Blair Township planners recommend requiring infiltration calculations for new-home stormwater permits

The Blair Township Planning Commission reviewed a draft “Stormwater Guidance for Single‑Family Residential Home Construction Draft Flow Chart” at its Aug. 4 meeting in Duncansville and recommended that the Board of Supervisors consider an option that would require builders to submit infiltration pit calculations with building permits for new single‑family homes. Eric Banks, representing engineering firm Stiffler McGraw, presented the draft flow chart at the supervisors’ request to provide residents and builders clarity on stormwater-ordinance criteria and the permitting process.

After a lengthy discussion among Chairman Ted Ventre and commission members Chris Kreidler and Tim Shaw, the commission signaled a preference for the draft’s second option, which adds a requirement that builders provide infiltration pit calculations when applying for a building permit. The minutes record that members agreed this option would better align permit reviews with the stormwater ordinance’s technical criteria. Commission members did not take a formal vote on the recommendation at the meeting.

Eric Banks said he would pass the Planning Commission’s recommendation to the Blair Township Board of Supervisors for further consideration. The minutes note that no formal action, amendment, or ordinance was adopted by the commission during the meeting.

The commission handled routine business at the meeting: Tim Shaw moved to approve the June 2, 2025 regular-month meeting minutes, Chris Kreidler seconded, and the motion passed with three yes votes (Ventre, Kreidler, Shaw). Later, Shaw moved to adjourn, Kreidler seconded, and the motion to adjourn passed with the same three yes votes; the meeting ended at 6:28 p.m. The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.