Planning Commission

The Halifax Township Planning Commission met on April 6, 2015, with Chairman Flo Mallonee presiding alongside members Dwight Hoffman, Randy Paul, and Fred Ford. Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky and Engineer Tom Wilson were also present. The commission addressed two land development matters and began reviewing potential changes to the township's stormwater management ordinance.

• Sheetz/Oak Avenue access changes approved unanimously: The commission approved revised site plans for the Sheetz development after PennDOT's Highway Occupancy Permit process identified sight distance problems. Oak Avenue at Route 225 will be restricted to right-in, right-out only — no left turns onto Route 225. Left-in turns from Route 147 are fully prohibited, and left-out turns onto Route 147 are restricted weekdays from 3:00–6:00 PM. Approval was contingent on resolution of the neighboring Lebo property's driveway arrangement, which will be split into two separately permitted driveways with a rear connection to preserve turning access.

• Paulvir lot line adjustment flagged as problematic — no action taken: Charles Paulvir asked to transfer a half-acre from an adjacent 1.5-acre parcel to his residential lot. Randy Paul pointed out this would shrink the donor parcel to one acre, making it nonconforming under the township's SALDO, which requires a minimum 1.5 acres for on-lot septic and water. Since septic approval was based on the 1.5-acre size, the reduced parcel could not be sold as a building lot. No motion was made.

• Stormwater ordinance revisions under discussion: Engineer Tom Wilson presented three options for updating the Stormwater Management section of the SALDO. The township currently operates under Option 1, and Wilson recommended Option 2, but commissioners gravitated toward Option 3 after discussion. No vote was taken; the matter remains in deliberation.