December 2023 e-Newsletter | |
Lower Gwynedd Township Upcoming Meetings & Events: | |
For the 11th time, Lower Gwynedd Township honored America’s veterans, on Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11th, at an 11:00 a.m. ceremony, held at the Township’s Veterans Memorial Park, in Spring House. Noting the significance of the date, time and ceremony anniversary in his remarks opening the ceremony, ceremony keynote speaker, Retired Navy Rear Admiral Steven Yusem, explained that the Veterans Day holiday commemorates the end of World War 1 hostilities, 105 years ago, at the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The ceremony was a success. To read more about the ceremony click here. | |
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Republic Services Holiday Schedule and Rate Increase as per Contract
Republic Services will operate under a holiday collection schedule the week of Christmas and New Year's. There will be no trash or recycling collection on Monday, December 25th or Monday, January 1st. Collection will take place on Tuesday, December 26th and Friday December 29th during the week of Christmas. Collection will take place on Tuesday, January 2nd and Friday, January 5th during the week of New Year's. Also, please be aware that we are operating under the fourth year of the trash collection contract with Republic Services. Effective November 1st the rates increased to $93.32 per quarter as per the approved contract.
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Republic Services Fall Leaf & Yard Waste Collection
Republic Services will provide curbside leaf and yard waste collection on Saturday, December 2nd and Saturday, December 16th, 2023. Please put your leaves and yard waste in biodegradable bags and place them curbside by 6am on the day of the collection. This will be the final collection of the year.
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Republic Services will provide two curbside Christmas tree recycling opportunities as per the contract. These pick-up dates are scheduled for Saturday, January 6th, 2024, and Saturday, January 20th, 2024. You can also bring your Christmas trees to Ingersoll Park following the holidays. The Township Public Works Department will chip these trees for use in the community parks. | | |
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EAC Christmas Lights Recycling- December 1, 2023-January 31, 2024; Ingersoll Park
Holiday Lights
- Drop off your non-working holiday lights at Ingersoll Park
- Look for the green & red recycling bin & deposit your lights to be recycled at Ingersoll Park
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Lower Gwynedd Honors Gloria Jones with a Lifetime Achievement Award | |
The Lower Gwynedd Board of Supervisors (BOS) presented a lifetime achievement award to resident, Gloria Jones, at their meeting on November 28, 2023. Gloria was recognized for her service volunteering for Lower Gwynedd and writing the history of Penllyn. The BOS extended their appreciation for Gloria's years of loyalty and dedicated service to our community. Chair Danielle Duckett expressed her gratitude for Gloria stating, "You are a personal example of leadership, commitment and service." Congratulations Gloria!
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The Board of Supervisors conducted a public hearing at their regular meeting on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. This hearing was continued from the prior meeting of November 14th, 2023. The hearing was held in order to consider whether to amend the Voluntary Declaration of Conservation Easement dated September 19, 1994, for Penllyn Woods, to permit the Township to lease a portion of the Property to Rise Up Towers LLC, and the installation of a cell tower and associated equipment within the leased area. At the request of the BOS, Rise Up provided additional testimony regarding the environmental clearances required for the installation of cell phone towers. Following the conclusion of testimony, Board Chair Danielle Duckett made a motion to approve the proposed amendment to the conservation easement. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Tessie McNeely and the motion passed with Supervisor Mike Twersky recusing himself. This is one step in a lengthy process to move forward with the installation of cell phone towers to satisfy an overwhelming need throughout the entire Township.
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Comprehensive Plan-Last Chance to Take Survey- Share Your Vision for Lower Gwynedd!
Lower Gwynedd Township is in the process of drafting a new comprehensive plan, and we want to hear from you! The plan will provide a vision for the future of the township and a framework for the management of development in the township over the next 20 years. Your opinion is important to help us understand the issues that are most important to you both in your neighborhood and at the township-wide scale.
If you live, work, shop, or otherwise spend time in Lower Gwynedd, we invite you to complete the community survey, and let us know your thoughts! The Survey will close at the end of December.
Please share this survey with your friends and neighbors:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LGwynCompPlan
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With the new year approaching, we're putting out a reminder to submit a volunteer application if you have an interest in serving on a Township committee. There are currently several vacancies and additional ones that will become available as we get close to the end of the year, so submit an application today! We've made it easy and attached a link to the volunteer page of the Township website. You can complete the application online or you can download it, complete it, and send it in. Applications remain on file for a period of two years. As vacancies become available, we review these applications for possible appointment to a committee.
Volunteer Application Link
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Did you register yet for spring baseball? Perfect day to get it done, don’t put it off, check that box on your list. Go to lgbaseball.com and get it done! | |
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As the cold weather arrives, please follow these guidelines this winter to help cut down on road salt pollution of our waterways, which is a growing threat internationally and locally to drinking water, agriculture and plant and animal life:
- Shovel early and often. Removing snow before it turns to ice means you will need less salt (maybe none!) and what you do use will be more effective.
- Consider an ice scraper to break up ice that’s already formed.
- Apply only what’s needed. Only sprinkle salt on icy areas and don’t use more than necessary: a 12-ounce mug holds enough for a 20 ft driveway or 10 sidewalk squares. If you hear the crunch when you walk on it, you’ve used too much.
- If you are concerned about traction, use a small amount of sand (not too much!) on icy patches, especially if it is too cold for de-icers to be effective.
- Keep salt away from storm drains or areas where melted runoff can mix with salt and then flow into a storm drain.
- Reposition downspouts to point away from hardened surfaces so that if snow melt refreezes, it won’t require de-icing.
- Look for safer alternatives to rock salt. Remember, though, that most commercial de-icers are some form of salt, even if they are somewhat less harmful than rock salt.
Mark your calendar for these upcoming EAC events:
Wednesday, December 13th 8:30am – Bird Walk @ Penllyn Woods (meet in front of the community building). Please email contactus@lowergwynedd.org be added to the email list in case of a cancellation and for reminders about upcoming walks.
Friday, December 1, 2023 – Wednesday January 31, 2024 – Holiday Light Recycling @ Ingersoll Park, Wister Rd. Penllyn. Look for the red and green recycling bin to deposit non-working strands of holiday lights so they can be recycled.
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Departmental Round-Up:
Building & Zoning
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Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB)
The Zoning Hearing Board met on November 9th, 2023. Their next hearing is scheduled for December 13th, 2023.
November Hearings- November 9th, 2023
1070 Peterman Lane: A-Residential District: Applicant seeks a variance to permit a shed within a side yard setback. (Decision only-Denied)
901 Forest Drive: A-Residential District: Applicant seeks a variance to permit an inground swimming pool and associated improvements to encroach into the required riparian buffer area on the property. (Approved with modification of plans)
300 Brookside Avenue: F-Industrial District: Applicant appeals the Zoning Officer's determination that the Zoning Ordinance does not permit a storage facility on the property. (Continued-rescheduled to December).
December Hearings- December 13, 2023
300 Brookside Avenue: F-Industrial District: Applicant appeals the Zoning Officer's determination that the Zoning Ordinance does not permit a storage facility on the property.
1116 West Welsh Road: A-1 Residential District: Applicant request variances to allow a 16-foot side yard setback where a minimum of 45 feet is required; and to allow 32.83% impervious surface coverage where a maximum of only 25% is permitted, for a single-family dwelling addition upon real property.
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Land Development & Subdivision:
Under Review:
- #23-03 LD- Gwynedd Mercy University Francis Maguire Innovation Center- Land development application to construct a 70,000 square foot two-story nursing center and associated improvements on their campus located at 1325 Sumneytown Pike. To be discussed at a future PC meeting. Under review.
Approved:
- #23-04 LD- Spring House Innovation Park (SHIP) Building 14 Parking Lot Expansion & Electric Substation- Land development application to construct a 1,942 square foot electrical substation and add a parking lot at Building 14 on their campus located at 727 Norristown Road. Approved October 10, 2023.
- #23-07 LL- 1304 Gypsy Hill Road Lot Line Adjustment- Lot line adjustment of two residential properties in AA Residential Zoning District. Land conveyance only with no proposed construction improvements. Plans propose to convey approximately 0.78 acres from lot 2 to lot 1. Recommended for approval at PC meeting on September 20, 2023. Approved November 14, 2023.
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Administration- 2024 Proposed Budget & Fiscal Plan
The proposed 2024 Budget and Fiscal Plan is available for public inspection between the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday, except holidays, at the Lower Gwynedd Township Municipal Building. You can also find the electronic version linked here. The budget will be scheduled for action by the Board of Supervisors at their December 12th, 2023, regular meeting. The budget is balanced with no proposed tax increase.
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Building & Zoning- Permit Reminder
The B&Z Department would like to remind residents that permits are required to erect, construct, enlarge, add to, alter, repair, replace, improve, remove, install, or maintain any structure or building. This includes accessory buildings such as pools, garages or carports, decks (over 30 inches off of the ground), etc. Check out our website to find out what other permits are required!
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Lower Gwynedd Township
1130 North Bethlehem Pike
Spring House, PA 19477
Phone: (215) 646-5302
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Keep an eye out for our January issue! | | | | |
