Salem planning commission asks supervisors to consider 25‑foot setback modification for Penn Home & Farm lots

The Salem Township Planning Commission on Jan. 7 accepted as complete the Penn Home & Farm Plan of Lots application and recommended the Board of Supervisors consider a written modification request to maintain a 25‑foot setback where the SALDO requires 30 feet.

Applicants and adjoining property owners attended the meeting. Commissioners flagged missing and incorrect plan details — including a missing tax map parcel number on page two, absent post‑development acreage, a likely typo in “after subdivision” acreage for parcel 57‑12‑00‑0‑021 (should be 10.3 not 10.03), and the need for a driveway permit for access onto Mark Drive. The commission recommended that the applicant submit a written modification request to the Supervisors so the issue could be addressed before the February Planning Commission meeting.

Solicitor Ryan Thomas advised that setback rules cannot be grandfathered and recommended that any approval condition related to the setback be handled separately from other conditions in case the Supervisors do not grant the modification. The commission also listed detailed plan corrections that must appear on the resubmitted plan: the Kilpatricks’ names and address as owner of record; correction of the Delmont zip code to 15626; removal and relabeling of a reference to a “50' street unimproved” to read “Remaining 25' Portion of the Vacated Roadway”; and a note referencing the Supervisors’ vacating of the prior 50' road area by Ordinance 02‑2025 (recorded Instrument No. 202510160028759).

The commission voted unanimously to recommend that the applicant request the modification and to forward plan comments and required corrections to the Board of Supervisors. The applicant must supply the corrected plan notes, addresses, owner certification, driveway permit and any required signatures or waivers before final recommendation.