Middletown Council Tables Pond’s Edge Ordinance

Middletown Township Council tabled a vote on an ordinance to amend the conservation easement regarding the Pond's Edge Development on Monday night, but it approved preliminary plans for a subdivision on Old Forge Road and a final land development plan to expand the parking lot of the Media Congregation of Jehovahs’ Witnesses.

Pond’s Edge Development

Councilwoman Lorraine Bradshaw said the agenda item to consider amending an ordinance to modify an existing land conservation easement for the Pond’s Edge development on Baltimore Pike was being tabled until council meets on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.

Township Manager Bruce Clark said the reason the matter was being tabled was because the applicant was still working with council on developing a draft of the ordinance.

Council voted in August to amend the existing land conservation easement, reducing the conservation easement setback from 200 feet to an "average" 80-foot buffer with a 60-foot minimum.

Earlier this month, council approved the introduction of the ordinance, which will create the language to explain the easement amendment and how the "average" 80-foot buffer will work.

Subdivision Proposed for Old Forge Road

In other township business, council unanimously approved the preliminary plans for a five-lot subdivision at 476 Old Forge Rd.

The applicant, Brasalind Inc., proposed to subdivide the property into five new building lots, said Gustave Houtmann of G.D. Houtman & Son, Inc., a civil engineering and land surveying firm representing the applicant.

However, because of a sewer moratorium—which is being imposed on the township by the state Department of Environmental Protection—the applicant initially plans to build homes only on Lots 1 and 3, until the moratorium is lifted and public sewer is available for Lots 2, 4 and 5, Houtmann said. Lot 1 would utilize the existing septic system, Houtmann said.

The original dwelling on the property burned down several years ago and the structure was recently removed, Houtmann said.

A new house will be built on Lot 1, but the original home’s existing driveway and garage will be incorporated, Houtmann said.

Lot 3, where the other house will be built, would use a temporary septic system, Houtmann said.

Councilman Mark Kirchgasser said he wanted everyone to understand that the township is “working vigorously” on how it could bypass the sewer moratorium. Kirchgasser also disclosed that he is an adjoining property owner to the proposed subdivision but he said he has “no interest” in the development.

He said he had consulted with legal counsel and was told his recusal from the matter was not required.

Parking Expansion Approved for Worship Hall

Council also unanimously approved the final land development plan for the Media Congregation of Jehovahs’ Witnesses at 331 N. Middletown Road.

The congregation plans to extend the parking aisle by adding 35 new parking bays for a total of 87 parking spaces in the lot, said Anthony John Hibbeln, a professional engineer for Hibbeln Engineering Company, who is representing the applicant.

There will be no changes to the worship hall building, the frontage, or access to and from the parking lot, Hibbeln said.