3 The Dallas Post NEWS Sunday, April 17, 2005 | ® APPROVAL Continued from Page 1 posed a new resolution allow- ing up to a 9 percent grade, with an exception to 11 percent for short distances. That reso- lution is expected to pass at Tuesday’s supervisors meeting. Asked for an example of a 9 percent grade after the meet- ing, commission Chairman Jack Dodson said Machell Avenue above Gate of Heaven School was probably pretty close. Halbing still has some work to do to get all his roads in com- pliance. “Everything at this point is under 10 percent,” he said, but some is still more than allowed. “We will be able to meet that new ordinance.” While making that commit- ment, Halbing implied that he expected some flexibility. “The ordinances are there as guide- lines,” but some sites can’t be made to conform perfectly, he said. The effect of water runoff has been a concern for nearby prop- erty owners. Halbing said he is trying to minimize the effects on neighbors, but acknowl- edged, “There’s going to be an impact.” : Bob Mitchell, whose land runs from Saddle Ridge to Wyoming Road, feels the development will continue an already worsening problem with water runoff. “Before they built Sleepy Hollow, Wyoming Road never flooded,” he said. Sleepy Hollow is on the other side of Wyoming Road, and the runoff from both develop- ments runs together near his property. Joan Schooley, who lives on land behind Saddle Ridge, laments the loss of natural habitat. An amateur naturalist, she has observed the plants POST PHOTO/RON BARTIZEK Developer John Halbing points out a feature on the plan for his proposed Saddle Ridge subdivi- sion. Joan Schooley, left, owns neighboring property and is concerned about the effect the development will have on wildlife in the area. Halbing’s engineer, George Albert, is between them. and animals on the land for 20 years. “I know it’s inevitable,” that housing development will take the land, she said with a note of resignation. She is particu- larly dreading the excavation process, which is likely to be noisy given the rocky subsoil. One holdup for Saddle Ridge is the absence of a review by the Luzerne County Conservation District, which will address the impact on streams during construction. “We're looking at the plan during development,” said Dave Moss, a district resource conservationist, seeing that there are adequate silt fences and the temporary roadways are constructed to limit runoff. District personnel also will inspect the project while it is underway. Township Engineer Tom Doughton and Dodson agreed that Halbing had made a great deal of progress since the last meeting. “There’s been a sub- stantial amount of changes required,” Doughton said. Halbing said as a result, lot prices will be higher than he anticipated, although they still “won’t be $80,000.” If all conditions are met, the commission could approve the plan at its May 10 meeting, said Dodson. If only minimal requirements haven’t been met by then, Halbing could get conditional approval, but com- pliance must be documented “before he can put a shovel in the ground.” It will take at least a month and possibly two to complete the revised layout for Goodleigh Manor, said Dave Lopatka of Acker Associates, engineers for the project. “To get to this point took a pretty monumental effort.” “The lots themselves won’t be changing,” said Comes. But raising the road grades will make it easier to get access for driveways, and will affect the storm water drainage plan. He said lots will vary between 2 and 20 acres, and there are about 4.5 miles of roads in the 485 acre property. In addition Comes said there will be about two miles of paths on old roads that were built by a former owner of the property for use as riding trails. The new plan must be sub- mitted at least three weeks before the meeting at which it will be discussed, to allow Doughton to review it. - Projected growth rate startles township officials The accelerating pace of development in Dallas Township is attracting atten- tion beyond its borders. Township Manager Leonard Kozick said someone from the Dallas School District noticed newspaper articles about new subdivi- sions and called to inquire about them. Township Engineer Tom Doughton said at last week’s meeting of the Planning Commission that about 500 new housing units are either under con- struction or proposed in the next three to five years. The 2000 Census counted 2,917 occupied housing units in the township, so the anticipated households would be 17 percent increase, twice the rate of growth between the 1990 and 2000 Censuses. That has Doughton concerned. “The growth of this township is outrunning our ordinances,” he said. Help appears to be about a year away. The township has gotten approval to use a $40,000 state grant to redraft its planning and zoning regulations, a process Doughton said will take at least a year. : “Somebody should have thought of that 10 years ago,” said Bob Mitchell, whose property abuts the proposed 101- lot Saddle Ridge subdivision. Bernadette Rushmer, whose Kingston Township property will be affected by ‘runoff from Saddle Ridge, asked if new ordinances will make it harder for devel- opments to gain approval. Doughton said he doubted that would be the case, but that it likely will cost more to meet new requirements. “The more regulations, the more expense to build a house,” he said. He mentioned that fast-growing communi- ties in Bucks County assess impact fees on new developments, some as high as $10,000 per lot. Some of that money goes to local school districts that are affected by growing population. — Ronald Bartizek Tell our advertisers you saw them in The Post. They'll appreciate it, and so will we. Need Window Coverings? We offer the most choices! [I nimloumes gindlenyc 1G, 1) Contact us fora FREE CONSULTATION Draperies & Interiors . www.sewfinehdwg.com or email us at designdreams@sewfine.com 4 Marion Street * Luzerne * 288-8013 Mon. & Thurs. : 8am-6pm * Tues., Wed., Fri.: 8am-5pm @2 =~ Weekends & Evenings by Appointment ERIE Ty I Mehoopany Employees Federal Credit Union "Growing to Serve our Membership" Dallas Branch Office opened - April 15, 2005 70 Country Club Shopping Center Dallas, PA 1301 2 570- www.pgmfcu.com 75-3370 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday — 9 Friday - 9 AM - 6 PM Saturday - 9 AM - 12 PM Hours Thursday - 9 AM -4 PM AM - 3 PM Penn State for YOU - the adult student - the transfer student Are you an adult thinking about returning to the classroom on a full- or part-time basis? Are you a student who wants to transfer credits to Penn State? Stop by on April 21 to speak to a counselor about your educational goals! Learn more about our 2- & 4-year degree programs including Penn State’s newest bachelor’s degree in ORGANIZATIONAL LEADER- 5-7PM SHIP - developed exclusively for adult students! Transfer students, please PENNSTATE Register: On-line: www.wb.psu.edu/openhouse bring your transcipts. $ Wilkes-Barre Making Life Better Phone: 570-675-9238 RE Thursday, April 21 Penn State Wilkes-Barre Hayfield House, 105 E-mail: wbadmissions@psu.edu VAT ATYATY JN TAT RT. [T] CLEANUPS Continued from Page 1 paign. Local “streamside cleanups” are arranged by the Wyoming Valley Watershed Coalition, an outgrowth of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Holly Frederick is project manager for the coalition. Her agency was instrumental in organizing last year’s first Toby’s Creek cleanup, but, she said, “This year the municipali- ty has really taken the lead.” That’s how it’s supposed to work, Frederick said. Local vol- unteers turn out “because it’s their neighborhood and that’s where they want to partici- pate.” The coalition continues to provide gloves, bags and pro- motional support. The Back Mountain Trail offers another opportunity to spruce up the environment. The annual trail cleaning will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, after volunteers gather at the Dallas Area Municipal Authority “recycling” sign, off the north- bound lanes of the Cross Valley Expressway. Participants will pick up litter along Route 309 from Carverton Road to Hillside Road, as well as along the trail, which parallels the highway. Mark Albrecht, President of the Back Mountain Trail LOCAL CLEANUPS Volunteers are welcome to par- ticipate in three local cleanups on Saturday, April 23. Here are times and contact persons: Toby's Creek, 8 a.m.-noon. Gather in the parking lot of Goeringer Family Dentistry, Lincoln St., across from Offset Paperback. Joe Moskovitz, 673- 1389. Back Mountain Trail, 9 a.m.- noon. Meet at the DAMA recy- cling sign, Route 309 north, Trucksville. Mark Albrecht, 696- 3409. Frances Slocum State Park, 10 a.m.-noon. Meet at the park office for assignments. Kathy Kelchner, 696-9105. Council, said in addition to sprucing up the trail and high- way, volunteer hours can be applied to the matching funds requirement of grants for trail development. This will be at least the 10th year for the trail cleanups, and Albrecht was effusive in prais- ing PennDOT, which carts away the collected junk. “PennDOT has been an absolutely wonderful partner,” he said. There also will be a cleanup at Frances Slocum State Park, where volunteers can rake and pick up litter to make the park presentable for the spring and Summer Seasons. POST FILE PHOTO/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Patrick Foley and Neil Bellanca, Dallas, removed a bumper from Toby's Creek during last year's cleanup of a stretch along Lake Street. The scouts helped out as part an Eagle project. Community cleanups May 2-7 Three local communities will conduct their annual spring cleanups the week of May 2-7. Residents may drop off items only at their own municipality’s site. This year, Dallas Borough, Dallas Township and Kingston Township will charge a fee in some or all cases. Complete infor- mation about the cleanups, including fees and what will not be accepted, will appear in next week’s Post. IB (GTSR'AE Tes Perfection... Try Our Sicilian Style Pizza, Our Wings & Other Menu Items ~ Eat In Or Take Out! 16 CARVERTON RD., TRUCKSVILLE Mon. - Wed. 4-10 PM * Thurs. 4-11 PM « Fri. 1 IAM-11 PM Sat. 12:30 - 11 PM * Sun.2 - 10 PM You have a choice in private school education... Come to an Open House on Thursday, April 21 at 9:30 a.m. See classrooms in action. 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