December 2022 update - after BoS mtg

 

Last week's Board of Supervisors meeting was a success. The discussion from the Supervisors clearly showed to the Developer that they are tired of the extended process this has taken, the numerous delays, and the poor quality of the work being done by the developer. The setting of the February 7th deadline for  Board of Supervisor action based on a January  24th Planning Commission action cuts a full month off the Developer's time line. It puts pressure on them to have a complete and accurate package submitted to the township by the 21st of December.  That is great!

However, we all know that it will not be as it seems.  If the soil sample indicates arsenic in the soil the township will need to grant them more time to develop a soil remediation plan and revise that portion of the document.  If there are questions with the new Landscaping plan, the traffic study, the proposal to improve the Overlook/Clearview corner, or any other portion of the plan that is close but not good enough, and the planning commission asks for improvements, will the BOS take the action to turn down the plan or give it another extension? They continually must weigh the legal need to act in "good faith."  If they don't feel that the plan is good enough and they turn it down they know that the Developer will take it to court to force a decision. If the court case wins it is questionable that the Judge will order improvements, return it to the township for further action, or order it approved as is.  

 On another note, the "Preliminary presentation of proposed building renovations" turned out to be something not connected to the former Strawberry Acres at all, so no worries there.

 

December 2, 2022 update - pre-BOS Mtg

The North Whitehall Board of Supervisors posted the meeting agenda for the December 5, 2022 meeting was published late. There are two items about Strawberry Acres. 

First, is the expected request for approval of an offered time extension - this is boiler plate, and although we will again mention the number of times this has been extended, it is fully expected that the Board will approve it as a matter of course.

The second is "Preliminary presentation of proposed building renovations". We can only speculate that this is for the existing farm house and related barns. As far as it is known, this was not presented at the Planning Commission meeting of November 22nd, nor are there any submitted plans for either the November Planning Commission or the December BOS meeting. Therefore, we plan to request that the BOS not take any action on this, or even consider it, without any plans being made available to the public for comment.

Also, we have multiple concerns about the soil samples that a team was seen collecting recently. Trust that these concerns will be shared at the meeting.