Municipal News
- Last Updated on Monday, 01 April 2013 00:56
By J.R. Brower
According to PennDOT, work on the project to reconfigure the Route 19-Valley Brook Road intersection in Peters Township is scheduled to begin in May. The $4.9 million project, which has had lengthy delays, will reposition and expand the ramp from Valley Brook Road to northbound Route 19.
According to PennDOT, work on the project to reconfigure the Route 19-Valley Brook Road intersection in Peters Township is scheduled to begin in May. The $4.9 million project, which has had lengthy delays, will reposition and expand the ramp from Valley Brook Road to northbound Route 19.
During the project, which is expected to last two years, traffic on Valley Brook Road will be detoured.
At their March 11 meeting, Peters Township Council learned of a case before the Zoning Hearing Board involving access to the ramp on the realignment project. Stephen Szabo is requesting a variance for a connecting road from the ramp to his commercial property north of the intersection project. Township Manager Michael Silvestri told council that any access road built from the ramp should benefit two other businesses as well that are located north of the ramp.
Council member Robert Atkison asked why Szabo is requesting the variance now, because he said that even a year from now the ramp will still be under construction. He added that any connecting road from the ramp to adjoining businesses would have to be constructed with private funds, and council took no action on the case.
In another construction-related matter, council approved a tentative agreement with the firm
Stahl Shaeffer to perform inspection services up to a cost of $19,820 for the upcoming Sugar Camp Road bridge replacement project. The project is expected to go out for bid in May with the bids expected to be awarded in late May.
Township Engineer Mark Zemaitis said that the current bridge demolition should take about three weeks resulting in Sugar Camp Road being closed for about a month. He said it will then reopen with staggered, temporary closings much like those that occurred last year when the Bebout Road trail bridge was replaced.
In other business, council:
Reapproved the Orchard Hill Plan 2B. Council approved this residential plan in September 2012, but since the 90-day recording period had expired, reapproval was required.
Commented on a case before the Zoning Hearing Board where the owner of a building close to the Montour Trail is requesting to construct a 14-foot wide deck. Since the building is about 30 feet from the trail, council members concurred that 14 feet may be too wide for the deck.
Appointed Michelle Chavel and Dorothy Schwerha to two open positions on the Parks and Recreation Board.
Approved a resolution in the form of a letter of support for local municipalities to use RADAR and LIDAR for traffic enforcement. Silvestri said that Pennsylvania is the only state in the country that does not permit local police departments to use RADAR for traffic enforcement.
Announced that there will be public hearing at 7:30 p.m. April 8 for a request by the Aladdin Restaurant to transfer a liquor license. Currently the restaurant is under construction. It is located at the site of the old Penny’s Diner on Washington Road.
Approved a request to contribute $500 to the Washington County Watershed Alliance for a matching grant. The group is requesting donations from all county municipalities, and Silvestri said he doubted there would be 100 percent cooperation.
Asked Township Solicitor William Johnson to research an ordinance prohibiting registered sex offenders from accessing public places in the township such as the library and trail. Council member Frank Arcuri said there have been some concerns directed to him by residents.
