Planning commission advances Collopy minor subdivision to preliminary/final review

The Lynn Township Planning Commission voted Nov. 18 to allow a feasibility plan for a proposed minor subdivision of a 30-acre parcel owned by Glenn and Barbara Collopy to move forward to preliminary and final review.

Jared Hermany of Hanover Engineers presented a plan that would create a 10-acre residential lot (the townships free 10-acre allocation), a 3-acre residential lot (the 10% allotment), and a 17-acre residual parcel with no development. Township Engineer Karl Scherzberg said portions of the property are designated Environmental Protection (EP) because of slopes and that any building in those areas must meet the codes EP criteria. He also advised that sewage planning should include both primary and secondary sites and that the plan must allocate the 10,000-square-foot impervious coverage across individual lots for stormwater compliance.

Hermany offered an alternate layout in which two one-acre residential lots would be subdivided from roughly the same area and the remaining 28 acres would be split into two 14-acre agricultural parcels tied by deed to the one-acre lots, effectively giving each owner about 15 acres while trying to remain within the townships 10% rule. The commission did not identify major concerns with the alternate approach.

Engineer Karl Scherzberg said, "The only thing that may be an issue is that some of the property is designated as Environmental Protection (EP) Area due to slopes and the plan will have to meet the criteria in the code if building in those areas." Patrick Sutton, a neighboring property owner, asked to review the plans and inquired about utility access.

Perry Long moved that the presented plan may move forward to a preliminary/final plan as discussed; Fritz Najarian seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote with all members present indicating favor.

Votes at a glance from the meeting: the commission accepted the Oct. 21 minutes (motion by Willard Dellicker; second Jake Moyer; motion carried), advanced the Collopy feasibility plan to preliminary/final review (motion by Perry Long; second Fritz Najarian; motion carried), and adjourned at 7:57 PM (motion by Willard Dellicker; second Amanda Dietrich; motion carried).

Next steps for the Collopy plan include submission of the preliminary plan addressing EP-area restrictions, documented sewage testing for primary and secondary septic sites, and a stormwater plan showing the assigned impervious coverage for each lot. The commission did not adopt ordinance changes or deed restrictions at this meeting.