Bethel Twp. supervisors approve waiver requests for various building projects

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Bethel Township supervisors made numerous unanimous waiver request actions concerning several Bell & Evans construction projects and others occurring within the municipality during their June 12 meeting.

Waiver requests are made when there is a need to deviate from the established zoning ordinances or building code requirements. These waivers allow property owners to make modifications or exceptions to regulations that would typically apply to their property.

Township engineer Matthew Mack said every waiver was vetted by the township’s planning commission, which recommended that supervisors approve the requests. 

Bell & Evans waiver requests

For planned new construction at their Plant 2 facility, which is located adjacent to Esther’s Restaurant, supervisors granted a time extension request to Aug. 15 to Bell & Evans. Supervisors also agreed to accept a preliminary final submission instead of a final submission.

Read More: Bethel Twp. planning members approve meetings with Bell & Evans officials

A required 10-foot shoulder along state Route 22 was also waived since one already exists as made by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. “The planning commission felt that it wasn’t necessary to add additional shoulder already out there,” said Mack.

Two other waivers concerning this project were also granted. One permits a location map scale of one inch equals 2,000 feet instead of the required one inch equals 800 feet. The final waiver was to forgo a state Department of Environmental Protection requirement of a 24-inch limiting zoning since the township’s ordinance is set at 36 inches.

Supervisors also approved waiver requests for the poultry producer’s planned transportation center.

Mack noted the project had several similar waiver requests as the previous one, including the waiving of a preliminary plan with the preliminary final submission replacing it. The 10-foot shoulder requirement along Route 22 was waived as was the township’s 36 inches limiting zone limitations that exceed the state required 24 inches.

An internet search revealed the depth to the limiting zone is crucial for determining the suitability of a site for a septic system and the type of system that can be installed. In Pennsylvania, for example, a minimum depth of 24 inches is required by law between the bottom of a septic system’s drain field and the limiting zone. In Bethel Township, the requirement is 36 inches.  

Another waiver request concerned the mandate to construct sidewalks for building projects. For this project it would involve constructing one along Route 22, according to Mack.

Read More: Bethel Twp. officials grant waiver request for Bell & Evans cook plant project

“The planning commission requested a fee in lieu of, instead of, waiving it so you would get whatever the cost is to put the sidewalk on there,” said Mack. “Then you guys would use that money to put sidewalks somewhere else. Bell & Evans at the meeting agreed to that request.”

Two more waivers approved by supervisors eliminated the need for curbing along Route 22 and within a floodplain area. An ordinance that requires pipe diameter to be 15 inches was waived with Mack noting the company has 12-inch pipe onsite. 

“It’s not within our public right of way or anything. So, the planning commission wasn’t really worried about it,” he added.

An ordinance concerning required modifications was waived by the board. “This is not to require additional modifications along the roadway. The position was that it’s bound by the sidewalk in the existing roadway with a 50-foot right-of-way,” said Mack.

The final waiver for the transportation center project eliminated the need for constructing street lighting along Route 22 and within the floodplain area that’s located along Fredericksburg Road.

“The planning commission supported this waiver (because) they will have street lights on the opposite side (of the road) for the sidewalk,” Mack told the board.

The board tabled several other waivers submitted by Bell & Evans for the cook facility plant, but did approve a time extension request for this project until July 18. The two waivers were tabled until another meeting because the time extension request was granted.

“As the board may recall, we had a discussion last month about this. This is the sidewalk agreement. Unfortunately, I have not gotten one yet,” said township solicitor Andrew Morrow. “I finally was reached out to a couple days ago and was assured I’m going to be getting something. So at this point there needs to be another (time) extension.”

Also at the meeting, Morrow provided an update on the Travis and Holly Berger subdivision and stormwater management plan.

Berger subdivision plan

“Clifford and Faye Berger intend to subdivide the property and create a new proposal, a 1.788-acre block, and transfer ownership of that lot to Travis and Holly Berger. Travis and Holly Berger will in turn develop said lot with the single-family detached dwelling, associated access driveway, parking and area stormwater facilities,” said Morrow.

Morrow asked for the subdivision land development improvements and stormwater agreements and related plans to be approved because they have been signed by all concerned parties. 

He added that a small portion of the property is located in Bethel Township, Berks County, and those officials waived review of the plan because the proposal doesn’t affect their municipality. Morrow finally noted that financial security was provided last month in the form of an escrow check that has been deposited, so he asked supervisors, who complied, to approve the agreements and related plans.

Steiner land development plan

Concerning a separate project for a poultry operation on nearly 125 acres owned by Lynford and Janelle Steiner, Morrow asked supervisors to approve the land development plan agreements and plan.

“They proposed to construct a new poultry operation including two poultry operation barns, each 100-foot by 600-foot, an egg room, utility barn, gravel driveway, gravel paths, and associated stormwater facilities. Again, I prepared the agreements. Also, financial security is in order…” Morrow said, just prior to a vote to approve the request. “So we have pretty good financial security.”

Nolt land development plan

A number of waivers were also granted for a farm operation for the Paul Nolt land development plan. In addition to granting a time extension until Sept. 13, supervisors waived two requirements for the setting of pins because it is a farm, said Mack. 

Another granted waiver removed the requirement of two access points to the property but with a stipulation. “The planning commission supported this as long as there’s documentation from the fire chief that he approved it,” Mack said.

Two other waivers removed the required survey accuracy and the minimum grade with the basin bottom ordinances. 

“They’re not doing a subdivision, so basically their position is ‘The lot is the lot,and we’re well within the boundary.’ So the survey accuracy is not a huge concern. Planning commission supported this one,” said Mack. “Minimum grade within the basin bottom. So this is an infiltration basin, which is supposed to be flat, so the planning commission recommended this one.”  

Additional waiver requests

Other waivers granted during the engineer’s section of the meeting agenda included:

• Grant a time extension until Sept. 12 to Lebanon County for the construction of a communications tower on Mill Road.
• Grant a time extension until Sept. 30 for the Dew Farms land development plan. 
• Provide a letter of credit release for JME Lebanon LP for land development phases 3-5.
• Agree to a letter of credit request for Michael and Jocelyn G. Marlowe. 

Other board business

In other business, supervisors voted to:

• Accept the lowest responsible bid of $52,974.72 from Martin Paving for the single application of bituminous seal coat. Four bids were received for the project.
• Conduct a traffic county study to receive low volume road funding for culvert replacement on Camp Strause Road.
• Receive the roadmaster, financial, and sewer and water authority reports. 
• Approve the minutes of their May 15 meeting.
• Pay the monthly invoices.
• During the recreation report, the board took the following actions: Hire Andrew Seeger as a lifeguard for the 2025 pool season at a rate of $15 per hour. Rent three bounce houses for Fall Fun Day on Sept. 20 at a cost of $885. Agree to repair or replace the robotic cleaner for the community pool at a cost not to exceed $2,500. Accept the resignation of Hope Shaffer, concession stand employee. (It was noted that Gardening Day is scheduled for July 19 at the community park.)

It was announced during public comment that Panera Bread in Lebanon will provide 30 percent of all sales to the Fredericksburg Fire Company on July 24 between 4 and 8 p.m. 

The next meeting of Bethel Township supervisors is at 7 p.m. July 17 in the municipal building at 3015 S. Pine St., Fredericksburg.