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Residents press Salem Township on unpermitted Daniels Excavating development on Route 819
Summary
Residents told supervisors Daniels Excavating began development in 2020 without land-development filings or permits; neighbors cited traffic-sight concerns at Boggs Hollow and alleged missed permits/taxes and noise nuisance. Township solicitor described the matter as an enforcement issue and said the developer has been cooperative.
At the July 17 Salem Township Board of Supervisors meeting several residents pressed township officials over a land development by Daniels Excavating on Route 819 that they say began in 2020 without submitting required land-development applications or permits.
Resident Lisa Sagina told the board the project began in 2020 without land-development filings or required permits and asked whether board members or the solicitor have personal ties to Jim Daniels. Solicitor Falatovich and Supervisor Kerry Jobe denied being personal friends; Supervisor Bob Zundel said he has been friends with the Daniels family for 35 to 40 years. Sagina said abutting property owners received notice about the development three to four years after the work began.
Sagina and other residents asked why a stop-work order was not issued and whether a Highway Occupancy Permit had been obtained. Solicitor Falatovich characterized the situation as an enforcement matter and said officials are working to bring the property into compliance; he also said Jim Daniels has been cooperative. The minutes do not record a stop-work order or a statement that a permit was issued.
Neighbor Matt Humes raised safety concerns about driveway placement and sight distances, saying it may be dangerous pulling out of Boggs Hollow onto Route 819 and that a driveway location across from Kennan Road would worsen existing hazards. Ron Muir, who abuts the Daniels property, said he has been most affected by noise and provided the board a copy of Pennsylvania nuisance law for review. Resident Debbie Perino and others noted structures built without permits could result in missed tax assessments and urged stronger enforcement and penalties in the SALDO to prevent recurrence.
Sagina cited a July 1 voicemail from PennDOT stating the township is responsible for trimming brush and maintaining site distances for Boggs Hollow and other township roads that intersect Route 819. The minutes record residents' concerns and the solicitor's description of ongoing enforcement efforts but do not list any formal action or timeline for enforcement.
The board did not vote on enforcement sanctions during the meeting; the minutes show questions and documentation were provided by residents and that staff-level discussions previously occurred but not public hearings on the matter.
