Municipal News
- Last Updated on Monday, 04 March 2013 15:01
By J.R. Brower
At Peters Township Council’s February 11 meeting, representatives of St. Benedict the Abbot Catholic Church requested that they be allowed to post multiple signs throughout the township advertising their annual Lenten fish frys held on Fridays.
At Peters Township Council’s February 11 meeting, representatives of St. Benedict the Abbot Catholic Church requested that they be allowed to post multiple signs throughout the township advertising their annual Lenten fish frys held on Fridays.
The request challenged a township ordinance that limits roadside signs in terms of where they can be placed and for how long. The ordinance specifies that signs must be on the premises for no longer than two weeks and that they be no larger than six square feet.
Parishioners Fred Abrew and Michael Benya requested that they be allowed to place 10 signs along roadways and at major intersections throughout the township. Abrew said that he wanted to propose a “fairly reasonable alternative,” and asked that the church be permitted to post the signs only from Wednesdays through Saturdays throughout Lent.
Council members, including James Berquist, who belongs to the parish, felt that it wouldn’t be fair to grant a special permit to St. Benedict’s, especially to other businesses and churches who have been denied permits. “It’s a tough issue, because I want to do it, but I’m not sure that we can,” said Berquist. In a compromise move, council offered to allow the church to post banners on the trail bridges over East McMurray and Bebout roads for the entire Lenten period, unless the space was already reserved. Township Manager Michel Silvestri said it would be the first time that banners were approved for the Bebout Road trail bridge.
Council also said that the church could place a promotional sign beneath the directional sign at the corner of Route 19 and Valley Brook Road. In addition, council said it would be permissible for the church to place signs no larger than six square feet on parishioners’ private property advertising the fish frys for the entire six-week period.
In other business, Peters Township Council:
Approved a waiver for developer Williamson & Jefferson Inc. to delay forfeiture of a $64,000 bond to ensure that paving, stormwater, and landscaping work is completed at the Chadwick Estates plan. If the work is not completed by June 1, the township will get the money and do the work itself. Council also accepted public improvements in Phase 2, including a maintenance pond as well as storm and sanitary easements for Ashwood and Chadwick drives.
Denied a petition signed by 15 residents of Hays Road for a traffic-calming study. Silvestri said that it would be preferable to have at least 20 residents sign the petition before taking action on a study. He added that traffic on the road will undoubtedly increase this summer when the Valley Brook Road / Route 19 intersection improvement project begins. More vehicles will be forced to use Hays Road when parts of Valley Brook Road are closed for up until a year.
Agreed to postpone repair of a drainage problem, as requested by the Hofbauers, 220 Springdale Road, who want the township to pay for all repairs. Council determined that it wished to refer to a previous agreement to share the costs with the resident. The Hofbauers will have 30 days to accept the cost-sharing offer; if they choose not to accept it, it will be rescinded.
Parishioners Fred Abrew and Michael Benya requested that they be allowed to place 10 signs along roadways and at major intersections throughout the township. Abrew said that he wanted to propose a “fairly reasonable alternative,” and asked that the church be permitted to post the signs only from Wednesdays through Saturdays throughout Lent.
Council members, including James Berquist, who belongs to the parish, felt that it wouldn’t be fair to grant a special permit to St. Benedict’s, especially to other businesses and churches who have been denied permits. “It’s a tough issue, because I want to do it, but I’m not sure that we can,” said Berquist. In a compromise move, council offered to allow the church to post banners on the trail bridges over East McMurray and Bebout roads for the entire Lenten period, unless the space was already reserved. Township Manager Michel Silvestri said it would be the first time that banners were approved for the Bebout Road trail bridge.
Council also said that the church could place a promotional sign beneath the directional sign at the corner of Route 19 and Valley Brook Road. In addition, council said it would be permissible for the church to place signs no larger than six square feet on parishioners’ private property advertising the fish frys for the entire six-week period.
In other business, Peters Township Council:
Approved a waiver for developer Williamson & Jefferson Inc. to delay forfeiture of a $64,000 bond to ensure that paving, stormwater, and landscaping work is completed at the Chadwick Estates plan. If the work is not completed by June 1, the township will get the money and do the work itself. Council also accepted public improvements in Phase 2, including a maintenance pond as well as storm and sanitary easements for Ashwood and Chadwick drives.
Denied a petition signed by 15 residents of Hays Road for a traffic-calming study. Silvestri said that it would be preferable to have at least 20 residents sign the petition before taking action on a study. He added that traffic on the road will undoubtedly increase this summer when the Valley Brook Road / Route 19 intersection improvement project begins. More vehicles will be forced to use Hays Road when parts of Valley Brook Road are closed for up until a year.
Agreed to postpone repair of a drainage problem, as requested by the Hofbauers, 220 Springdale Road, who want the township to pay for all repairs. Council determined that it wished to refer to a previous agreement to share the costs with the resident. The Hofbauers will have 30 days to accept the cost-sharing offer; if they choose not to accept it, it will be rescinded.
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