On Monday evening, Packer Township supervisors held public hearings on the extensive revisions and updates made to the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance and on the zoning ordinances. The work took about two years to complete, updating ordinances that were last made current in 2003.

The meeting was via Zoom, with provisions for socially distanced attendance in person. No resident attended in person. Supervisors Robert Selert, Cory Gerhard and Terry Davis; township solicitor Robert Yurchak; and Secretary-Treasurer Stephanie Stolpe. Online were five residents and attorney Brian Stahl who represents Broad Mountain Power Company.

Of those online, only Packer Township resident Gerry Grega spoke. He made two points: that under definitions, the zoning ordinance lacks one for “electric power plant” and possibly a second definition for “hydroelectric power plant,” and then questioned if these should be added “by special exception” into the I-1 industrial and B-1 business zones (only). In a note he sent to follow-up his comments, he asked if there would be added regulations to include a host municipal fee for power plants?

There was discussion among supervisors and then with solicitor Yurchak over Grega’s ideas and concerns.

There were no other comments. The hearing then closed, and a special supervisors meeting opened. Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the updated version of the SALDO. The SALDO was first adopted in 1989, then revised in 2003, so an update had been due.

Supervisors decided to table action on the zoning ordinance, also unanimously, to give Yurchak more time to check on adding language for power plants. There was also one section where a couple of lines were missing that needed to be added back. A new date for another hearing on the zoning ordinance will be set, likely again via Zoom with limited in-person seating available.