Planning Meeting Minutes

PENNSBURG BOROUGH PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday, August 19, 2025 - 7:00 P. M. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P. M. by Kris Squiccimara. Other Planning Commission members present were GuiseppeTalese and WayneStevens. CharlesShaggattended by phone. Also present this evening was Borough Solicitor Mark Hosterman, Borough Engineer Joshua Seeherman, and Administrative Assistant Jennifer Long. A nomination for Wisler Peartstine for Planning Solicitor was made by Stevens, seconded by Squiccimara and unanimously approved. A nomination for Kris Squiccimarafor Chairmanwas made by Stevens, seconded by Shaggand unanimously approved. A nomination for Charles Shagg for Vice-chairman was made by Stevens, seconded by Squicdmara and unanimously approved. A motion was made by Shaggto approve the minutes ofthe July 16, 2024 PlanningCommission meeting. The motion was seconded by Stevens and unanimously approved. Mr. Shaggasked ifthe PennsburgOral Surgerycenter completed outstanding items. Mr. Hosterman stated the applicant has not updated any items since the last meeting. NEW BUSINESS Perkiomen School - Pickleball and Hardscape Areas Mark Devy, Perkiomen School and ZacharyRanstead,T&M Associates, are present this evening. A plan amendment/newapplication is before the commission.This is building upon the New Residential Life plans. Shultz Hall andtennis courts were demolished, and impervious surfaces were reduced. A recreation area was proposed including a pickleball court, fully in Pennsburg Borough. Dueto the proximity, it is pitched towardsthe traffic circle and landscapewill be added. Runoff will go into an existing stormwater system. Underground stone bed under the playground will connect into the existing system leading to rain garden and end in the wetland area. Montgomery County Conservation District has not offeredtheir review, but it is expected any day. The Borough will be copied on the correspondence. The Student Center is built, smaller by one foot. The recording of the original plans is in progress. Mr. Seeherman discussed the Remington Vernick Engineer review letter dated August 12, 2025. Overall, RVE understands this is not a large change and the storm implications are not significant. Most ofthe comments in the review letter are from Section 96 that need to be on the plan set in order for the Planning Commission to move forward. The wall proposed around the pickleball court needsto have more details added. Mr. Seeherman asked if there was a new walkwayto the basketball court. Yes.The line types needto be cleaned up. The steep section may need to be ADA compliant. Drainageclarificationsneedto be madesurroundingthe pickleball court. Mr. Seeherman stated what was presented was not complete enough for RVE to recommend approval to the board at this time. He is confidentthat the next submission would be correct these items. Mr. Ranstead stated the Perkiomen School will comply but was surprised recommendationswill not be madetonight. Mr. Hosterman stated the plans should show the details requested. The Planning Commission agreed. Mr. Hosterman reviewed Wisler Pearlstine letter dated August 18, 2025. He asked if additional refuse collection was goingto be supplied. Mr. Ranstead stated it is adjacentto existing dumpsters; this detail will need to be added as a Zoning requirement. Mr. Hosterman stated lightingdetail for the pickleball court needsto be shown. Mr. Ransteadstated there is no lighting for the courts or playground as they will be dawn to dusk. Pathway lighting should be shown on the plans. Mr. Devyasked if addinglighting later would pose an issue. Mr. Hosterman stated lighting should be added nowor the PlanningCommission would needto meet again as lighting usually causes issues with neighboring residents. The Perkiomen School has been directed to contactthe Borough if lightingis added later. Landscapedetails need to be shown. Mr. Hosterman asked if these will be open to the publicorjustfor students. They are only open to the student community. Existingparking is sufficient asthe public is not permitted to use the facilities. The Applicant stated the Perkiomen School will comply with all SALDOcomments. Any waivers can be requested after details are addedto the plans. Mr. Ranstead stated parking needs are static. There is no changein population. In the Wisler Pearlstine review, it states Trafficand Borough Plannerand ZoningOfficerreviews, which are not required for this project. He will follow up with the Montgomery County Conservation District before resubmitting. Mr. Stevensstated that the Montgomery County PlanningCommission noted that the pickleball courts are close to the school building and asked if noise interferes with classes. Mr. Devey said the courts are meant for afternoon and evening, not during class hours. Mr. Stevens is concerned about the stormwater. He also stated Red Hill Borough and Upper Hanover Township have complaints about the noise from the new pickleball courts. East Greenville Borough may feel the same. Mr. Ranstead stated the nearest residence is over 700 feet, there will also be a landscaping buffer. Mr. Stevens stated there is a note on the MCPC review regarding high voltage boxes. Mr. Ranstead stated this is existing and there is a secure fence surroundingthe transformer. Mr. Seeherman asked Mr. Ransteadto add detailsto the plans. Mr. Stevens asked the age range of kids playing. It is children of faculty members. Mr. Devey does not have anyconcerns regardingthis area. Mr. Stevens requested visual dividers. Mr. Hosterman asked for clarification on the status of the plans being recorded. Mr. Ranstead stated the plans are not technically recorded, the County needsto signthem, and the plans need to be reduced in size. Mr. Hosterman stated he needs to be kept up to date on the status and offered to assist in the recording process. Mr. Ranstead will comply with MCPC landscape suggestions. At this time, the Planning Commission took no action. The Commission will wait for a resubmission from the applicant. Games of Skill - Draft Ordinance Review Mr. Hosterman stated Games of Skill showed up in Pennsburg Mart, who received a Notice of Violation by the Code Officer. Pennsburg Mart filed to appeal the violation and there was a hearingbefore the ZoningHearingBoard. The Zoning Hearing Board felt that the machines may be used as an accessory use, not a primary use. This ordinance will help put litigation to rest. It will allow Games of Skill as an accessory use in a convenience store or restaurant with 30 or more seats for patrons. Permits will be issued at $100.00 per machinewhichwill require various information. It does not need to be renewed annuallyjust licensed initially. Enforcement and penalties are also written within the ordinance. Part ofthe agreement is that Pennsburg Mart will comply with this ordinancewith their current 4 machines. Borough Council wants to limit the number of machines. The Zoning Solicitor stated this is a growing trend. A motion was made byStevensto recommend to Borough Council to adopt the ordinance.The motion was seconded by Squiccimara, and unanimously approved. OLD BUSINESS None There being no further business to come before the Planning Commission, a motion was made by Squiccimara to adjourn the meetjng^TS^Q P. M. submit JenlcliferA. Long] Administrative Assistant