Municipal News
- Last Updated on Thursday, 09 May 2013 02:54
Owners Are Now Considering A Planned Residential Development
By Paul Chasko
Owners of the Union Gardens Project, their engineer, and their attorney met with the Union Township Engineer, Zoning and Code Enforcement Officers and Solicitor earlier this month in regard to their violation of a grading permit issued by the township.
By Paul Chasko
Owners of the Union Gardens Project, their engineer, and their attorney met with the Union Township Engineer, Zoning and Code Enforcement Officers and Solicitor earlier this month in regard to their violation of a grading permit issued by the township.
A grading permit was granted several years ago to prep the site to be used as a garden nursery. The owners then presented a petition to the Union Twp. Board to change the Zoning of the site from Residential to Commercial in order to establish a contractor yard for heavy equipment storage and repair. This request was denied. Even so, work on the site continued toward that end as reported by the Zoning and Code Enforcement Officers and neighbors to the site. The owners have been ordered by the Twp. to stop work under threat of a lawsuit. At the meeting in early April the owners agreed to suspend all work as they have now decided to begin planning to establish a PRD (Planned Residential Development) on the site. This will entail pre-engineering to establish a preliminary plan and a number of approval steps at both the local and county level. Board President Linda Evans-Boren commented that a PRD would be welcomed by the Board.
In other business:
PennDOT will advertise and host a public meeting on their plans to replace the one-lane Rankintown Bridge. The meeting will be held on Wednesday May 22nd from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Union Township Municipal Building.
Sue Ryaby of 32 Little Mingo Road addressed the board alerting them to deep hole mining operations planned in Nottingham Twp. that would have tri-axle trucks hauling coal making up to 140 trips per day on Little Mingo Rd. – a road also used by Ringgold School Buses. A portion of this road passes through Union Township. This road is currently unsuited for overweight vehicles and its width makes passage of a school bus and truck very risky. The Nottingham board is being asked to consider a list of conditions to place on the mining operation including limiting truck traffic to hours when school buses are not on the road. In addition to school buses the road is heavily used by cyclists in the summer season. It is a state road (SR 1016) and she is asking for PennDOT awareness and intervention. The boards agreed to send letters to PennDOT and Nottingham Twp. expressing their concerns for safety.
All board members were present at this meeting as were the Solicitor, Treasurer, Secretary, Engineer and the Zoning and Code Enforcement Officers.
• Minutes were approved for prior regular meetings on March 25 and April 8 and also for a special meeting on Seismic Testing on April 8.
• Payrolls 7 and 8 were approved for payment - $24,628.63 Total
• SWRPD Officer Storch gave the board a written police report. He also noted that SWRPD handed out 38 traffic citations last month and responded to 8 vehicle accidents. He also mentioned that the State has legislation it is considering to add a $100 state fine on top of any local traffic fines.
• The Engineer reported inspection of Airport Road and will monitor repairs of the damage caused by road cutting to install a new water line for Pennsylvania American Water Company.
• Supervisor Spahr, in response to many complaints of speeding on Finleyville Elrama Road, would favor reducing the speed limit on the road. He cautioned that this would require a traffic study by PennDOT as this is a state road.
• Members of the Recreation Board met with the Twp. Engineer on a propose walking trail in the recreation Park. The Engineer approved their plan.
• General fund bills in the amount of $22,728.49 were approved for payment.
• A fact-finding meeting was scheduled wit CAL U personnel to discuss geo-positioning work.
• Another codification workshop was scheduled for Monday April 29 at 8:00
• Day’s and times for road inspections are being scheduled.
• Delegates to the Washington County Tax Collection Committee are being sought
• Approvals given to participate in on-line seminars.
• Approval given for purchase of of summer road materials – Washington County Joint Municipal Purchasing Program.
• Golden Eagle approved as the alternate supplier for asphalt.
• Mid Mon Valley Municipal Services Efficiency Meeting announced – May 9 Charleroi Municipal Bldg.
• Washington County Electronic Recycling Event April 25 – Canton Twp. Bldg.
• The Buczinski subdivision was approved.
• Linda asked the Solicitor to contact Jefferson Hills Realty to confirm that they can do appraisals for $250 per building.
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