Delaware Plaza Project Takes Step Forward
By: Kenneth Books
Pike County Dispatch – Thursday, November 5, 2015
DELAWARE TOWNSHIP-The proposed Delaware Plaza Shopping Center on Route 739 is one step closer to reality as township supervisors granted preliminary approval at a public hearing Wednesday, Oct. 28.
Attorney John T. Steih conducted a question-and-answer session with project engineer Joseph Hudak of Kiley Associates in which topics such as sewage treatment, infrastructure, traffic management, landscaping and impact to surrounding properties were addressed.
Hudak said only land development and conditional use approvals were being sought.
Sewage management will be handled by an on-site enclosed treatment facility, Hudak said, involving aeration and chlorination. The treated water will then be disposed of using a drip irrigation process that allows treated water to seep slowly to the roots of surrounding vegetation. Hudak said the PA. Dept. of Environmental Protection had already approved such a system
Underground retention ponds and monitoring wells will be used for storm water management, Hudak said. He stressed that streams and rivers will remained unchanged.
Hudak also noted that few surrounding wooded areas would be affected. Those on the rear of the property will be retained as a buffer between the center and residents.
The center is the brainchild of Centerpoint Properties of Atlanta, a firm that constructed such local commercial properties as Milford Landing (Staples), Westfall; Westfall Town Center (Kmart) and Lowe’s. The Center’s footprint will encompass 26 acres north of the current Dingman Medical Center, and include 77,000 square feet of commercial space. The developers anticipate the center will be home to a supermarket, a bank and three food service structures, as well as other retail outlets, Scuttlebutt has it that the supermarket will be a Weis, but neither Steih nor managing Centerpoint partner Charles Miller would confirm or deny the rumor.
Centerpoint will pay for a new traffic light at the entrance to the center, as well as highway access, Hudak said.
A groundbreaking is anticipated in the spring, he said.
During the public comment portion of the public hearing, Alan and Kimberly Alexander expressed concern about sewage treatment odors. Hudak said he anticipates that sewage would be rendered odorless.
Kathleen Henderson expressed concern about security at the center, worrying that it would attract drifters. Steih said the developers have no current plans to hire private security, noting that no such service was needed at the Westfall Township facilities.
But he had no answer when it was pointed out that Westfall is protected by a police department, while Delaware Township relies on PA. State Police from Blooming Grove.
In Another Matter
Dr. Trilby Tener raised the ire of the supervisors when she asked if supervisor chairman Thomas Ryan was receiving special favors from companies contracting with Delaware Township.
Tener noted that several firms that have contracts with the township also have worked on Ryan’s home, an implication that Ryan would not comment on. But both Supervisor Jeff Scheetz and Township Solicitor Tom Farley took umbrage at Tener’s implication.
“I think you’re suggesting some compensation for votes,” Farley said. “All the supervisors have to vote. No one supervisor has any more authority than any other”.
Farley called Tener’s comments “a little nasty” and “inappropriate.” Scheetz said he was “insulted by what you said.”
In Other Business
Supervisors authorized Kobalt Construction, Inc., for the Akenac Park septic system replacement project for $78, 000. The matter had been tabled at the Oct. 14 meeting when eight widely divergent bids were opened, but upon review by consulting engineer Boucher and James, Inc., the supervisors accepted Kobalt’s low bid.
The supervisors agreed to renew the township Worker’s Compensation policy with Amerihealth for $21,699, and to make final payment of $1,845.45 to Rutledge Excavating for the Akenac emergency access.
Supervisors renewed TruGreen service for the ball fields for 2016 at an annual $3,6000, which includes lawn service, lime application, and vegetation and grub control, and renewed TruGreen service for Akenac vegetation control for an annual $350.
A motion was approved to purchase kitchen equipment for the Akenac recreation hall from Singer Equipment Company for $54,590, using funds from the Monroe Legal Share Account. Jane Neufeld asked if the money in the grant was nearing an end and was told there is still roughly $180,000 left.
A donation of $2,500 to the Holy Trinity Food Pantry was approved, as was a disabled veterans real property tax exemption for Jackie T. Singer, 127 Pocono Circle Drive West.
The 2016 budget will be available for public inspection at the municipal building, 116 Wilson Hill Road, Dingmans Ferry, from Nov. 20 through Dec 21.Finally, it was announced that the November board of supervisors meeting scheduled for Nov. 11 and 25 have been canceled and rescheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 18. The workshop will take place at 5pm and the regular meeting at 6pm.