TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HUNTINGDON, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015, 7:00 P.M.

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1 TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HUNTINGDON, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015, 7:00 P.M Center Highway, North Huntingdon, PA Presiding Officer Richard G. Gray, President, Board of Commissioners CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Gray called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. ROLL CALL Commissioner West Present Also Present: Commissioner Bevan Present John Shepherd Commissioner Haigis Absent Michael Turley Commissioner Martino Present Solicitor Bruce Dice Commissioner Herold Present Andrew Blenko Commissioner Austin Present Commissioner Gray Present PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE **Proclamation: Declaring November 13 th as World Pancreatic Cancer Day. CITIZENS INPUT Bonnie Durst 1280 Lindencross Avenue, North Huntingdon. Ms. Durst asks the Commissioners input on the Petland that is supposed to be coming to Norwin Towne Square which doesn t seem to be publicized. She states she posted on Norwin s Facebook page to see the reaction and people are really concerned about it because of the Petland reputation. She states that whoever is opening the store posted that they can put their pickett signs down. There will be a doggy daycare and boarding and will work with local shelters with rescues. The question is when they define rescues, does that mean they are just adopting the dogs like a shelter or will they be selling dogs like they do at the other Petland stores? That is the concern of the residents and if the Petland would be forthcoming about the rescues that they ll be working with and the local shelters, and if dogs will be spayed or neutered and where the dogs will be coming from. Ms. Durst says that is the concern of the community and suggested that whoever is opening the store to do a piece in the Norwin Star to let residents know how they are going to run the store. RESPONSE TO CITIZENS INPUT Commissioner Gray responds that this is news to him and asks if any other Board member would like to speak. Manager Shepherd states that it is relatively new news to him also and knows Petland is building at Norwin Towne Square. He was speaking to the developer and owner of the shopping center when it was mentioned. Mr. Shepherd states he does not have any information who the owner of

2 Petland is. He states the Township can investigate from a standpoint of who it s going to be and what they re going to do and if there is interest of getting information out to the community. The Township doesn t look at it the same way the residents do from the standpoint of concerns unless the Township thinks Petland is doing something inappropriate in case other organizations such as Humane Society would be called in to help. Mr. Blenko states he just learned this from Don Tarosky Jr a few weeks ago and didn t realize there was a reputation associated with Petland. Solicitor Dice states that so you re aware, the Township does not control the uses in the shopping centers so long as they meet the criteria of the Ordinances. This is not something the Township would get in to. The Township is not in a position of permitted use that is retail in nature that would be a permitted use in the zoning district and as such the Township would have anything to say about it. Solicitor Dice suggests the better inquiry would be with the landlord, Mr. Tarosky, who can control who he puts in there. No further Board comments. Work Sessions Discussion Topics 1) Electronic Sign Policy Manager Shepherd states this was approved a few months ago and afterwards may have some interest in allowing private business use of the sign. Mr. Shepherd states he was thinking more of an economic development standpoint not a general advertising standpoint. Mr. Turley put together a memo for the Board recommending new businesses coming in to the Township and highlighting them on the sign for a period of time. Mr. Shepherd states he would like the Board s input and feedback because if agreed, would need to modify the existing policy as is limited right now to just the Township s use. Commissioner Gray states his concern, at this point, is there are only going to be three Board members that are going to be here, so maybe some of these issues should be held off for discussion by the new Board. He states that at that point will be a new direction, new leadership, and some things different, so if it is not critical, should hold off until after the first of the year. Manager Shepherd states it is not critical. Commissioner Gray states he feels the same about the second Work Topic, The Veterans Memorial, to hold off until new Board is in. Regarding Haywood Road, if there are planning & engineering or budgeting to be consider, maybe the Board should discuss that item. He states regarding the sign, that he would be hesitant to advertise private businesses because it could turn the program into other things. Manager Shepherd states that if the Board is in agreement to that, then he ll bring the Electronic Sign item back in 2016.

3 Commissioner Martino agrees with Commissioner Gray about the businesses on the sign. He feels it will grow into something larger and some of the Township s information will not be seen. He would like to keep it off the sign. Commissioner West states his point of view as far as businesses, he does not feel any type of business should be put on there. If you have a new business coming into Town and is put on the sign, but yet you have a mom n pop store that has been here for forty five years and never mentioned. He feels it wouldn t be an appropriate way to advertise new business when old businesses that have been here for years, may not ever see that type of advertisement. Commissioner Bevan states that if it sounds like a majority tonight, then why not just vote on it. Manager Shepherd states it is up to the Board to vote or wait until new Board. 2) Veterans Memorial Monument Board agrees to wait for the new Board in ) Haywood Road Bridge Manager Shepherd states this item is not critical, it just took a while to get it to the Board because of the time to figure out alternatives. If something major would happen, the road could be closed with people still being able to get out either side. Commissioner Gray states he thinks it would be appropriate to wait on these items for the new Board. Planning / Engineering Topics 1) SP : Hops N Pops II Proposed beer distributor along State Route 30 East. Mr. Blenko recalls that the applicants, Mr. Hudoc and Mr. Osborne, came before the Board in March or February proposing a site between Hartford Height VFD and Poochies Dog Grooming. All knew that with the fill that was placed there then found out it was not worth what it would take to make that site buildable. The applicants then found Whelan Supply Building which used to sell municipal signs, safety cones, etc which is between the Park N Ride lot and the old Charley J s. The building is for sale. The applicants came in with a new site plan for a two story building that would serve as a higher end beer distributor on the first floor and then a tasting room that can hold events on the second floor. Mr. Blenko reports the Planning Commission has some concerns but nothing that can t be resolved. They are proposing to demolish the original building and then build a new building in its place. In keeping with their prior plans, they would like to do a drive-thru type of distributor. Because this site is so narrow, it only has one hundred feet of frontage, the building is much deeper than it is wider. The second floor shows offices, a break room, storage,

4 and the tasting room. Mr. Hudoc chose to work with architects than engineers who came up with a nice building. The Planning Commission s biggest concern was access by truck because what you typically see delivering to a beer distributor is a tractor trailor. The concern is can they get in and out from the site. The truck should be able to get in ok, but the problem is getting the truck back out to Route 30. PADot will not allow an in and out driveway with a site this narrow. Mr. Blenko states the developer is asking for is his suppliers to send a short two axle truck or proposed hours would not have the store opening until 10:00 A.M. which would allow deliveries between 7:00 A.M. and 9:00 A.M. Mr. Hudoc is present tonight to speak with the Board if he chooses. Mr. Blenko states they need a highway occupancy permit, they do not need sewage planning because it s replacement flow for the building is already there, and few other engineering issue to be resolved. Mr. Blenko says he and Don Housley are meeting to go over the remaining issues, nothing that is insurmountable, just the question of the access. Mr. Blenko states the applicant understands the constraints and is willing to work around that. The Planning Commission recommended a restrictive covenant that says unless approved otherwise in the future, the applicant agrees only deliveries between seven and nine A.M. Michael J. Hudoc III 12 Huston Road, Oakmont, PA Mr. Hudoc states the Board warned them they would have problems with the original site and found out with additional studies that it would cost them approximately two and a half million dollars in order to rehabilitate the property. Mr. Hudoc states he and his partner really love this community and want to be a part of North Huntingdon. They have spent three or four months traveling Route 30 looking for other locations. Mr. Hudoc states they understand there are access issues. He has reached out to all the major suppliers that will be working with and explained the situation. The suppliers are agreeable to accommodating them in two ways, one is making more frequent deliveries using the smaller trucks and also in terms of scheduling. In case of a larger delivery, Mr. Hudoc says they will schedule the delivery between seven and nine in the morning. Mr. Hudoc states they are purchasing the property from Mrs. Whalen and another company and are agreeable to whatever restrictive covenant needed and are willing to work with the Township. This is the last resort to stay in North Huntingdon and Mr. Hudoc has to declare to the Liquor Control Board what the intentions are by next month and there is a possibility that they will not renew it. There is also the deadline of Agreement of Sale with Mrs. Whalen that expires the end of the year. Mr. Hudoc states they are hoping to close on the property this month and start the demolition before the end of the year. Commissioner Gray asks if there are any questions from the Board. Commissioner Herold asks if there is any concern when traveling westbound, making a left into the business. Mr. Blenko responds that he thinks PADot will limit it to a No Left Turn. Commissioner Herold states he welcomes that business and thinks it s a great addition. Mr. Blenko states he feels the business would be a shining jewel on that end of the Township. If the Board is willing to try to work with some type of restrictive covenant and Solicitor Dice helps draft it, he feels it could work.

5 Solicitor Dice asks if it will be on the agenda next week for formal approval. Manager Shepherd says it will be on the agenda. It appears there is an informal approval. The agreement will be ready at the meeting. Does someone have the deed? Mr. Blenko states they don t have the deed yet since there hasn t been a closing yet. Solicitor Dice states it should be set forth when they record their deed. Mr. Hudoc states they are being very optimistic and have a tentative closing scheduled for Friday, November 20 th. Solicitor Dice would like Mr. Hudoc to the agreement. There are two conditions, one deals with the size of delivery trucks and the second, the time of delivery. Commissioner Gray encourages him to be specific about the descriptions of the trucks so there are no judgments later. 2) S : Parry Consolidation Plan Proposed lot consolidation in Mountain Ridge Estates Mr. Blenko states this is two lots that Keith Parry owns at the end of Forest Oaks Trail in Mountain Ridge Estates. He has a home that he s building on one lot and wants to put a pool on the other lot, but realized a pool standing on its own is an accessory structure that can only be placed to residential use, so he wants to combine the two lots, so there is no reason to prohibit them to be combined making a double lot with both a home and pool on it. The Planning Commission recommends approval with no conditions. FURTHER BOARD COMMENTS Commissioner Gray congratulates Commissioner Elect Faccenda and Commission Elect Kucera and Commissioner Elect Bertani.

6 ADJOURNMENT Motion: Commissioner Herold Second: Commissioner West Motion to adjourn. (7:32 P.M.) Motion Carried Special Meeting minutes of November 12, 2015 were approved by the Board of Commissioners on. John M. Shepherd, Township Secretary /jjm Richard G. Gray, President **Executive Session after meeting. 1) WWMA Litigation discussion.