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North Annville Township supervisors unanimously gave conditional approval Monday to a land development plan for a poultry operation expansion on Valley Glen Road.
In other moves, supervisors also announced a public meeting in September to consider implementation of a new ordinance regulating data centers within the municipality.
Land development plans
The conditional approval is contingent upon receipt of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, which is designed to help control water pollution by limiting point-source discharges into surface waters.
Tim Nolt of Nolt Engineering said the property at 7200 Valley Glen Road is about 42 acres and has two existing poultry barns, meaning it’s already in agricultural use.
“This proposed project would add a third barn and will result in land disturbance of about 4.2 acres, and additional impervious cover of approximately 60,000 square feet. So that additional impervious cover, the runoff, we can make back to this proposed infiltration basin,” Nolt told supervisors.
He added that all comments provided by the county engineer and Lebanon County Conservation District have been addressed by the property owner.
“We expect, you know, probably within the next week or two, we will be able to secure the NPDES permit for this project. So we’re requesting approval of the land development plan condition on the receipt of the NPDES permit for the land disturbance,” Nolt added prior to a unanimous vote to approve the request.
Township solicitor Paul Bametzreider said the county had sent a letter saying the plan merits approval.
“They (county officials) do not mention a conditional approval relative to the NPDES permit that I’m reading here in this letter, but nevertheless, since Mr. Holt is raising that as something that needs to be conditioned, I would recommend that you approve it subject to a final approval of an NPDES permit,” Bametzreider advised.
In another matter, supervisors agreed to approve a land development plan for a project on the north side of Heilmandale Road. The location has no fixed address, according to Nolt, who also presented that plan to supervisors.
“So this is a land development plan for Ronald and Brenda Merkel. It’s the north side of Heilmandale Road, not too far from here, kind of the northeastern portion of the township near Sycamore Spring,” Holt said. “The project includes proposed house, driveway extension, off of Heilmandale Road, new septic system, new well and subsurface infiltration. The property’s currently vacant.”
Nolt added that the project would “result in 1.58 acres of land disturbance and approximately 10,000 square feet of new impervious cover. … We have secured the HOP (highway occupancy permit) for the driveway from PennDOT and we have the NPDES permit in hand for this one.”
Prior to a unanimous vote, Bametzreider said county officials have also made a recommendation for approval of this project.
Data center ordinance
During the planning commission report, it was noted that a proposed data center ordinance would be ready for presentation to township officials on Monday, Sept. 14. Bametzreider received permission to publish two public notices – as required by law – announcing the special session to gather public comment on the proposed ordinance.
Following the special session, township officials will either approve or vote down the measure during their regularly scheduled meeting.
The township planning commission has been working for months on an ordinance to regulate placement of data centers within the municipality. The proposal has been reviewed by Lebanon County Planning officials and returned to supervisors for a vote.
Other township business
In other business, supervisors voted unanimously to.
- Approve the July 13 meeting minutes and treasurer’s report, which includes an ending balance for all township funds totaling over $1.92 million.
- Accept the police report, including 103 numbers being pulled over the past month, five motor vehicle accidents, seven car burglaries on Hill Church Road and Long Lane, 29 highway citations, and two traffic details. Twelve no parking citations were issued along Valley Glen Road, which was changed in July to prohibit cars from parking on township property along that stretch of roadway.
- Accept the North Annville Fire Company #1 monthly report, including 21 fire incidents, six fire police incidents, both totaling 110.37 man hours. Other activities: seven training sessions, two PR events, two work details, 11 administrative duties, and three meetings. The non-fire calls totaled 47 man hours. It was also announced the fire company will hold a boot fundraiser on Sept. 12 at Clear Spring Road and U.S. Route 422. Additionally, the new fire engine was delivered Monday from Louisiana, with next steps being graphics and tool mounting, meaning it’ll be in the station in a few weeks for training.
- Ask residents to write letters to the Department of Environmental Protection concerning draft permits for biosolids producers to prevent PFAS (forever chemicals) from ending up on farm fields. (More information is on the township’s website.)
- Award a contract totaling $16,750 to William Orr & Sons of Jonestown to move guide rails on Cedar Run Road. The other bid was from Green Acres Contracting of Scottsdale for $17,875.
- Announce the zoning hearing board will hold a hearing for a proposed project on Weaber Street on Monday, Aug. 17, at 6:30 p.m. in the social hall of the former Union Water Works Fire Company, 2875 Water Works Way, Annville.
- Inform residents that roadway bank mowing would take place this week, and that North Weaber and North Mill streets will be closed Tuesday through Friday afternoon this week by the railroad to replace the rail on the roadways. Traffic will be detoured on Center Street.
- Read and approve the paying monthly bills.
Next meeting
North Annville Township supervisors meet the second Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the social hall of the former Union Water Works Fire Company, 2875 Water Works Way, Annville.
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