Action on major issues postponed by supervisors
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

If members of the public wanted to hear the discussion on Conservation By Design or witness the vote on the fate of a planned residential development at last week's Antrim Township board meeting, they went home disappointed.

Because of the length of the meeting, supervisors broke at 9 p.m. for an executive session that was supposed to occur at 8 p.m. That pre-empted the CBD discussion, in which supervisors are analyzing the details of the new land development ordinance they approved in May.

Attorney Paul Schemel and some developers that will be affected by the direction the dialogue goes realized the night would be long. Schemel asked for a postponement of the discussion until its Sept. 26 meeting, and the board agreed.

Supervisors and legal counsel retreated to a private meeting with four representatives of the Creek Farm Village PRD. Upon their return nearly an hour later, township solicitor John Lisko said they discussed a possible settlement on two appeals. The two sides would meet again in executive session the following week, prior to a work session.

Creek Farm Village was the subject of a public hearing Aug. 23. Developers plan to create a 902-unit housing development on land west of Greencastle on Route 16.

Other development issues

Tom Shook, owner of Melrose Meadows Phase 3, and design engineer Bob Schemmerling brought two issues before the board concerning the project.

The development was approved as a planned residential development by the township supervisors in 2004. With work currently underway, the contractor ran into a snag concerning the type of housing allowed. He was ready to put in sewer lines for duplexes, and was told no.

Schemmerling thought that semi-detached dwellings, or duplexes, fit under the definition of single-family homes. "In the past you could always put duplexes on single-family lots," he said.

Board president Robert Whitmore replied, "We approved a specific plan. And the original plan shows 90 lots and 90 sewer lines."

The consensus of the board was that if Shook wants to put in duplexes, he would have to refile the land development plan. The current plan allows single-family homes, townhomes, estate lots, and one very large lot.

Schemmerling also asked for permission to extend the water line from the church on Shank's Church Road down to Grant Shook Road. Phase 3 originally intended to have centralized wells and he said they now want public water.

Angela Garland, zoning officer, said she considers this a significant change from the PRD plan. Goetz said the extended water line would require a mandatory hookup by adjacent property owners.

Again supervisors determined that if changes were made to the water system, Shook must file an amendment to the PRD plan.

Other business

Paul Schemel, attorney for Guy Bonner of Castlegreen Drive, and Steve Zoretich of Frederick Seibert and Associates, presented information to prove that a fence on an easement would not be detrimental to the township.

Bonner installed an inground pool and originally planned a brick wall fence. However, the area was across an easement created by the developer. He therefore wants to install a post fence, which Schemel said could be removed if the township needed to dig. Zoretich explained how stormwater management would be contained on the property.

Garland said township staff did not have a problem with the request, as it is an "on lot" easement only. She said the township does not have a fence ordinance, so the building inspector would have to approve the particular type.

Supervisors granted the waiver.

Goetz received the okay to bring items to the Council of Governments sale Oct. 18 and 19. Excess equipment from the utilities department included a riding mower, push mower, two trailers, and two air compressors.

Supervisor Scott Diffenderfer announced that he was resigning from the park committee. He recommended Dirk Mowen as a replacement, and it was approved.

Manager Thomas reported that he had met with a representative from FEMA, and she determined Antrim Township would be reimbursed $18,000 for expenses related to the June storms. "Our paperwork was the best she had seen," said Thomas.