Yannert draws strongest public preference for 'none'; staff advises lengthy entitlement and wetland work

During the Aug. 20 Planning Commission work session, staff presented survey results for the Yannert parcel showing 69 survey responses and 35 open‑house attendees. When given the choice of Concept A, Concept C or “none,” more respondents selected “none” than either concept. Among those who said a subdivision would proceed, staff said Concept A was the preferred layout.

Staff advised that Yannert is technically more complex than the other parcels: survey instructions are still outstanding, the borough would need to complete a formal survey, obtain final survey approval, apply for patent and then perform a wetland determination. Staff estimated Yannert’s timeline to possible land sales at five or more years depending on those steps.

Multiple meeting participants, including several longtime residents and a property owner who said he was “intimately familiar” with local lots, described visible seepage and standing water across the north portion of the proposed layout and said seven to 10 lots in some Concept C layouts would likely be unusable due to wetlands. Participants also emphasized that Yannert access is along resident‑maintained primitive gravel roads rather than DOT‑paved roads; commissioners flagged road quality, maintenance responsibility and the cost of upgrading access as central constraints.

Public comments and survey text raised concerns about the area’s amenity value, trail continuity and the preference among some residents for fewer and larger lots to preserve rural character. Staff and commissioners agreed Yannert warrants more careful study; the administrative recommendation left Yannert third in priority and asked staff to continue the MLE process and, if appropriate, pursue wetland delineation and further public outreach.