Carbon County planners conditionally approve three minor subdivision plans and note bridge property recommendation

Carbon County planning officials conditionally approved three minor subdivision and lot-line adjustment plans and discussed a recommendation to obtain property for County Bridge Number 18 during a planning meeting.

The approvals covered: a consolidation of an L-shaped lot that measured 0.8131 acres and did not meet the stated 1.15-acre minimum for the minor subdivision plan; a plan affecting property listed as 633 Franklin Street that staff said contained wetlands and Fireline Creek; and a lot-line adjustment in Mahoning Township involving a parcel enrolled in the county's green program. Staff recommended conditional approval for each plan and the board voted in favor on each motion.

Why it matters: the decisions allow property owners to proceed toward recorded lot consolidations or adjustments subject to conditions the county planner recommended. The Mahoning Township item also raised tax and program compliance issues that must be resolved before final recording.

Details of each agenda item

Wayne Schwoyer consolidation: Planning staff described an L-shaped lot totaling 0.8131 acres that "doesn't conform to minor subdivision plan requirements" and falls short of a minimum of 1.15 acres as noted in the plan review. Staff recommended additional plan notes and upgrades to the zoning table and contour/soil information. The board moved for conditional plan approval; the motion passed with three affirmative vocal votes recorded in the transcript.

633 Franklin Street (Bonestown): Staff reported that the parcel file for 633 Franklin Street included wetlands and that Fireline Creek runs through the area under consideration. Limited on-site wetland investigations were noted for one proposed lot; staff said an existing residential lot and municipal water service were present for the parcel identified as Lot 1. The plan was described as not fully conforming to minor plan requirements but included a signed surveyor certification; staff recommended approval and the board approved the plan (two affirmative vocal votes recorded in the transcript).

Mahoning Township lot-line adjustment: The plan involved combining portions of previously subdivided lots near the intersection above Norma's Square and a four-way stop. Staff said the existing residential lot had "moderate severe" soil conditions and that the parcel is currently enrolled in the county's green program, which allows only a single 2-acre subdivision (as described by staff). The file lacked a shown surveyor certification and required a $400 donation fee identified in the review. Staff also said owners must repay back taxes covering six years at 7% before finalization. Staff recommended conditional plan approval; the board voted in favor (two affirmative vocal votes recorded in the transcript).

Other business and context

Staff noted ongoing issues with the county GIS mapping department that affect plan reviews and listed several pending items under intergovernmental review. A speaker also reported having written a letter of recommendation for the county to acquire property for County Bridge Number 18 in Hill Township; that acquisition was discussed but not acted on as a formal motion during the meeting. The transcript included references to other large subdivision proposals (one on hold due to the Department of Environmental Protection) and zoning concerns about a proposed solar facility near a Franklin Township site, but no formal actions on those items were recorded.

Votes at a glance

- Conditional plan approval for the Wayne Schwoyer lot consolidation (0.8131 acres; did not meet 1.15-acre minimum): motion passed (recorded vocal tally: 3 yes). - Plan approval for property at 633 Franklin Street (wetlands/Fireline Creek noted): motion passed (recorded vocal tally: 2 yes). - Conditional plan approval for Mahoning Township lot-line adjustment (parcel in green program; $400 fee; back taxes for six years at 7% noted): motion passed (recorded vocal tally: 2 yes).

Next steps: Each approval was recorded as conditional; staff recommended plan revisions, inclusion of required certifications and plan notes, and settlement of the cited back taxes and fee before final plan recording. No formal dates for follow-up submissions or final approvals were specified in the transcript.