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Planning commission reviews Calvary Independent Church access plan; no action taken
Summary
Calvary Independent Church presented a reduced sketch plan prioritizing a new driveway to improve safety at 3201 North Progress Avenue; commissioners and staff discussed sidewalks, a guiderail on Paxton Church Road and alternate driveway options and requested further outreach before taking action.
Frank Chlebnikow, chair of the Susquehanna Township Planning Commission, called the April 27 meeting to order and oversaw discussion of a sketch plan for Calvary Independent Church at 3201 North Progress Avenue.
Angie Marcus of Light‑Heigel & Associates, representing the church, said the plan’s scope has been reduced from the application the Zoning Hearing Board reviewed in 2025 and that "they plan to add additional parking spaces in the near future." Marcus said the highest priority is adding a driveway to improve safety for congregants and other drivers.
Jerry Longenecker, representing Calvary Independent Church, described the existing site as hazardous for left turns onto North Progress Avenue and said the church favors routing traffic toward the signalized Paxton Church Road intersection. "It is currently unsafe for cars to turn left onto North Progress Avenue," Longenecker said, and he noted that Sunday mornings are the peak time for queuing and conflicts.
Mack Breech, the township planning and zoning officer, and Alex Greenly, the township engineer, raised concerns about pedestrian connections and roadside improvements. Breech pointed out that the property has frontage on three streets and that sidewalk installation requirements are driving cost increases; Greenly noted the guiderail along Paxton Church Road appears to be tied to a previously approved Highway Occupancy Permit and asked whether a driveway onto Vartan Court might avoid guiderail modification. Marcus said outreach to Vartan Court property owners had been unsuccessful and asked for township assistance in making contact.
Commissioners discussed options including closing the existing driveway, deferring sidewalk installations to a later phase, and installing a lower‑cost macadam trail as an interim pedestrian connection. Frank Chlebnikow said he was open to deferrals linked to future construction and urged a reconfiguration of access to improve safety. No formal action was taken; staff and applicants will pursue outreach and return with revised plans or additional information.
Next steps: township staff will assist with outreach to adjacent property owners, applicants will refine access alternatives and cost estimates, and the project will return for further review at a future meeting.
