower Pottsgrove Police Chief Michael Foltz, Det. Daniel
Kienle, Officer Scott Burnick and township commissioners
Earl Swavely Jr. and Ray Lopez.

About 9:45 a.m., police responded to the Landis Market on High Street in Sanatoga where Officer Scott Burnick found an elderly woman whose purse had been stolen in the parking lot.

After issuing a bulletin for the suspect, Burnick and Det. Seg. Joe Campbell developed a link between their suspect and the vehicle in which he had escaped. When they approached his home, he drove away and after a brief pursuit, they called it off out of concern for public safety.

but the suspect dumped evidence during the pursuit. With the help of Det. David Kienle, the suspect was arrested.

Here is a video of Chief Foltz describing the incident.

June 20, Meth Lab at Rolling Hills

At about 3 in the morning on June 20, Sgt. Scott Weidenhammer and Officer David Slothower responded to a report of a methamphetamine lab at Apt. 135 of the Rolling Hills apartment complex on Buchert Road.

Sgt. Scott Weidenhammer with his commendation.

They undertook a "knock and talk" procedure by which they simply knocked on the door and speak to the people who answer the door.

They saw enough suspicious activity to ask permission to enter and conduct a search.

Once inside, they encountered a haze and distinct odor identified as precursors to a methamphetamine manufacturing facility. They arrested those inside and evacuated the building, calling in the state police to conduct a chemical search.

They seized drugs and six suspects.

Here is video of Chief Foltz describing the incident:

June 3, Turkey Hill Robbery

Police responded to a report of an armed robbery at about 11:20 p.m. on June 3 at the Turkey Hill convenience store at East High Street and Rupert Road.

There, they found a female clerk who had been shoved aside as a thief stole cigarettes and food items before fleeing the store.

Sgt. Robert Greenwood and Officer Matthew Musselman searched for the suspect, but were unsuccessful. They then obtained a photograph of the suspect from the store's security video and Det. Daniel Kienle used facial recognition software the develop a suspect, who later confessed.

Here is a video of Chief Foltz explaining the crime and arrest:

July 3, Turkey Hill Robbery

Chief Foltz, left, Det. Deniele Kienle, Sgt. Timothy Walters

and township commissioners Earl Swavely Jr. and Ray Lopez. 

One month later to the day, the exact same clerk at the exact same Turkey Hill made the exact same call -- she had been robbed.

When police arrived they found she had a severe wound to her hand. She had been slashed by a man who was armed with a large knife and demanded cash from the register. He cut her, took the money and ran off.

Sgt. Timothy Walters arrived and ordered a search, and after viewing the surveillance video, immediately recognized the thief, which quickly led to the man's arrest.

In other less dramatic business, the commissioners approved a 4,950 square-foot storage building at the Limerick nuclear Generating Station and a 2,696 square-foot clubhouse at the Spring Valley Farms project, now under construction.

The board also took time to note, with regret, the passing of David Updegrove, a longtime volunteer wit the Sanatoga Fire Company, as well as the local historical society. They also thanked the police and firefighters who organized and undertook the honor procession down High Street that marked his passing.

And now here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Police Awards

BIG NEWS IN LOWER POTTSGROVE! (That's a Lie)

I would like to tell that a big news story came out of last night's Lower Pottsgrove Township Commissioners meeting, because that would be exciting.

It would also be a lie.

The agenda item which had excited my attention and, I presumed, would generate some news -- an update on the infrastructure committee's consideration of a new township building -- fizzled.

Not much new to report it turns out.

I did find out about some month-old news that I missed during one of our late season snowstorms.

Evidently during the nor'easter on March 1, an equipment failure at the sewage pumping station on Porter Road shut down the whole system and filled the station with several feet of raw sewage.

It took hours and the heroic efforts of personnel from the township and Sanatoga Fire Company to get it out without polluting Sprogel's Run and get it repaired.

Those repairs are temporary and the insurance company is still figuring out how much it will have to pay out, said Township Manager Ed Wagner.

Cost estimates are "into the six figures," he said.

So that's something, but sort of fails in the N-E-W department of N-E-W-S.

So, here are the Tweets, such as they are. Hey folks, municipal reporting is not always the rip-snorting adrenaline-jacked thrill ride you imagine it to be.

Sometimes, things are just routine.

High Street Property Purchase, Resignation Accepted

The Lower Pottsgrove Township Commissioners made quick work of some pretty consequential items during Thursday's 15-minute board meeting.

Firstly, they formally accepted the resignation of Stephen Klotz, who announced at the last commissioners meeting that he is moving out of state and must step down from the board.

Those interested in replacing him should submit a letter of interest to Township Manager Ed Wagner by March 1.

Secondly, the commissioners, absent Chairman Bruce Foltz, voted unanimously to purchase 2270 E. High St. and 2272 E. High St., each for $100,000.

Together, the two comprise .57 acres.

The two parcels have houses on them, and so the commissioners also approved a month-to-month contract with Zuber Realty to collect the rent on those homes for a 6 percent commission.

The closing date has been set for March 26.

After that, the township will look at possibly combining five different adjacent parcels as the possible new home of a township campus, for a new township building and police headquarters.

And then everyone went home.

Here are the Tweets:

Lower Pottsgrove Board Keeps it Short and Sweet

As a news professional, I would like to tell you that the 12-minute meeting of the Lower Pottsgrove Township Commissioners Thursday night was eventful.

Because then I would have something to report.

But as a news professional, I am compelled to tell you it was a snoozer.

Of some interest is the fact that the police department received permission to donate recovered bicycles to Liberty Thrift after they have been held unclaimed for a year.

They have eight and they are taking up space.

The board also tabled action on a "memorandum of understanding" with Police Chief Michael Foltz. The board held a closed-door executive session before the meeting that included discussion of personnel, so those two things may be related, but it's too early to tell for sure.

Vice President Stephen Klotz, who handled the matter because the police chief is the son of President Bruce Foltz, said he wanted to table the matter "to make sure to get the language right.

Otherwise, here are the Tweets, what few of them there are ....

Lower Pottsgrove Pondering 7.4% Tax Hike for 2018

Lower Pottsgrove Township Commissioners Thursday night approved a tentative $6.4 million 2018 budget that would raise taxes by 7.4 percent if adopted next month without change.

The tentative budget's $6,3267,371 in spending represents a 2.4 percent increase in spending over the 2017 amount of $6,175,765.

But the tax increase can be attributed to one single item, the commissioners' desire to create a capital reserve fund, a saving account for major projects, said Township Manager Ed Wagner.

The .25 millage increase is dedicated entirely to that fund, he said.

According to Montgomery County's list of all millage rates, Lower Pottsgrove's is currently 3.368 mills. So a .25 millage increase for the capital reserve tax brings the total to 3.618 mills, or an increase of 7.42 percent.

Wagner said  there has been no major project in the past year that has brought this need to the front of the commissioners' table. "We're just trying to be prudent and plan ahead," he said.

For the average property owner, whose assessment is $125,000, it means an increase of $31.25 on the 2018 property tax bill.

The commissioners voted unanimously to advertise the budget and make it available to the public for a minimum of 30 days. Final adoption does not take place until December.

The blue area is currently Pennsylvania American Water's

franchise area. The tan area shows the proposed expansion

In other matters, the commissioners also approved a letter of support for the expansion of Pennsylvania American Water's franchise area into the township to provide water for the massive Sanatoga Green project of more than 500 housing units, a medical facility and, possibly, a hotel.

When pressure tests were done, it became evident that the Pottstown Borough Authority system could not provide enough water pressure to- run sprinkler systems and meet other water needs.

The commissioners did not have the final word. That rests with the Pennsylvania Utilities Commission, a process which could take some time, said Sanatoga Green developer Ted Draushcak

$375K Pledge Wins Sanatoga Green Preliminary OK

An early version of the site plan which received
preliminary approval last night from the commissioners.

With a 4-1 vote by the Lower Pottsgrove Commissioners, the $146 million proposal to build 500 homes and apartments, a hotel and large medical building near the Limerick outlets took an important step forward Thursday night.

Sanatoga Green, as the project is called, proposes a 60,000 square-foot medical building, a 108-room hotel, 17 multi-family apartment buildings with a total of 343 units and 147 townhomes, all on about 50 acres off Evergreen Road opposite the Costco.

First envisioned in 2014 and carried forward by Castle Caldecott LLC, the project received preliminary site plan approval from the township commissioners last night.

It was not easily won.

The approval was expected two weeks ago, but was delayed due to disagreements over details of the project, and over the township's desire for some kind of guarantee that the commercial elements of the plan would be built as well as the roughly 500 homes that have drawn concern from the Pottsgrove School District.

But a 90-minute meeting Monday between the developers, the township staff and Commissioners Chairman Bruce Foltz and Vice Chairman Stephen Klotz produced a compromise.

As Township Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. explained, one of the 38 conditions attached to the approval is an incentive for the developer to move forward with the commercial aspects of the project.

Several months ago, these were the townhouse renderings

presented to the commissioners by Castle Caldecott, LLC

The developers have agreed to put up $375,000 in cash or a line of credit to ensure that after the first, townhouse phase of the project moves forward, that the second residential phase, the apartments, will not begin until building permits have been pulled for either of the two commercial elements of the plan.

Should the developers approach the commissioners about beginning the second residential phase before the commercial, "I imagine there would be some negotiation or the township might obtain the $375,000 by default," Garner said.

"It was not easy to get them to agree to that," said Foltz. "They didn't want to put up any money at all."

Both Foltz and Klotz praised the efforts on all sides.

"I think this shows the township is business friendly," said Klotz, who praised the professionalism if both the developer's staff and the township's.

The developers also presented a rendering of what
the hotel on the site may look like several months ago.

But not everyone was so enthusiastic.

Commissioner Ray Lopez cast the lone dissenting vote.

He said he voted no because of how many people who live in the area where the development is proposed have contacted him and asked him to oppose it.

"They're opposed to it because of the traffic, the zoning changes, the impact on the schools, and they would like to see a different plan, one that has more commercial elements and I agree with them," Lopez said.

However, the tale is not yet fully told.

Having won preliminary site plan approval, Castle Caldecott must now go back to the planning commission and do more work to seek a recommendation for final site plan approval, which can only be granted by the township commissioners.

"They've still got a long way to go," said Klotz.

But you, dear reader, don't have far to go to find the Tweets from the very brief meeting.

500-Unit Sanatoga Green Plan Hits a Speed Bump

The proposal to build a hotel, medical office building and about 500 housing units did not win the preliminary site plan approval the developers were so obviously expecting Thursday night.

Rather, after disagreements surfaced about details and whether limits could be placed on residential developments to guarantee commercial developments could be built, both sides retreated to re-group.

There was a lot of talk -- after all lawyers, engineers and politicians were involved -- but the essential issue comes down to this.

The township commissioners have seen too many "mixed use developments" flounder after the residential portion of the project was built, leaving the schools with more students but no commercial tax base to offset the cost.

So the township wants "phasing," with one of the commercial developments being built after the townhomes, for which the developers already have a contract.

From the developers' standpoint, they don't control the market and don't control which type of partner they secure and when. Limiting the project to a schedule phasing undermines the ability to get the financing to undertake all the site work at the same time, a considerable savings.

Suffice it to say that no compromise was reached Wednesday night, although a few were floated. However, the pending signing of a contract for the 60,000 square-foot medical facility may break the log-jam.

A meeting between the township staff and developers, along with two commissioners, has been scheduled with anticipation that the preliminary approval can be accomplished at the July 20 meeting.

The project calls for 60,000 square-foot medical building, a 108-room hotel, 17 multi-family apartment buildings with a total of 343 units & and 147 townhomes, all on about 50 acres off Evergreen Road opposite the Limerick outlets.

That said, you can read the Tweets if you want the long version, including the catty exchange between Township Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. and Frank Bartle, the developers' attorney.

Solicitor Peddles Solicitation Update in Lower

I put my money on 20 minutes for Thursday's Township Commissioners meeting as the agenda was so light.

The ever-wise Joe Zlomek, publisher of the Sanatoga Post, said because they were considering three new ordinances it would be more.

But I would have won if Commissioner Ray Lopez had not raised the idea of changing the title of Code Enforcement Chief Joe Groff to the head of the Licensing and Inspections Department, similar to what was done in Pottstown a few years ago.

There was a lot of hemming and hawing and no decision was made, but it made me lose my bet and I'm pretty sure I owe Joe Zlomek a drink.

Otherwise, the most significant discussion -- no votes were taken -- was probably the updating of the peddling and solicitation ordinance.

Solicitor Charles Garner Jr. noted that it had not been updated since the 1970s and offered such waivers as the ability to sell meat and dairy products from the back of a truck, not something that happens much nowadays.

So in the interest of being proactive -- the justification for draft sewer holding tank and blasting ordinances also discussed Thursday night -- Garner and Township Manager Ed Wagner offered some "tweaks and updates."

Primarily, they include such practical suggestions and shortening a the term of a peddling license from a year to six months, applying it primarily to for-profit enterprises and requiring background checks for the issuing of a license.

Non-profits wopuld still be required to obtain a permit (thought not a license) under the current draft, but fees would be waived.

Commissioner Robert Molhollen was particularly insistent that the ordinance should not interfere with such regular occurrences and selling Girl Scout cookies and Salvation Army solicitations at Christmas.

He was assured they would not.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting.

Lower Pottsgrove Police Kudos and Sanatoga Green

Photos by Evan Brandt

Lower Pottsgrove Township Commissioner Ray Lopez shows one side of the township police commemorative medallion now being presented with police and citizen awards.

Police news was front and center Monday night as the Lower Pottsgrove Township Commissioners gathered for their first meeting of the month.

Police Chief Michael Foltz recognized Sgt. Scott Weidenhammer and his wife Vicki for all they did to ensure that the police department received its re-accreditation.

Lower Pottsgrove is one of about 110 law enforcement agencies out of 1,100 across the state that have achieved accreditation through the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police — Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission.

First accredited in 2014, the department must meet the 133 standards every three years to remain in good standing and Weidenhammer was in charge of that effort, as well as his other duties.

Commissioners Stephen Klotz and Earl Swavely, left and right,

applaud as Chief Mike Foltz congratulates Sgt. Scott
Weidenhammer 

and his wife Vicki for their work on
the re-accreditation of the police department.

"There are a number of times when he was in here working on that when it was not his shift," said Foltz. He added that when the committee is here for its inspection, if was Weidenhammer and his wife who acted as hosts, with Vicki providing some home cooking as well as other support.

"We are certainly not the biggest department in the state to be accredited, but the fact that we are, and were re-confirmed shows the professionalism of this department," said Commissioner Earl Swavely, himself a former police chief.

"It's not any easier three years later," said Commissioners Vice Chairman Stephen Klotz.

Weidenhammer was presented with a commendation and his wife with a citizens award and both received the commemorative medallion the township had made up for police-related awards.

Next up was Sgt. William James, who wanted to thank the commissioners for the opportunity to attend the FBI National Academy, particularly given that only about 1 percent of those who apply are accepted.

Lower Pottsgrove Police Sgt. William James addresses
the township commissioners about the FBI Academy.

During his 10 weeks at the academy, James completed 30 hours of coursework in fitness in law enforcement and 45 hours each in courses including effective writing, public speaking, employment law issues for law enforcement executives, essentials for law enforcement leaders and law enforcement approaches to counter terrorism.

He said the difficulty of the work is the equivalent or a graduate school-level course.

Foltz also detailed a busy April for the department which included a DUI stop that netted several arrests, including a. weapons charge, to a vandalism spree in Rolling Hills and Walnut Ridge housing complexes on Easter weekend, in which one officer was nearly hit with a thrown battery.

In the another item of frequent discussion in the township building, Pottsgrove Schools Business Manager David Nester was on hand to provide the commissioners with the demographic study the district had delivered recently.

It told a much different tale of how many new students two large housing developments on tap in the township -- Sanatoga Green and Spring Valley Farms -- might generate.

The upshot, "the numbers are conservative but about twice what the developer predicted," Nester said.

Pottsgrove Schools Business Manager Dave Nester, right,

outlines the results of the district's latest demographic study.

He was informed by Chad Camburn, one of the township's engineers from Burshich Assoc., that Spring Valley Farms is contemplating changing its plan from two-story family homes to single story ranches marketed toward homeowners over 50, which would reduce the number of children the district would have to accommodate.

"That's much appreciated," Nester replied.

Camburn also said the number of townhomes in the Sanatoga Green project has bee reduced slightly, but that the developers there are pushing very hard to move the process forward.

He said last month he and the township received 12 submissions from Castle Caldecott LLC. "They're being very cooperative, but they're anxious. Hopefully, after they get preliminary approval, they'll take a breath," he said.

Camburn also said that between Sanatoga Green, a commercial property being proposed for the adjacent property, and the development of commercial property adjacent to the Turkey Hill on East High Street, that PennDOT, Limerick and Lower Pottsgrove are ready to back a regional traffic study for the entire Sanatoga Route 422 interchange area.

Look to future reports in The Mercury for more on these items.

In the meantime, here are the ever-lovin' Tweets!