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Schuylkill County planners sayCoaldale approved plans prematurely

The planning commissions of East Union Township and Coaldale Borough were accused by the Schuylkill County Planning Commission of approving subdivision plans before the county board reviewed them, which violates the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

At the monthly meeting of the county board held at the courthouse in Pottsville, Susan A. Smith, director, reported the county board had received a request by Michael P; Brinkash, surveyor for a major subdivision plan for Hidden Forest Phase 4 Section of Eagle Rock Development in East Union Township, and the plan had already been given final approval by the East Union Township Planning Commission.Smith reported that under provisions of Section 502 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, plans for the proposal should have been sent to the county board for review. Section 502 states municipalities shall not approve such applications until the county report is returned showing if it complied with the county's land use ordinance, she said.The plan approved by East Union was one submitted by Eagle Rock Resorts Company for 74.04 acres to be subdivided into 336 single family residential lots in its subdivision located in the township.The county board reviewed the plan and said that because the plan calls for the subdivision to be connected to public sewage and water connection, the developer must obtain a letter from both governing sewer and water authorities approving the connections. The county board also said that in order for the county board to be more aware of the township's concerns, a copy of all municipal decisions should be sent to the county board.Coaldale Borough Planning Commission submitted the plan of Eric S. and Christine A. Zizelmann, to which it also gave final approval. The Zizelmanns seek to convey a 2,500 square foot lot to the First Congregational Church. This is not a building lot, and will be only used for church purposes. The county reviewed the plan and found it met all county land requirements and returned the plan to the Coaldale commission. But it also reminded Coaldale that the county wants a copy of all municipal decisions so that the county board can be more aware of concerns.Eagle Rock plansIn other actions, the county board granted Eagle Rock Resorts Company an extension of time to the county board's October meeting to complete its subdivision plans for Hidden Forest Phase One and Two subdivisions in East Union Township. Brinkash asked for the extension because they have not as yet received approval from the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) and Schuylkill Conservation District of the storm water management plan for the two subdivisions.A small delegation of residents from the various Eagle Rock subdivisions in East Union and North Union townships appeared before the board. Thomas Hall addressed the board and expressed the residents' concern about the growing population in the subdivisions placing stress on the sewage and water systems and schools in the area, and asked the board to pay attention to the problems.The board granted conditional approval of the subdivision plan of Susan A. Gibson, who last week received a non-building waiver from the Schuylkill County Zoning Board concerning using one of two buildings on her property.She plans to use a pole building for storage and close the building which housed her husband's stained glass business in Union Township, which created a residual lot and accessory structure without a principal structure.Final approval was granted to the subdivision plan of Lowell R. Frantz Estate, annexing 22.52497 acres in Washington Township to Dean H. and Lola M. Klinger. Also, James G. and Ann L. Rich, Washington Township, received final approval to annex 3.556 acres.The county board was informed that Summer Springs Farm, LLC, West Penn Township, has submitted to DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) an application for a permit to include a new bulk water hauling source of spring water from Summer Springs Farm.Gary Bender, chairman, presided.