WEST GOSHEN TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
April 10, 2002

A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of West Goshen Township was called to order by Chairman Robert S. White, at 4:04 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, 2002, at the West Goshen Township Administration Building. All members were present.  Dr. White opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Dr. White opened the floor for public comment. No comments were made.

Ms. Nancy D. Rodgers, Zoning Officer, announced that the Zoning Hearing Board will hold a public meeting on Thursday, April 11, 2002 at the West Goshen Township Administration Building at 7:30 p.m. to hear two applications.  For ZHB 5-02 the applicant is West Chester University, Facilities Planning and Construction Department, 201 Carter Drive, West Chester, PA.  The legal owner is The Pennsylvania Department of General Services. The conforming property for which the application is made is bound to the north by East Rosedale Avenue, to the west by South High Street, to the east by South Matlack Street.  The applicant is seeking a Special Exception and Variances for a School of Music/Performing Arts Center, elevated parking structure, surface parking lot, and utility building.  For ZHB 6-02 the applicant and legal owner is Home Properties Golf Club, LLC, c/o Neil Andrew Stein, Esquire, 350 Sentry Parkway, Building 640, Blue Bell, PA 19422. The conforming property for which the application is made is located at 1100 West Chester Pike.  The applicant is seeking variances to permit ten (5stalls each) residential free standing parking garages, on the south side of the property for use by those living in the apartments.

On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously approved the Board of Supervisors minutes from March 13, 2002 and March 26, 2002.

On motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved the Treasurer's Report dated March 31, 2002 for the General Fund, the Sewer Revenue Fund, the Waste and Recycling Fund, and the Capital Reserve Fund, as well as the bills to be paid from the General Fund, the Sewer Fund, the Capital Reserve Fund, and the Waste and Recycling Fund.

Chief Michael Carroll gave the Police Report for the month of March, 2002. Chief Carroll announced that the annual Skatearama will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2002 at Ice Line as part of the "Say No To Drugs" program. Approximately 800 people have made reservations to attend the event.

Ralph Brown, Fire Marshal, gave the Fire Marshal Report for the month of March, 2002.
Mr. Brown also gave the report for Goshen Fire Company and Good Fellowship Club of Chester County. 

Richard Hicks, Building Official, gave the Building Inspection Activity Report for March, 2002.

Prior to the consideration of possible approval of an Ordinance authorizing the Township to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement for a Regional Municipal GIS System, Ms. Sharon Lynn, Township Manager, explained that this was a shared municipal project that has been ongoing for the past 18 months involving the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department, the West Goshen Police Department, the West Chester Police Department, the Chester County District Attorney's Office, East Goshen Township, Westtown Township and West Goshen Township.  She added that the Governor's Center awarded a grant in the amount of $164,000 for the project and that the municipalities will be sharing such information as crime statistics and zoning data. She said the Ordinance under consideration would allow the Township to enter into the agreement.

On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously approved Ordinance 3-2002 authorizing West Goshen Township to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement for a Regional Municipal GIS System pursuant to the terms of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Law, 53 PA. C.S.A. Section 2301, et seq. and the Second Class Township Code, 53 P.S. Section 66507.

Mrs. Evelyn Baker, 900 Sheridan Drive, asked if the grant will pay all of the expenses of the project and Ms. Lynn explained that the $164,000 is for all of the entities involved and that the money will cover some expenses but not all.  Mrs. Baker asked if West Goshen Township was subsidizing the other townships and Ms. Lynn answered each participant is responsible for their own expenses.

Ms. Frances Jacobs, 119 Garfield Avenue, asked how this project helps the residents of West Goshen Township. Dr. White replied that it helps the police and emergency services and is useful in zoning issues and the issuing of building permits. Ms. Jacobs stated a person was found dead on Garfield Avenue and nothing was done about it. Dr. White replied that the Intergovernmental Agreement has nothing to do with that situation and is used in finding locations. Ms. Jacobs said that there are unlawful activities occurring in the cemetery on Garfield Avenue and Dr. White said if the incidents are reported, the police will handle them.

Ms. Diane Wyatt, 115 Garfield Avenue, stated that people are using drugs in the cemetery, and Mr. Chris Smith, 107 Garfield Avenue, said he has called the police but to no avail. He added it is an ongoing problem that should be common knowledge to law enforcement.

Chief Carroll said the West Goshen Police have been working on the reported incidents and that two deaths were reported at the site in the last month. He said the area where people are gathering is private property and the law limits what can be done. Mr. Smith said he had called the police department at least 30 times with no response and Chief Carroll asked Mr. Smith to meet with him about the problem.

Ms. Gudrun Smith, 1330 Green Hill Avenue, stated she is the mother of Mr. Christopher Smith and she was concerned for the safety of her two sons living on Garfield Avenue.  Chief Carroll replied that the police are trying to work with the owners of the land where the problems are occurring and that the property is not part of the cemetery.

Dr. White commented that the continuing banter regarding activity on Garfield Avenue was not relevant to the GIS Intergovernmental Agreement and he proceeded with the agenda items.

On motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved Resolution 15-02 setting the date of June 12, 2002 for a Public Hearing for Educational Properties Group, Inc., to consider a Zoning Amendment of Section 84-38 of the I-2 Light industrial District to permit student housing as permitted use and to amend Section 84-55-E-(1)-(a) to permit the Board of Supervisors the power to grant requests in its discretion to permit 9 ft. x 20 ft. parking spaces in the I-2 Industrial District.

On motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved Resolution 16-02 authorizing the erection of speed limit signs at Trafalgar Lane and Hamlet Hills Drive and Victoria Lane and Hamlet Hills Drive.

Dr. White opened the floor for public comment. No comments were made.

Dr. White announced a ten minute break before the start of Supervisors Hearing S-2-02.

There being no further business, on motion by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the meeting was adjourned at 4:21 p.m.

       Respectfully submitted,

       Sharon Lynn
       Township Manager

West Goshen Township
Supervisor Hearing
April 10, 2002

S-2-02

Supervisor Hearing S-2-02, which was duly advertised, was called to order by Chairman Robert S. White at 4:37 p.m. All members were present.

Ronald C. Nagle, Esquire, Township Solicitor, was present to represent the Township. John L. Hall, Esquire, was present to represent the applicant, Domestic Violence Center of Chester County, Inc. The applicant seeks to construct a Women's Temporary Residential Care Center at the northeast corner of Garfield Avenue and Paoli Pike. At this hearing the Board of Supervisors will consider a proposal amending Section 84-8 defining "Residential Care Center", and adding a new subsection to 84-21-0 "Institutional Care Center with Multi-Family Dwellings", of the West Goshen Zoning Ordinance of 1990 as amended.  The said property is located in the C-2 Commercial Shopping Center District.

See Court Reporter's Transcript

Upon the completion of all testimony the hearing was closed. Dr. White announced that residents could submit letters to the Board of Supervisors with any objections to or statements in favor of the application and that the Board would deliver its decision at the May 8, 2002 Board of Supervisors meeting.

The hearing adjourned at 6:25 p.m.