Newtown Township
Planning Commission Minutes
January 16, 2001
MINUTES OF 1/16/01: Mr. Kester moved to approve the minutes of 1/16/01; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lombardi and passed unanimously.
The Newtown Township Planning
Commission met on Tuesday, January 16, 2001, in the Township meeting room at
8:00 PM. In attendance were:
Chairperson Karen Doorley, members Allen Fidler, Paul Kester, James Baldwin, Vince
Lombardi, Bonnie Kelly, and Sue Beasley.
Also in attendance was Supervisor Raymond Goodnoe.
Chairperson Karen Doorley
called the meeting to order at 8:00 PM.
MINUTES OF 1/2/01: Mr. Kester moved to approve the minutes of 1/2/01 with one
correction: on page 3, the Sycamore
Street Committee liaisons are Mr. Lombardi, Mr. Mendicino and Mrs. Doorley. The motion was seconded by Mr. Baldwin and
passed unanimously with Dr. Kelly abstaining.
REVIEWS:
CONDITIONAL USE - LASTALLA RESTAURANT - VILLAGE AT
NEWTOWN SOUTH - TMP# 29-10-85-6: Attorney Don Marshall was present to discuss the
application to use 4,087 square feet on the first floor of an existing building
(the Lovett Barn) in the Planned Commercial District, for Use E-5, Eating
Place. Mr. Marshall stated that the
applicants plan a Tuscan style family restaurant seating up to 150 people. Approximately 15% of the business will be
takeout. They have not applied for a
liquor license.
Mr. Marshall stated there
will be an average of ten and a maximum of fourteen employees on site, working
in two shifts. The hours of operation
will be 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM seven days a week. There will be no hazardous materials or offensive environmental
effects. Refuse will be stored in a
dumpster provided by the shopping center.
Twenty three parking spaces are required, and they will be provided in a
lot shared with the Workbench (on the second floor of the building).
Mr. Fidler asked if the
applicants plan to have diners seated outdoors. Mr. Marshall said there will be seating on the terrace in good
weather, but no music will be played outside.
The only exception might be a special event, for which a permit would be
obtained.
Mr. Baldwin moved to recommend approval of the
conditional use application, subject to the Heritage Conservancy review letter
of 11/21/00, with the hours of operation 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM seven days a
week, and provided that there will be no outdoor music unless a permit is
obtained for a special event. The
motion was seconded by Mr. Kester and passed unanimously.
SUBCOMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS:
a. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:
Supervisor Raymond Goodnoe reviewed the 1/10/01 Board of Supervisors
meeting. He mentioned that a small
parcel of Township land lies completely within the Borough. The possibility of ceding it to the Borough
came up as the Supervisors discussed the new Office-Light Industrial
District. Commission members agreed to
discuss this further at their next meeting on 2/6/01. Mr. Goodnoe added that at the work session later that night, the
Supervisors decided to try to assume the remainder of the lease of the Acme
property, and ultimately to acquire the property.
b. JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION: Mr. Kester reported the Commission will meet on 1/18/01. He said that many projects are in progress,
including several proposed JMZO amendments and the reconciliation of the three
municipalities’ versions of the JMZO. A
color coded map of all the zoning districts in the Jointure is now
available.
c. JOINT ZONING COUNCIL:
No report.
d. SYCAMORE STREET COMMITTEE: Mr. Lombardi reported that the last meeting was cancelled. He said that if there are no agenda items,
he will generally cancel the Committee meetings, but he will be present at the
scheduled time in case members of the community have concerns or questions.
e. HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD: Mr. Baldwin
reported that HARB recently reviewed plans for the Jones Medical facility on
Sycamore Street. HARB meets again on
1/17/01 to review the Tyrol plan; Mr. Baldwin
cannot attend, but Mr. Lombardi said he would try to be there.
f.
RECREATION BOARD: Mr. Baldwin reported that the Board met on
1/3/01. Bernie Bires was re-elected
chairman. A new Recreation Department
staff person was present at the meeting.
The Department is now 80% self sufficient.
g. TRAIL COMMITTEE:
No report.
h. PARK & OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE: No report.
i.
COMMUNITY CENTER
COMMITTEE: Mr. Fidler reported that the
Committee met with the Board of Supervisors at their work session on
1/15/01. The Committee is focusing on
the Acme site, and has a better idea of where to spend their energies in the
remaining 6 months of their charter.
The next Committee meeting will be 1/25/01.
j.
PLAN EXPIRATIONS: None to be addressed.
CORRESPONDENCE: None.
OLD BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS: None.
GENERAL DISCUSSION:
SUSTAINING NEWTOWN: Commission members received a
brochure on this subject in their packets.
Mr. Goodnoe explained the history and purpose of the “Sustaining
Newtown” project, and invited everyone present to attend the first meeting on
1/18/01. He said that the meetings are
being held to find out what residents think about the economic future of the
Newtown area. Although land use is not
the primary focus, he felt it was possible that the subject will come up. The meetings also address a requirement in
the guidelines of the application for a grant to fund the Main Street Manager
program. The meetings are being
conducted by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center.
Each meeting will build on the previous one, but anyone can come to any
or all of the meetings and participate fully.
Mrs. Beasley asked if the planning will take into account the high
mobility of Newtown residents, who typically move every few years. Mr. Goodnoe said that even short term
residents are interested in residential taxes and property values. Several Commission members said they will
try to attend the first meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Kester moved to adjourn. With no objections, the meeting was
adjourned at 8:55 PM.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
______________________________
Gretta Stone, Recording
Secretary