July 12, 2004

Members Present: Judith A. Algeo, Chair

Edward P. Thompson, Vice Chairman

Bert Parrish, Member

Others Present: Dave Connell, Township Engineer

Mary Eberle, Township Solicitor

Linda Grant, Recording Secretary

n CALL TO ORDER:

The Warwick Township Board of Supervisors’ July 12, 2004 public meeting, held at the Warwick Township Administration Office, 1733 Township Greene, Jamison, PA., was called to order at 6:12 ^p.m., by Chair, Judith Algeo.

Ms. Algeo announced that the meeting this evening is to discuss the Cutler Development, Ridings at Warwick on Dark Hollow. This meeting was requested by Mr. McBride, attorney, to discuss aspects of the plan. Ms. Algeo said that the neighbors have been notified by word of mouth, newspaper advertisement and the cable television channel. We are hoping for a productive and constructive dialogue regarding what will be done at that particular property.

Mr. McBride displayed a plan of the cluster concept that accompanied the conditional use application in June. After our meeting with the Planning Commission, it was suggested that we have a frank discussion with the Board in terms of what the Board thinks about how the site should be developed. Mr. McBride explained that this is not merely land of the Reiders, it also includes about 60 acres belonging to Steinberg and Bright. Mr. McBride said that the Supervisors had indicated they would like to see an even split of the units of the access out to Rushland or Watson Road. Mr. McBride also spoke of open space, which at 50% would provide 60 acres of open space.

Eric Reiders spoke of Rushland as the last remnant of Warwick as it once was long ago and feels that Rushland should be left as it was. Mr. Reiders feels, for the township, the most critical preservation objective remaining is that vista you have when you come off of Almshouse Road and go down Rushland Road.

Mike Reiders would like to maintain the view of Rushland Road, and if there is an access here, it should look like a country road. Mr. Reiders feels this is the best way to preserve that view.

Betsy Gemmill has strong feelings about keeping open space and cautions against traffic on Rushland Road, noting that there is more traffic there than most people realize. Ms. Gemmill would prefer open space on Rushland Road.

Ms. Algeo asked about access on Rushland Road. Ms. Algeo also notes that prior discussion was to have access on Rushland to disperse the traffic because of Dark Hollow being a township road and a much smaller road and Rushland is a state road and a larger road. Ms. Gemmill said that is not a safe road.

Robert Mueller, Dark Hollow Road, notes that Dark Hollow was once a beautiful vista too, and he would like to preserve what is left of Dark Hollow.

July 12, 2004 Special Meeting

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Karen Ritter states that Cutler should give a disclosure to each individual home buyer that this is a working farm. Mary Eberle, Township Solicitor reported that Ms. Ritter’s attorney has contacted her and she informed the attorney that this would be brought to the Board of Supervisors. Ms. Ritter is also concerned about the little creek.

John Sheehan, Primrose Road, doesn’t like the plan and questioned if there is access to Watson Road. Mr. Reiders said no. Mr. Sheehan feels there should be responsible ways to disperse traffic.

Ms. Ritter also asked if we can leave a hedgerow or leave the trees that back against her farm in order to alleviate the sound.

Taylor Oughton, Dark Hollow, distributed a list of his thoughts on this matter, and spoke of how it used to be. Mr. Oughton said this is probably the last decently forested area along Dark Hollow. The riparian area is the first consideration and the second consideration is the agricultural area. Mr. Taylor would regret losing any of the farm land.

Hannah Cryne, Dark Hollow, states that this project would destroy this forested area for fifteen houses.

Mr. Thompson said his position is that there has to be a compromise of the number of exits on Dark Hollow and Rushland. Rushland is a state road, primarily with vehicle traffic while Dark Hollow is a road in a community, and there is a difference. Mr. Thompson said the wooded area on the one lot between Slossers and the property that the Township owns is one of the last wooded areas left in the Township, it’s noted in the common open space plan, it’s identified as a woodland are, the tree size, the umbrella of the trees and the density of the trees meets environmentally woodland areas. It is the start of the Neshaminy, there is a creek bed that starts there. Mr. Thompson said it would be a shame to take those trees down just to put five or six homes in there. Mr. Thompson would like to see the heavy, thick woodland area protected.

Jeff Marshall, Heritage Conservancy, states that although the vistas are important, this is the largest contiguous agricultural area in the region. One of the components of the open space plan is farmland preservation. Open space is a broad term, there is woodland preservation, there is farmland preservation, groundwater recharge, streams, etc. Mr. Marshall said it is impossible to say what is more important, an acre of farmland or an acre of trees, because there is no right answer.

Ms. Algeo understand that open space will now be tamed open space, and doesn’t think it will continue to be cornfields. Mr. Marshall reminds that preserved open space does not have to be commonly owned open space by a homeowner’s association. It’s deed restricted and preserved and can be in private ownership. Ms. Eberle said regardless of owns it, it can be leased out for farmland. Mr. Thompson said the open space basically has two criteria, saving ag soils and woodland areas. These areas meet criteria.

Karen Ritter is very concerned about the disclosure to home buyers of the working farm. Ms. Eberle, Township Solicitor, noted that although a disclosure may not stop people from complaining, Ms. Eberle assured Ms. Ritter, whose farm is in the agricultural security area, that there are laws that protect from nuisance actions.

Mr. Parrish agrees that the woodland area proposed for nine houses is not a good idea and is leaning more to preserving woods over open space and hopes we can come to a compromise. Mr. Parrish believes we need two roads for access, Dark Hollow and Rushland Road.

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Robert Mueller, Dark Hollow, reminds that in addition to the trees, there are aqua filters to be concerned with.

Eric Reiders reminds a critical element of the open space plan was creating a community through connections within the Township. Also, Mr. Reiders urges strategic thinking about the decisions that are made in connection with this. There is very little open space left in Warwick Township.

Michael Cryne asked what happens when farmland is not farmed. Ms. Eberle stated it is not a requirement that people can’t farm next to houses, but as a practical matter, the farmer has to rent the fields and it may become a burden on him listening to people complain all the time. Then it is harder to rent the fields for farming.

Ms. Algeo asked Mr. McBride if Cutler would be willing to compromise. Mr. McBride said the issue is where to place the open space and what is the priority. Mr. McBride said that the Township has to decide at some point, but he will meet with Eric and Michael to best achieve their goals in line with what was heard this evening, and try to work with comments from this evening.

Bettyjean Reiders commented that it’s amusing to hear of neighbors complaining about farming. This was a farm area to begin with and I hear people laughing and joking and yelling across the Neshaminy creek and they have a right to do that, but thinks it’s amusing that those people would complain about cows mooing.

n ADJOURNMENT:

The meeting Warwick Township Board of Supervisors’ July 12. 2004 Special Public Meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Gail V. Weniger,

Township Manager

These minutes were approved at the

Board of Supervisors’ meeting held: August 2, 2004