MINUTES OF THE HANOVER BOROUGH PLANNING COMMISSION June 5, 2024 @ 6:30PM Chairperson Hegberg convened the regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in the Hanover Borough Municipal Building, 44 Frederick Ina attendance were Commission members Baum, Dunn, Edwards, Funk, Graham, Johnson, and Chairperson Hegberg. Also, present were Administrative Assistant to the Department of Planning &E Engineering and the Department of Code Enforcement, Lisa Graham-Herrick and Director of Planning & Engineering and the Department of Water Resources, P. Eric Mains, PE. In addition, Tony Forbes, Bon-Ton Builders; Attorney Peter Ruth; Matthew Wright and Stephen Allgeier of Wright Environmental Land Services; Kevin Barnes, Group Hanover, Inc.; Chris Schwab, Transportation Resource Group, Inc. (TRG); Christopher Riggle, Colliers Engineering & Design; Christopher S. Miller, Chief Code Enforcement/Zoning Officer; Darlene Funk, Borough Council Approval of the Minutes: Commissioner Baum moved, seconded by Commissioner Funk, to approve the Minutes of the May 1, 2024, meeting as written. Motion carried. Street, Hanover, PA as advertised. Member: and Robert Holt, a citizen oft the Borough of Hanover. Old Business: a) 236-238 Poplar Street = Home City Ice Company Christopher Riggle with Colliers Engineering & Design was present to speak on behalf of a Subdivision Plan submitted for The Home City Ice Company for the property located at 236-238 Poplar Street, Hanover, PA: 17331. Commissioner Dunn questioned ift the property needs a Zoning Variance as per the current Zoning Ordinance and a brief discussion ensued. Director Mains noted that he would need to look closer at the plan to determine if a Variance is required but that the Planning Commission has no issue with the plan otherwise. Mr. Riggle noted that he had to drive 2 hours for tonight's meeting and requested that any revisions and clarifications be done electronically if possible. Commissioner Dunn moved, seconded by Commissioner Funk, to table any action on The Home City Ice Subdivision Plan until the zoning question is resolved. Motion Carried. New Business: a) Process for feedback from Planning Commission to Zoning Hearing Board = Director Mains acknowledged that recently, the applications being submitted to the Zoning Hearing Board are becoming more complex in nature and reaffirmed that at the instruction of Borough Council, he has worked to create transparency between the Zoning Hearing Board andi the Planning Commission. Director Mains also clarified that the Planning Commission and the Zoning Hearing Board are two separate entities with the Zoning Hearing Board being a quasi-judicial entity. As such, there are legal parameters to bei followed with how information for hearings is shared, who is notified and how citizens may enter testimony at Zoning Hearings. Although the Planning Commission may review applications going before the Zoning Hearing Board, they may not recommend an opinion Minutes oft the Hanover Borough Planning Commission June 5, 2024 Page2 on how the Zoning Hearing Board should vote on the outcome of the applications. Itis the role of the Planning Commission to ensure that the Zoning Ordinance is being followed as well as the proposed plans will adhere to the current SALDO and Stormwater Ordinances as well. Director Mains recommended that the Planning Commission follow what is known as a SWOT Analysis when communicating with the Zoning Hearing Board regarding proposed applications. SWOT analysis stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats when reviewing projects. It was the consensus of the Planning b) 233 & 235 Kennedy Court- Director Mains report that the applicant's request will be Commission to implement this standard process moving forward. heard at the. July 9, 2024 Planning Commission meeting. Communications: There were no communications to report. Zoning Matters: Director Mains reported on the decisions from the May: 17, 2024, ZHB as follows: 41&4 43 McAllister Street (Rear) - Approved 751 George Street Withdrawn Director Mains reported that Bradley Silvi applied for a Special Exception Request to the Zoning Hearing Board requesting a Special Exception for a Multi-Family Dwelling at 631 Broadway, Hanover, PA 17331. The property is in the R5 (High Density Residential) Zoning District. This request will be heard at the. June 17,2024 hearing of the Zoning Hearing Board. Al brief discussion ensued with regard tot the proposed project with: several concerns the Planning Commission feels need to be addressed by the Zoning Hearing Board. It was the consensus of the Planning Commission that the conversion of this property does not comply with Section 140-446 of the Zoning Ordinance and are not in agreement to offer a favorable recommendation for approval of the application tot the Zoning Hearing Board. A formal summary of their concerns will bei issued in the form ofa letter from the Chairman oft the Planning Commission to Zoning Hearing Board. Director Mains asked Attorney Ruth to speak to the Special Exception and Variance Request his client, Bon-Ton Builders has submitted to the Zoning Hearing Board. Attorney Ruth shared that the applicant is seeking a Special Exception for Single-Family Attached Dwelling (Rowhouse) to construct 41 units on individual parcels as allowed by Special Exception in the Zoning Ordinance. The applicant is also seeking a Variance for relief from the removal of trees for the property located at 225 Moul Avenue, Hanover, PA 17331. The property is in the R5 (High Density Residential) Zoning District. This request will be heard at the. June 17,2024 hearing of the Zoning Hearing Board. After asome discussion, Commissioner Dunn moved, seconded by Commissioner Graham, to recommend to the Zoning Hearing Board approval of the Special Exception for "Multi- Family" with Commissioner Funk opposing. Chairman Hegberg moved, seconded by Commissioner Dunn to recommend approval of the Variance request regarding the replacement and use of "poor quality" tree counts, with the condition that the larget trees be preserved. Motion Carried with Commissioner Funk and Johnson opposing. Minutes of the Hanover Borough Planning Commission June 5, 2024 Page 3 Public Comment: Chairperson Hegberg asked anyone wishing to comment publicly to step forward and speak. Mrs. Darlene Funk, 232 Locust Street, Ward! 5 spoke tot the Planning Commission regarding her concerns with the current Zoning Ordinance. She also expressed concerns pertaining to parking within the Borough and the need to hear the citizens when they express Rob Holt, 513 High Street, spoke briefly expressing gratitude for the transparency the Planning Commission provides at their meetings and expressing concerns with the number of special exceptions and variances being presented to the Zoning Hearing Board. Adjourn: Commissioner Funk moved, seconded by Commissioner Dunn, to adjourn the meeting concerns. at 8:10 PM. Motion carried. Respertfulysubmitted, hih. Bakan -ewck Lisa M. Graham-Herrick Administrative Assistant to the Borough of Hanover Department of Planning & ngneerng/Deporment of Code Enforcement