Mahoning awaits Fredericks Grove Road subdivision

A routine subdivision in Mahoning Township prompted a discussion on ordinance issues this week.

The board of supervisors addressed a subdivision for Dr. Ronald Sherry’s property on Fredericks Grove Road in an attempt to figure out what to do with the project going forward.

Supervisor Bruce Steigerwalt said that final plans for the subdivision were due several months ago, as the subdivision and land development ordinance dictates that they must be submitted within a year of the preliminary plans.

The question of what to do when a developer fails to provide the plans within the time frame opened up a conversation that touched upon an overhaul for the zoning and subdivision and land development ordinances.

Mahoning, along with Lehighton Borough and Franklin Township, is currently in the process of reworking the ordinances.

Supervisor Robert Slaw said that definitions within the subdivision ordinance alone caused significant problems regarding interpretation.

However, it will be a while before the issues in the law can be addressed.

“It’s probably going to be another year and a half, two years before it comes in,” Steigerwalt said. “It’s going to take a while, because we’re going to have to have public hearings, and it’s going to have to go to the county planning commission.”

A debate ensued over the township or planning commission informing developers that they are in breach of the law when they fail to provide final plans in a timely manner.

Chairman Franklin Ruch said that he would be comfortable with sending a letter to the developer due to the fact that the subdivision ordinance is currently being reworked. However, Ruch and solicitor Thomas Nanovic both said that they did not want to create a standard where developers would expect to be notified about time limits regarding subdivisions or other projects.

Steigerwalt was concerned about putting developers in a place where they would be responsible for resubmitting preliminary plans and paying additional fees for review by providing them with a friendly reminder.

“Wouldn’t it be better if we sent them a letter now to inform them, so we don’t cold-cock them when they come in with a final plan?” Steigerwalt said.

Developers for the Sierra West project have recently been involved in a similar issue.

The board decided to send a letter to Sherry asking about his intentions for the project. In order to receive an extension for the project, Sherry would have to submit a request to the planning commission.