January | February | March | April | May | June
July | August | September | October | November | December

Present were: Steve Miller, Charles Dunn, Jim Martin, Vice Chairman and Joe Solomon, Chairman.
Also present: Robert F. Pappano, Township Solicitor, Kevin Matson, Township Engineer and Doug Williamson, Council Liaison.

Mr. Miller made a motion, seconded by Mr. Solomon to approve the September 25, 2007 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes and the motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Solomon reported that the only thing that had been sent out from an agency regarding regional planning for a seminar to be held in late November. Mr. Solomon also reported that there is a seminar, going to be presented by a Marple Township Commissioner regarding energy conservation, however, the dates and times are not presently known.

The first Ordinance to be reviewed under Old Business dealt with the requirement for applicant who files a subdivision and land development application which requires a variance or special exception to first present it to the Planning Commission. Discussion was held among the Planning Commission Members as to whether this Ordinance should be placed into the Subdivision Code or Zoning Code. It was unanimously decided to take no action on this motion and to communicate with the Township Manager and Township Engineer to get more guidance.

The next Ordinance considered was the proposed Floodplain Ordinance which has been submitted to the Planning Commission in ordinance form. This Ordinance adds provisions to Section 1270.23(a) regarding access to residential structures and Section 1270.23(b) regarding access to non residential structures. The Ordinance also amends Table A Section 1256.03 to add a use designated as "Floodplain" and to designate for each permitted use in the Upper Providence Township Zoning Code whether that use is permitted in a floodplain district, not permitted, permitted by special exception or permitted by conditional use.

Kevin Matson explained the provisions of the proposed Ordinance to the members of the Planning Commission.

A motion was made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Mr. Dunn and unanimously approved by all members to approve the Ordinance and forward it to Township Council for consideration.

The next Ordinance to be considered was the Billboard Ordinance. At the September meeting there was discussion concerning the size of the proposed billboard, the height and the time when the illumination of the billboard would be required to be turned off. It was agreed that Section 1276.09 a proposed ordinance would establish the maximum size of the sign at 100 square feet or 200 square feet by special exception. It was also agreed that the height of the sign should not exceed 35 feet. Further discussion was held as to the time when a sign must be turned off and it was decided to establish that at 10:00 p.m. prevailing time. The Board then discussed subsection 8 of the proposed Ordinance and in particular the use of the word "hazard". It was thought that this word was difficult to define and that this section should be re-worded. It was agreed by all members present that the wording at the end of that section should eliminate the words "not" and "hazard". The end of that paragraph would then read ".... as proposed, will be in accordance with all federal, state and local laws, codes and professional standards. Further discussion was held as to Section 12 of the Ordinance regarding illumination. It was decided to re-word that section as follows:

(12) No billboard, advertising sign or off premises sign shall be animated or utilized devices that move or create the illusion of motion."

With those suggested changes a motion was made by Mr. Dunn and seconded by Mr. Martin to forward the Ordinance to Township Council for consideration.

The last Ordinance to be considered dealt with adding a provision to Section 1282.07 providing for the expiration of the variance or special exception. The proposed ordinance would provide that a special exception or variance shall expire if the applicant fails to obtain the building permit within 12 months of the date of the granting of the special exception ordinance unless the Zoning Board specified otherwise. All members of the Planning Commission present were in favor of this ordinance and upon roll call vote approved the same.

None

Mr. Solomon reported that counsel has put in a number of items in the 2008 Budget for action items in the Comprehensive Plan.