MINUTES POSTED HERE ARE NOT OFFICIAL. THE MINUTES ARE POSTED ON THIS SITE AS A CONVENIENCE TO TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS. THE OFFICIAL MINUTES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE TOWNSHIP OFFICE FOR REVIEW.

Potter Township Planning Commission

April 3, 2007, Meeting

Members Present: Rod Humphrey, Mark Fortney, Monty Strouse, Dick Decker, Jake Tanis, and Lucy Curran.

Members Absent: None.

Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 6:56 PM by Chairman, Rod Humphrey.

Approval of Minutes: A motion was made by Mark Fortney and seconded by Lucy Curran to approve the minutes from the March 27, 2007, meeting. All members voted in favor to approve the minutes.

Zoning Officer’s Report: None.

Supervisor’s Report: None.

Correspondence:

• March 23, 2007, Centre County Planning Office Re: S&A Homes, Inc. 90-day time extension granted for the Mountain View Subdivision Plan. This is the second extension granted for the Plan.
• March 22, 2007, Centre County Planning Office Re: A&L Limited Partnership 90-day time extension for the Designers Studio Land Development Final Plan. This is the fifth extension granted for the Plan.
• March 26, 2007, Centre County Planning Office Re: Conditional approval of the Final Plan for the Sinking Creek Subdivision. Conditions including additional supporting data, improvements, and required certificates.

Old Business:

• Fastshoez Kart Racing. Jeff Haas, Applicant of the Conditional Use Application, requested that the recommendations from the Planning Commission be forwarded to the Supervisor’s for next meeting. The Commission recommended conditional approval of the Fastshoez Kart Racing proposal with the concerns that were discussed at the March 27, 2007, meeting. Mr. Haas said that Fastshoez is committed to adapting silencer systems for the racing karts in order to meet potential noise reduction concerns. Mr. Haas offered the following comments: Decibel levels from the karts are estimated to be 65 to 70 -- similar to golf carts. The karts have 9 HP engines. There will be a maximum of 14 karts. Two karts in proximity represent a 10% increase in decibel level. The track is designed for safety, not acoustics. Patron traffic associated with the business is estimated at 50 – 100 cars per day. Lighting the facility will be for safety and parking. It will be low with shielding for downward illumination. To ensure intoxicated patrons are denied service, there will be a breath-a-lizer on the premises. Dick Decker asked how unruly patrons would be handled since the closest law enforcement officers are based in Pleasant Gap. Mr. Haas responded that his staff would be educated on how to handle these situations.

New Business:

• With Dave Henning’s resignation from the Planning Commission, the Commission is interviewing candidates so that a replacement may be recommended to the Supervisors. Mike Clitherow was present at the meeting as a potential candidate. Mike has lived in Potter Township since 1999. He has followed municipal politics and is an Alternate on the Zoning Hearing Board. Mike maintains the Potter Township website. Mike worked as a manager for AT&T and currently owns a local computer service and consulting business. Mike believes that the Township faces major challenges managing upcoming changes to the community. Mike has a B.S. Degree in Computer Science and has a Master’s Degree in Finance.

• Stan Wallace of Nittany Engineering requested Conditional Approval of the Final Subdivision Plan for the Sinking Creek subdivision. Mr. Wallace showed that the revised plans addressed the two planning-related concerns stated in the March 26, 2007, Centre County Planning Office correspondence: A.19 the Highway Occupancy Permit was changed and A.25 the material type was designated for the open space paving. The Planning Commission granted Conditional Approval in a motion made by Dick Decker and seconded by Jake Tanis, if the following conditions are met: 1) Township Engineer approval of soil testing for recharge and the Storm Water Management Plan. 2) Off-site improvement approval. 3) Township Solicitor approval of the guide rail and turning lane improvements.
• Sandy Rishel, Potter Township Resident, presented the following concerns: 1) Action items are being executed at the second meetings of the month, which are advertised as Work Sessions. Mrs. Rishel believes that the public assumes that actions are not taken at Work Sessions. Rod Humphrey agreed to request that future Work Session is advertised as Meeting/Work Session since actions are sometimes taken. 2) The Planning Commission should not be forced to give Conditional Approval the first time at the first meeting a plan or proposal is presented. The Commission will evaluate a motion to officially require a one meeting waiting period for new projects at the next meeting. 3) The ball fields located along the General Potter Highway should be levied an Amusement Tax.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:56 PM by motion made by Chairman, Rod Humphrey.

Respectfully submitted, Lucy Curran, Planning Commission Secretary.

MINUTES POSTED HERE ARE NOT OFFICIAL. THE MINUTES ARE POSTED ON THIS SITE AS A CONVENIENCE TO TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS. THE OFFICIAL MINUTES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE TOWNSHIP OFFICE FOR REVIEW.

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