Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves Kost Road trailer-storage plan with buffer requirement after resident concerns
Summary
The Silver Spring Township Board approved a preliminary/final plan for a 44-acre truck-trailer storage facility on Kost Road, requiring three additional rows of evergreen trees along the residential buffer; the motion passed 4–1 with concerns about noise, lighting and truck traffic.
The Silver Spring Township Board of Supervisors voted 4–1 on March 26 to approve a preliminary/final land development plan for a 44-acre truck trailer storage facility on Kost Road that would provide 385 parking spaces and an accessory office building.
The project presentation by Mike Brinkash of Brinkash & Associates described requested waivers for parking-space marking, interior landscaping, large-vehicle parking dimensions and curb requirements, and said the developer will install screening and security fencing. With no tenant identified, Brinkash said it is currently uncertain whether trailers will be parked empty or loaded while stored. "There would be no transfer of products on site," he said.
Board members and nearby residents raised a series of concerns during the discussion. Supervisor Laura Brown asked whether the facility would operate 24/7 and whether trailers would be full or empty; Supervisor Harry Kotzmoyer pressed about lighting and access controls. Resident Kathi Pifer asked whether adjacent property owners must be notified; respondent Scott Maldonado confirmed the use is by-right and therefore specific notice is not required. Residents and supervisors urged stronger mitigation for noise and light. Supervisor David Lenker asked that refrigerated trailers be located away from the mobile home park because of compressor noise; the board required three additional rows of evergreen trees within the 50-foot buffer on the side that borders the residential area.
The motion to approve the plan with the presented waivers and the additional buffer planting passed 4–1, with Supervisor Kotzmoyer opposing. The township engineer noted underground pipeline constraints that limit some layout changes. The approval included a fee-in-lieu for sidewalks and instructions to add directional signage to reduce local road impacts.
The approval is preliminary/final under the board action on March 26; conditions include the agreed buffer plantings and addressing outstanding staff and engineering comments before finalization.
