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A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of West Goshen Township was called to order by Chairman Dr. Robert S. White at 4:02 p.m. on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 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.
Mr. Jon McCormack, 840 Spruce Avenue, stated that he was present as the representative of the 66 homeowners on Jones Lane, Rosary Lane and Spruce Avenue who have a strong frustration with the
traffic issues on those streets. He presented to the Board 53 petitions in favor of closing Jones Lane, with a gate for emergencies, to curb the traffic congestion in the area. He noted that
the roads were established 40 years ago and that West Chester University has grown from a small college to a large university in that time which has contributed to the traffic problems. He cited
speeding and drivers ignoring stop signs as some of the issues. He asked that an outside firm be used for a traffic study in the area and that the opening of Tigue Road be considered.
Chief Michael Carroll, responded that the Police Department will start studies of the area on October 25, 2007.
He said that the police are aware of the problems and that they will meet with the residents to try to alleviate some of the issues.
Dr. White stated that the opening of Tigue Road is not feasible at this time because of objections by West Chester University and East Bradford Township.
Mr. Charles Colvin, 830 Spruce Avenue, asked about the closure of Jones Lane, and Ms. Kristin Camp, Township Solicitor, explained that regulations would not allow the closure.
Mr. Casey LaLonde, Township Manager, said that the road would have to be vacated in order to close it.
Mrs. Evelyn Baker, 900 Sheridan Drive, said she would object to the opening of Tigue Road as it would damage the Gordon Environmental Center and become an expressway between Route 202 and Route
52 in East Bradford Township.
Ms. Shirley Colvin, 830 Spruce Avenue, asked that the possibility of making the streets one way be studied and Dr. White responded that the traffic unit can consider that option but not all
residents would agree with that change.
Mr. McCormack requested that the Township consider the use of rubber mats as speed deterrents. He noted that the mats can be removed for snow plowing.
Mr. James Duey, 862 Spruce Avenue, said that Phoenixville Borough is using the rubber mats from late spring to early fall. He said that they are more visible than speed humps because of
their black and yellow coloring and he asked that the Township contact Phoenixville Borough to ask about their experience using the mats.
Mr. McCormack asked about using signs to restrict through traffic at specific times of the day and Mr. Richard Craig, Township Engineer, responded that the signs are not enforceable.
Ms. Colvin said that the noise from loud mufflers and car radios is also a problem on the streets.
Mr. Hank Whalen, 688 Normandy Court, asked why the filter fly and odor problems at the Sewer Treatment Plant were allowed to continue for two months before being corrected.
Dr. White responded that this was the first summer that there was a problem with the filter flies and that the problem had been handled.
Mr. Whalen stated that the noise from the Louis H. Close Firing Range on South Concord Road exceeded the decibel limit in the West Goshen Township Ordinance. He asked how the Township
would be handling the range in the future and Dr. White answered that the range would continue to be used and that a county facility was now in the development phase that could also be used by police
officers.
Mr. Whalen asked that the Board of Supervisors hold every other Board meeting at 7:00 p.m. and Mr. Meakim responded that no change to the time of the Board meetings was being considered.
Mr. Whalen stated that access to the shooting range schedule had been restricted and Chief Carroll responded he was not aware of any restriction and that Mr. Whalen could contact him at any
time for the schedule.
Mr. LaLonde announced that a budget meeting with the Board of Supervisors and Senior Staff will be conducted immediately following the Board of Supervisors meeting and that the public was
invited to attend.
On motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved the bills to be paid from the General Fund, the Sewer Fund, the Capital Reserve Fund, and the Waste and
Recycling Fund.
On motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved the 2007 Foreign Fire Relief Distribution of funding in the amount of $210,661.89 to the volunteer organizations.
On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved a Final Subdivision Plan for a lot line change for Roy and Jeanne Steward located at 820 South Five Points
Road. Ms. Nancy Steward was present to represent the plan.
Prior to the consideration of the possible approval of Ordinance 11-2007 which was continued from August 22, 2007, Ms. Camp said that the original proposed ordinance had been changed after the
Chester County Planning Commission suggested allowing the use of "Dog Day Care Facility" by exception, not right.
Ms. Camp said that the revised proposed ordinance had been reviewed by the Chester County Planning Commission and by the West Goshen Township Planning Commission.
On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously approved Ordinance 11-2007 amending the West Goshen Township Revised Zoning Ordinance of 1990 by amending Section 84-8
to add a definition for "Dog Day Care Facility" and to delete the definitions of "Public Amusement Facility", "Public Recreation Facility" and "Mini-Warehouse" and to replace those definitions with a new
definition for "Public Place of Amusement or Recreation" and "Mini-Warehouse/Self Storage Facility" and to specify which zoning districts such uses are permitted; Section 84-96 to allow a Dog Day Care
Facility in the MPD-Multipurpose District by Special Exception, to add a new section 84-57.14 to add standards for a Dog Day Care Facility and Section 84-55.1 to specify the minimum number of parking
spaces required for such use.
Prior to the consideration of the possible approval of Ordinance 12-2007 amending Chapter 74 of the Code of the Township of West Goshen titled "Taxation", Article IV titled "Emergency and
Municipal Services Tax" pursuant to the provisions of Act 7 of 2007 which amended the Local Tax Enabling Act, specifically the Emergency and Municipal Services Tax, Ms. Camp stated that the ordinance had
been advertised in the Daily Local News for 3 consecutive weeks and had been filed with the Chester County Law Library and the Daily Local News.
On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved Ordinance 12-2007 amending Chapter 74 of the Code of the Township of West Goshen titled "Taxation", Article IV
titled "Emergency and Municipal Services Tax" pursuant to the provisions of Act 7 of 2007 which amended the Local Tax Enabling Act, specifically the Emergency and Municipal Services Tax.
On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously approved Resolution 28-2007 setting the date of December 12, 2007 for a Public Hearing for JPI Development Services,
L.P., to amend the Code of West Goshen Township, Chapter 84, Section 84-40, and Section 84-55.
On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously approved Resolution 29-2007 setting the date of December 12, 2007 for a Public Hearing to consider the application of
JPI Development Services, L.P., for the development of apartments in the I-2-R Light Industrial District – Restricted.
Dr. White opened the floor for public comment. No comments were made.
There being no further business, on motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the meeting was adjourned at 5:01 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra K. Turley
Township Secretary
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