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Photo by Evan Brandt
This proposed development off Holly Road, behind the Gilbertsville Giant off Route 100, would have 190 dwelling units and 28,130 square feet of commercial space as currently proposed.
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Regional planners deal with everything from the big picture, like entire county comprehensive plans, to details like "where are the storm basins?"
Last night was quite a bit of both at the Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Commission, which is comprised of eight municipalities, including two in Chester County.
Which explains why Carol Stauffer, assistant director of Chester County Planning Commission, was in the house updating the planners on Landscapes 3, the county's comprehensive plan. The first plan was 1996, the second was in 2009.
We've written quite a lot about that already here at Digital First Media, oops, I mean MediaNews Group, so I won't go into it here.
Because we've already gone into it here.
State Grant Applications Supported
At a lower level, the planners approved letters of support for two park and preservation projects.
They voted unanimously to support a $250,000 grant application by West Pottsgrove for further
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West Pottsgrove has been steadily making improvements to
Ralph P. Murgia Park off Manatawny Street.
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The bridge would also give access to a small platform being planned by the Colebrookdale Railroad to give riders a place to get off and visit the Sly Fox Tap Room and Manatawny Still Works on Circle of Progress.
That grant, if awarded, would come from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
A unanimous vote will also provide a letter of support from the regional planners for an effort to preserve Camp Laughing Waters, a 455-acre Girl Scout Camp in New Hanover and Upper Frederick Township, south of Route 73 between New Hanover Square Road and Fagleysville Road.
There are plans for a trail network that would connect to both the Perkiomen Trail and Sunrise Mill and the proposed Swamp Creek Trail.
As The Mercury reported earlier this month, Montgomery County has already agreed to put up $2,767,000 toward the $3,917,000 price of the conservation easement and another $1,150,000 grant is being sought from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
It is this second DCNR grant which the regional planners voted to support.
Mini Grants Awarded
The regional recreation program, which was born out of the regional planning committee, also awarded five "mini-grants" of $25,000 each for the third year in a row, Montgomery County Planner Marley Bice announced.
(You can learn more about that program by clicking here.)
In West Pottsgrove, the mini grant will pay for even more improvements to Murgia Park.
"This project will extend the Tri-County Trail system's Manatawny Trail to the west from the recently installed pedestrian bridge over the Goose Run stream. A pavilion and access path for community use on the west side of Goose Run stream will also be constructed," according to the site.
In North Coventry, the mini grant will pay for improvements at Riverbend Park, at the intersection with Laurelwood and River roads.
It will pay for "installation of a new playground for the 2-5 years old age group in proximity to an existing pavilion, swing set, and softball field. A paved ADA-accessible walkway and two ADA parking spaces are also proposed. A future phase will install a new playground for the 5-12 years old age group."
In East Coventry, the mini grant will be spent at Ellis Woods Park, located behind the township building.
It will "improve Ellis Woods Park by constructing an additional two pickleball courts to complement the existing court and allow for more play at once. Green stormwater management will also be constructed."
In Douglass, the mini grant will be spent at Douglass Park, located behind that township's municipal building.
The grant will "redevelop and replace older play equipment in Douglass Park. Remove two old swing sets, expand the existing play area to the north and south with new safety surfacing and plastic boarders, add a new swing set, construct an accessible pathway and five new park benches. Replace the pavilion with a new 30' x 50' pavilion with blacktop pad."And in Pottstown, the $25,000 mini grant will pay for improvements at Potts Drive Park, located in the area west of Route 100 known locally as "the manor" and behind Wal-Mart.
"This project will include resurfacing and lining of an existing basketball court; installation of new uprights and hoops; installation of a three-bay swing set and safety surfacing; and installation of an ADA-accessible pathway connecting the parking lot to the new park features," according to the application.
Two Projects in Douglass
The planners also reviewed two projects in Douglass about which, I am afraid I am somewhat short of details.
I know about the project in the photo re-produced here again.
It is a plan for a parcel off Holly Road, between the Giant Shopping Center off Route 100 and Clover Lane, which a dog-leg that cuts behind Giant out to County Line Road.
It is a Gambone project and calls for 190 dwelling units, 166 of them townhouses, as well as 28,130 square feet of commercial space, 163 parking spaces, 34,240 square feet of recreation space and 17.35 acres of open space along the northern border.
Ed Reitz, who sits on the Douglass Township Planning Agency, said the project has been around for several years and recently became active yet. It does not yet have any planning agency or township supervisor approvals.
It is located in the township's "growth area," as outlined in the regional comprehensive plan adopted in 2015.
After some discussion, the planners decided to send a letter to Douglass expressing concern that the project have adequate parking, stormwater controls and a pedestrian crossing on Holly Road.
The other project has spurred a request for a zoning change to allow "active adult community" to be included as an allowed use in the township's "neighborhood mixed use overlay district," according to a legal notice published April 23 in The Mercury.
Reitz said the project is partially in Colebrookdale Township in Berks County and partially in Douglass (Mont.).
He said it is near the intersection of Mill Street and Sweinhart Road (shown at left) which runs parallel to Route 100 near the Berks County line.
According to the proposed ordinance reviewed by the planners, the overlay district can only be applied to properties of 25 acres or more with public water and sewer in either the R-3 Residential District or the M-1 Office and Light Industrial District.
It would allow for the construction of community centers and clubhouses in the Active Adult Communities as well as "at least one village green area with a minimum area of 15,000 square feet," as well as picnic groves, gazebos and park benches.
According to the legal notice, the Douglass township Supervisors will conduct a public hearing on the proposed zoning change at their meeting on Monday, May 6 at 7 p.m. at the township building, 1320 E. Philadelphia Ave. in Gilbertsville.
That's all I know for know.
And with that, here are the Tweets from the meeting.
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