SCHUVLKLLTOWNSHP PLANNING COMMISSION  MAY 15,2024, 7:00PM MEETING MINUTES  Curt English called the meeting to order at 7:05pm. Members present were Mike Pellegrino, Mike Bauer, Andrew. Jacob, Peter Bigelow and alternate member Tom Gresko. Paul Boettinger, Township Engineer and Bill Brennan, Township Solicitor were also in attendance. Township Manager Laurie Getz, and elected Supervisors Martha Majewski and Danielle Jouenne were members of the M. Pellegrino motioned to approve the minutes of the March 20, 2024 meeting. P. Bigelow: seconded VFSA/EDU allotment- P. Boettinger explained toi the Commission that the Township and' Valley Forge Sewer Authority (VFSA) have received numerous requests for connections to public sewer in ther recent months. The Township has a certain allocation of EDU's available for use as "infills"and new development. These EDU's aret tracked by both the Township and' VFSA. Duet to the number of requests, it has been agreed that the Planning Commission will review each request and make a recommendation toi the Board of Supervisors to receive. approval for the sewer connection. The three properties asking for connection or additional EDU's are withint the Townships Act 537 plan to provide public sewer. These properties are 639 Patriot Lane, 505) Valley Park Road and 1321 State C. English made a motion to recommend approval for the additional infill EDU's1 for these three properties. M. Pellegrino seconded the motion. All approved with no discussion. Sheetz, 808 Valley Forge Road- -CJ Bock withl LandCore, Jess Urbas and Nate Fox representatives of Sheetz, and Eric Mountz, Traffic Planning & Design were in attendance to present a Sketch Plan ofa proposed convenience store with drive through and gasoline pumps at 808 Valley Forge Road. The site: sits oni the southeastern corner of Valley Forge Road (Rte 23) and Whitehorse Road, consisting of three parcels, 808 Valley Forge Road, 19 SWhitehorse Road, and 11 SWhitehorse Road. 808 Valley Forge Road currently hast thet former Royal Bank Building oni it, 11SWhitehorse Road is a vacant lot, and 19S Whitehorse Road has two structures on it that are on the Townships historical properties list. J. Urbas provided al brief history of Sheetz, they are at family-owned company, employ approximately 30-35 people pers store, and are very active int the communities in which they are located. N. Fox: said that they are not looking for any recommendations tonight,. just opening discussions on their proposed sketch plan and whati the Township would like to: see. Sheetz is proposing tol keep the main house structure on1 the 19SV Whitehorse parcel and use it ast their regional offices. The smaller structure in the rear of the property will be demolished. They will need conditional use approval fromi thel Board of Supervisors for the demolition of this structure known as the "carriage house". They will also need: Zoning relief to keept the larger structure as ity will not meet dimensional standards andi it will bet two commercial uses on one lot. M. Pellegrino asked N. Fox why they chose this corner, and aret they aware of the new! Wawa going in ont the adjacent corner. N. Fox said they are aware of thel Wawa. N. Fox stated that there are not many areas left that  audience.  the motion, all approved with no comments.  Road.    are: zoned fort this use, and this is a prime location. B. Brennan, Township Solicitor asked if they will be doing al Phaseland Phase I environmental study, as her recalls there was: some issues found in previous plans fort this lot. J. Urbas said they would do the: studies and provide any remediation if there was any disturbance. B. Brennan asked ift they've done any traffic studies. E. Mountz saidi that they arei in the beginning stages of traffic studies. They have done some scoping, but nothing detailed. They will provide what is necessary per PennDot. B. Brennan asked if Sheetz would be willingt toi install additional landscaping buffers between their property andi the residential properties. N. Fox: said he's sure that Sheetz would be willing to provide landscaping measures that the neighbors would want. CJ Bock said their plan calls for 60% impervious coverage versus a previous plan of 90% coverage for this corner. P. Boettinger asked if they were going to provide designated EV charging spots. E. Mountz said they are planning to provide 61 EV charging spots but it's upi to the EVI manufacturers toi install the charging stations. Discussion ensued regarding internal truck movement, loading zones, left turn restrictions and limiting delivery times. CJ Bock stated they are planning onl having alcohol sales at this location. M. Bauer asked if they have a summary of the variances needed. CJ Bock said they need variances for the front & side yard setbacks for the existing building at 19SWhitehorse Road, a variance for two uses on onel lot under 5acres, variance for an accessory structure tol be over 750: square feet, and a Conditional Use approval byt the Board of Supervisors fort the removal of the carriage house. N. Fox: stated that they looked at the previously proposed Wawa att this location and scaled back their plans. M. Bauer strongly agrees with having more of a landscape buffer between the neighboring properties. T. Gresko asked ift they are proposing a right turn lane on Whitehorse Road. E. Mountz saidi that is to be determined. C. Englishi felt a dedicated Right turn only lane on S Whitehorse is a good idea. M. Pellegrino said thei intersection will really need to be redesigned to accommodate both' Wawa and Sheetz and keep traffic flowing safely. M. Pellegrino said that light pollution is al big concern and wants them to limit their site lighting. P. Boettinger advised the Township does have very stringent light ordinances that they will need to comply with. P. Boettinger stated that Sheetz will need one additional EDU for this proposal. The Commission will need to recommend approval fori the  additional EDU. Public Comment  C. Rossi, 24 S. Whitehorse Road- - Very concerned about the close proximity of the gasoline pumps to her home. Benzene vapors are al neath/ernv/ironmental issue. 200 feet fromi the pump toa residential structure is thel bare minimum. Feels that we do not need more gas pumps, as there are S. Sterling 856' Valley Forge Road - Very concerned about the emissions from the gas pumps. There are al lot of young children around this property and she's concerned for their health and safety. Stated that Township Ordinance requires a 2001 foot setback from the lot linei for a gas station to any residential property and a convenience store with gas is requires 2001 feet from the pumpi to a residential structure. Wants Township: to revise ordinance to make it 2001 feet1 from lot lines. C. McClintock 501 Anderson Road - Questioned what the Township' was getting out of this. How much money were we getting from Sheetz. C. English said propertytax, payroll tax, etc. D.. Jouenne said thati income to a Township does noti factor intoi the decision. If they meet all Township: zoning  50 pumps in a2 2mile stretch.  regulations, they have to approve it.    K. Brooker 34 S. Whitehorse Road - 20 year resident of Schuylkill Township. Het fought against Wawa when they wanted this corner and he will fight against Sheetz. He doesn'twant to lose any of his property to widening the roadway to make improvements. He doesn'tthink iti makes sense tol have two of the same types of stores right across from each other. C. English clarified that anywidening of the roadways would be done ont these sites, and that anything further would need to be agreed C. Rossi 24 S. Whitehorse Road - Asked Sheetz ift they would install extra vapor recovery: systems. C. English said they will have to comply with all state and federal regulations on vapors. She also C. Sheehan 41 S. Whitehorse Road - Questioned if the ordinance takes into consideration the S. Sterling 856) Valley Forge Road - Asked that the Planning Commission consider this a gas station and not a convenience store with gas. B. Brennan said they can not, as it is int the Township Ordinance definitions that a gas station is defined as a repair shop/gas station not a convenience store. C. English advised that residents would need to go toi the Board of Supervisors with these .Appeltans 733) W. Philip Drive - Resident and avid bicyclist. Roads are already dangerous and Penndot doesn'tmaintain them. Is Township puttingi in sidewalks, concerned about the T. Brooker 34 S. Whitehorse Road- - Questioned if Sheetz would be selling alcohol at this location. C. English gave al brief history of the Royal Bank corner, stating that manyyears ago it was a gas Discussion ensued regarding the additional EDU that Sheetz will need. M. Pellegrino madei the motion to recommend approval of releasing 1 additional EDU for1 this plan at this property. A. Jacob With noi further business or public comment, the meeting was adjourned at 9:45pm.  uponwith the property owner and developer.  agreed that 2001 feet from the pump isi not safe.  stacking of pumps. Was it based on one pump or twenty pumps.  concerns.  infrastructure.  Sheetz representative said yes, thati is proposed.  station with gas pumps. Total Rental was also a gas station.  seconded the motion. All approved with no further comments.  Respectfullys submitted, Kimberly' Yocom KHVp  Valyo  Next business meeting scheduled for THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2024