Commission backs conditional use for long driveway grading on Saltsburg Road

The commission recommended to borough council that conditional use CU‑2‑26 be approved to permit limited steep‑slope grading associated with construction of an approximately 850‑foot driveway to a single‑family home on a 9.9‑acre parcel on Saltsburg Road.

Applicant Chris Ham described the project as mostly within allowable slopes for the house footprint (under 25 percent) with limited driveway segments entering steeper areas (some patches over 40 percent). He said most grading will be near 2:1 slopes where permitted by the geotechnical recommendations and that the steepest driveway grade peaks slightly over 10 percent. The applicant estimated roughly 3 acres of disturbance and proposed a single stormwater facility. He said testing and initial geotechnical borings had been completed earlier in the year and that responses to staff geotech comments were submitted in July.

Staff reminded the commission that a driveway permit and an NPDES/DEP review will be required and that outstanding geotechnical comments must be addressed before site‑plan approval. The commission closed the public hearing, moved to recommend CU‑2‑26 to council, and voted by voice; the recommendation includes the requirement that outstanding engineering comments and permit approvals be satisfied during the site‑plan process.