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Planning commission urges board to reject Dollar General preliminary plan unless extension is filed
Summary
Longswamp Township’s Planning Commission recommended the Board of Supervisors reject the Dollar General – Mertztown preliminary land development plan unless the applicant secures a time extension before the Board’s August 13, 2024 meeting, citing multiple outstanding SALDO and zoning items in an August 1 engineering review.
The Longswamp Township Planning Commission on Aug. 6 recommended that the Board of Supervisors reject the Dollar General – Mertztown preliminary land development plan unless the applicant files a time extension before the Board’s Aug. 13, 2024 meeting. William Schwanke of LD Plans represented the applicant during the Commission’s review.
Hanover Engineering’s August 1 review, summarized to the Commission by Jill Smith, PE, identified a set of unresolved SALDO and zoning items the applicant must address before the Commission could support approval. The review called for an Existing Resource and Site Analysis plan showing existing conditions within 200 feet; verification of PennDOT’s determination for the Chestnut Street right-of-way and any Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) requirements; a second review by the local fire chief to confirm ground ladder placement after plan revisions; specification of the vehicle types used in turning-template calculations; a site-specific drainage easement described by metes and bounds rather than a blanket easement; and siting of stormwater facilities so they are at least 100 feet from property boundaries or features they could affect.
The engineer also noted that driveway design should be compatible with PennDOT requirements and suggested buffer plantings along the east and south boundaries to screen the development. Because the Commission did not recommend approval at the meeting, Commissioners said a timely extension from the applicant would be required to keep the plan active; otherwise the Commission recommended the Board reject the preliminary plan at its Aug. 13 meeting.
Commissioner Chris Moore moved the recommendation that the Board reject the plan unless a time extension is received; Commissioner Greg Kupar seconded the motion, and it carried with all commissioners present voting in favor.
Next steps: the Board of Supervisors will consider the applicant’s time-extension request or the Commission’s recommendation at the Board meeting scheduled for Aug. 13, 2024. If no extension is filed, the Commission’s recommendation would support formal rejection by the Board.
