Steep Slope Building Eyed for Sanatoga Green

Photos by Evan Brandt

Lower Pottsgrove officials, from left, Township Manager Ed Wagner, Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr., Commissioners Chairman Bruce Foltz and Vice Chairman Stephen Klotz, review plans for Sanatoga Green with project engineer Michael Engle.

An extremely technical hearing on a request by the Sanatoga Green developers to be allowed to build in some steeply sloped areas of their 51 acres captured the board of commissioners attention Thursday, but no decision was forthcoming.

Instead, by the time the attorney and engineer for the project -- which will add more than 500 dwelling units, a 100-room hotel and medical office space to the area off Evergreen Road opposite the Limerick outlets -- had finished, most seemed a little overwhelmed.

And small wonder.

The hour-long hearing include citations of zoning ordinances, ratios, angles and

Evergreen Road resident Donald Woodley

looks over the site plan for Sanatoga Green.

topographic maps.

Instead of providing the expected approval -- the commissioners had few questions (with the exception of vice chairman Stephen Klotz) -- the commissioners took advantage of the law which allows 45 days for a decision to made.

The commissioners accepted the advice of Township Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr., and postponed a vote until the next meeting on Aug. 18.

The only member of the audience to raise any questions was Evergreen Road resident Donald Woodley who, after the meeting, told the commissioners he is worried about traffic and the ability of fire trucks to get into the development once its built.

Presuming the commissioners approve the conditional use permit on Aug. 18, the entire project must still make its way through the land development process, which involves votes and opportunities for public comment both at planning commission meetings and future meetings of the board of commissioners.

After the hearing, the commissioners continued on to their regular meeting.

The board voted unanimously to appoint Joseph Vecchio to the Zoning Hearing Board, who will replace Rober Molhollen, who was appointed to the board of commissioners last month to replace James Vlahos.

Additionally, the board voted unanimously to award the bid for a new highway department pole barn, next to the current one on Pleasantview Road, for $24,877 to Shirk LLC of East Earl, PA.

The board also approved the settlement of a 2011 assessment challenge for 2129 High St., which also just happens to be the location of the township's engineering firm, Bursich Assoc.

The settlement, already negotiated and approved by the school board, will retroactively reduce the commercial site's assessment from $810,210 to $715,000.

As for the rest, here are the Tweets: