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Zone Striping site plan deemed complete; board presses for Tree Protection Plan before Site Plan review
Summary
At a completeness-only hearing for Zone Striping’s major site plan (SP-24-02) at 718 Jacob Harris Lane, the board recommended some waivers for completeness but denied waivers for tree-location and tree-protection-plan requirements; the application was deemed complete 6-0-0 with the applicant asked to supply a Tree Protection Plan ahead of Site Plan review.
The Elk Township Planning & Zoning Board on Aug. 21 held a completeness-only review of Zone Striping’s Major Site Plan, Application SP-24-02, for 718 Jacob Harris Lane.
Board Planner Candace Kanaplue referred to the planner-and-engineer letter dated Aug. 15, 2024, which listed outstanding items. The planner recommended waivers for several checklist items for purposes of completeness-only review (including items #29, 30, 31, 44 and 47) but did not recommend waiving requirements for item #49 (location of existing trees/tree masses) or item #50 (a Tree Protection Plan and limits of clearing under Township ordinances).
Attorney David Thatcher of Thatcher & Passeralla and Ed Pleczynski of Zone Striping were sworn in before the board. Thatcher said the applicant expects to remove “30 or so trees” on site and asked whether the township maintains a Tree Replacement Fund or accepts an in-lieu fee to plant trees elsewhere. Planner Kanaplue said a fee-in-lieu is an option to be discussed at Site Plan Review and that providing tree sizes and a Tree Protection Plan at Site Plan submission would be acceptable for moving forward. Board Solicitor Jeffrey Cheney said he was not certain whether the township has formally adopted a Tree Protection Plan or replacement-fund mechanism.
Mr. Lucas moved to deem the application complete for scheduling a Site Plan Review hearing; Mr. Wolf seconded. The roll-call vote was 6-0-0 in favor. Mr. Goetsch stated that his yes vote was conditional on the applicant providing the Tree Protection Plan in adequate time for the planner and engineer to review prior to the Site Plan hearing.
Separately, the board did not hear the Rutkowski (Nicholson Property) use-variance application (Block 34 Lot 7, Application ZB-24-04) because the public notice listed the wrong block and lot; the item will be re-noticed for a future meeting after the applicant corrects the notice.
Next steps: Zone Striping will prepare and submit the Tree Protection Plan and tree-size information prior to the Site Plan Review, at which time the planner and engineer will make final recommendations on tree replacement, fees and any required mitigation.
