July 11, 2000 The meeting of the Supervisors of Franklin Township, held at the Franklin Township Vol. Fire Dept. Social Hall, was called to order by Chairman John Sachar at 2000 hours with the Pledge of Allegiance. Present were Sachar, Denver Ireland, David Henderson; Vision Committee members Joyce Berry, Dennis Howard, Bill Smith, Jim Mischler and Joe Szymanowicz. See attached sheets for residents in attendance. PUBLIC HEARING/STRATEGIC PLAN PRESENTED BY THE VISION COMMITTEE-2000 HOURS Chairman John Sachar opened the hearing with comments on the development occurring in the townships surrounding Franklin Township. The present Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1981. Much has changed since then with economic and urban pressures. All residents have a perception of what life is like now and what they want it to be like in the future. The time to plan for change is now and that is accomplished through citizen input and the input from the Vision Committee through the Strategic Plan. Sachar introduced Joyce Berry, chairman of the Vision Committee. Joyce Berry stated that the Strategic Plan is a guide for future growth within the Township and gave an overview of the purpose of a Comprehensive Plan. Chairman Berry reviewed each point of the Strategic Plan including situational profile, data collection, strengths and limitations and community goals. Also reviewed was development objectives and future land use scenario. Ms. Berry stated that the plan's prioritizing and ranking of strategies were 1. Land Use Plan; 2. Infrastructure Development; 3. Economic Development. The action plan is to 1. Rezone the Township; 2. Develop and Adopt Ordinances; 3. Publicize the Vision, Recommendations and Priorities for Action. Public Comment Questions were received concerning the Keystone Opportunity Zone, where it is located, what is tax exempt, how many years property is tax exempt. Jim Pfadt - how will zoning be enforced? Ordinances are only as good as the enforcement. Sachar - most of us respond to authority voluntarily. The question is how to balance the desires of the community with the desires of the individual. If your attitude is to be a good neighbor, we'll get along fine and there is no need for enforcement. Ordinances are a facilitator for having people live peaceably together. We must try to balance the good of the whole with the good of the individual. In order to preserve the character of the community, we want to limit where industry will go. Pfadt - why can't one area within the County be designated industrial and the rest residential. Sachar - that is not the way the law is written. A resident had a question on the statewide building code and how it will be enforced. Henderson - the County is currently working on hiring a third party inspection agency that will serve all the municipalities within the County. All new buildings will have to meet code as well as those being remodeled, new additions, etc. Existing structures will not need to be updated. Sachar in answer to a question on rezoning - we avoid spot rezoning. We are trying our best to look into the future so we don't have problems like Summit and Millcreek townships. Tara Miller - what is being done to preserve the gentleman farmer? Sachar - most of the land will continue to be A-1. We also have an Agriculture Security Area. A person could put his land into that so that he would be protected from nuisance complaints. A question was received on whether mobile home parks were allowed within the Township. Sachar - by law you must allow for all types of zoning. Yes, a mobile home park could be built but the regulations are very stringent and it would be very expensive. The general consensus of opinion was favorable for the Strategic Plan as presented by the Vision Committee. Sachar thanked everyone for coming and said that residents would receive notices by mail of future developments on the Comprehensive Plan and on future hearings. Hearing adjourned at 2125 hours. The abbreviated regular meeting of the Supervisors of Franklin Township was called to order by Chairman John Sachar at 2132 hours. VISITORS/PUBLIC COMMENT Sergeant Mark Schau, PSP - said that he had received our recent letter concerning motorists failing to stop at intersections along Route 98 and on ATVs damaging the roads. He stated that PSP will address the issue with extra enforcement. ATVs are not allowed on roads that are not specifically designated as ATV roads. Even then they must abide by all motor vehicle laws. They are only allowed to cross roads. Everyone in the County has the same complaint. The operators of ATVs, usually 14 year olds, are rarely caught. If they are, they can be cited for numerous violations with fines in the $300-$400 range. Henderson - we will have to try and educate the parents. Schau - I ran an incident report on the Township. There have been 5 accidents on Route 98, one a bad one with 2 fatalities and 3 burglaries. Doris Caldwell, 10191 Silverthorn in response to letters received concerning her husband's tractor-trailer parked on their property stated that they do not operate a trucking terminal. They have one truck owned by a trucking company and they do not plan on having any more trucks on the property. She stated that the neighbors do not have a complaint with the truck. She and her husband understand about the frost laws in the spring. School buses and the garbage trucks are allowed on the road. Ireland - we're not sure how to handle this problem. Sachar - you are an owner/operator, you are in business for yourself. That is a home occupation. Caldwell - Dave Henderson has stopped people driving on that road with a single-axle. Ireland - you are going to be on the road continually, not hit or miss. Caldwell - we're being told the weight restrictions apply all year. The guy on Western Trail brings in heavier loads than we do. We're usually empty. You haven't sent him a letter this year. He's been there since we moved in. Ireland - we're working on how to resolve the issue. Sachar - our goal is to preserve the character of the neighborhood. Gary Truitt - if you have no complaints from the neighbors, there is no real problem. Henderson - we can't resolve this tonight. Kathy Lariccia - no one had a problem when my grandfather lived there. If he were alive he would be hauling logs over that road. Sachar - the problem is the road. We are paying out tonight more than $47,000 for repairs on Silverthorn and Fry. If we can limit the traffic, we limit the damage. Hardtops are costly. The rest of the Township roads haven't received a penny this year. Henderson - we can stop the buses and the garbage truck if that is what you want. Long before I sat on this Board, that area was zoned A-1 where businesses are not permitted. We just spent a lot of money on another court case involving trucks. Truitt - is that truck causing more damage than the buses and garbage truck? Ireland - one truck leads to more and more. Sachar - we're not going to resolve this tonight, neither are we going to fine you. We will be in touch with you. Caldwell - I have no intentions of getting in a truck. Why the letter from the Attorney. Why not try to work with us. We're responsible for any damages done to that truck and trailer. Sachar - we still have to look at what that road can support. I don't think it can support increased truck traffic. Gary Truitt - our neighbors, the Irvin Keeners, (11066 Eureka), are burning tires and have been every Sunday. Sachar moved to send a letter to Mr. Keener asking him to stop, that it is against state laws and EPA laws to burn tires. Ireland seconded. Carried. Gnagi Mylar - the Mylar shows a 10-acre lot fronting on Fry Road with 530 ft. of frontage. Lot is comprised of land presently owned by Ralph Parker, 9954 Fry and Ken Gnagi, 9980 Fry. The septic system will be grandfathered in using the 10-acre exemption. Ireland moved to accept the Gnagi Mylar as presented. Henderson seconded. Carried. MINUTES Henderson moved to accept the minutes of 6/29/00 as presented. Sachar seconded. Carried. REPORTS Superintendent - Dave reported that the crew is replacing the cross pipe on Francis and next week will replace the cross pipe on Silverthorn by Platz and Netzler. Falls Road Bridge #2 - the radius by the guiderail on Francis by the bridge is short. Engineer Mark Corey is coming out to review it with Dave and Bob Everhart. The guide rail may have to be set back and we may have to buy more right-of-way. Airport Milling - Dave will attend a pre-construction conference on the airport millings. Ireland - fix the hole on Silverthorn north of Western Trail. Henderson - we'll do it on Monday. We have inherited the wood on the corner of Crane and Silverthorn. Jim Sherlock said that he will move the hunks back from the corner. Denver will take the wood. FINANCIAL AND TAXES Bills - discussion on various bills. Henderson moved to pay the bills as listed totaling $98,692.20 general fund; $47,721.91 state fund; $178.11 Silverthorn Assessment fund; $15,587.77 transfer from Special Money Market fund. Ireland seconded. Carried. Payroll - Henderson moved to approve payroll #14-00 as presented. Ireland seconded. Carried. OLD BUSINESS, NEW BUSINESS None. CORRESPONDENCE Land Use Seminar - John will attend the evening session held in Meadville. ADJOURN Sachar called the meeting adjourned at 2220 hours. Bonnie J. Bernhardt, Secretary