January 2022 e-Newsletter |
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Lower Gwynedd Township Upcoming Meetings & Events: |
January 3
January 10
January 12
January 13
January 19
January 24
*Meetings are held at the Township building located at 1130 N. Bethlehem Pike, Spring House. Please check the website to see if there are any changes to the meeting schedule. Calendar | Lower Gwynedd Township
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Curbside Christmas tree collection will be provided by Republic Services on the following Saturdays:
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Christmas Lights Recycling at Ingersoll Park
Holiday Lights
- Drop off your non-working holiday lights
- Look for the green & red recycling bin & deposit your lights to be recycled
Christmas Trees
- Christmas trees, free from all decorations/tinsel can be dropped off at Ingersoll Park following the holidays
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Citizen Request Portal To Launch! |
Lower Gwynedd Township is launching a new Citizen's Request Portal (CRP)! Lower Gwynedd's CRP is a new tool available on our website where citizens can report issues they may encounter within the Township. Once reported in the portal, the information will be synced with our internal data management system and a work order will be generated. This work order will be routed to the appropriate department for proper handling. The portal will allow for the uploading of photos and is operational from your mobile device. For more information on this new feature click here. Please be aware, this portal is for Township issues only, it is not to be used to report emergencies or police related issues.
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Township Welcomes Newly Elected Officials |
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Lower Gwynedd Township welcomed our newly elected officials who were sworn into office on Monday, January 3rd, 2022. Congratulations to Supervisors Janine Martin and Michael Twersky, Tax Collector Natalie Cormier, Auditor Emilia Silebi, and Constable Eric Rudolph.
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The Board of Supervisors also reorganized on January 3rd, 2022. Danielle Duckett was voted the new Chairperson and Michael Twersky was voted Vice Chair. Everyone agreed that they are looking forward to working together in the years ahead. Congratulations to all! |
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Elected Auditor, Emilia Silebi was sworn into office on January 3rd, 2022. |
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Constable Eric Rudolph was sworn into office on January 3rd, 2022. |
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Township Bids Farewell to Two Long-Time Supervisors |
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Supervisor Edward Brandt ended his term in office on December 31, 2021 after serving Lower Gwynedd Township for 35 years. Mr. Brandt also served on the Zoning Hearing Board for three years before becoming an elected official. He also has a long history with Lower Gwynedd Little League, and the Kiwanis Club of Ambler where he organized the annual 4th of July carnival and fireworks display. Mr. Brandt has been instrumental in the Township and his institutional knowledge, wisdom, dedication, and support will be missed. The Township Officials and Staff would like to extend our sincerest congratulations to Mr. Brandt and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. |
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Supervisor Mark Grey is the outgoing Chairman of the Lower Gwynedd Board of Supervisors. His term ended on December 31, 2021. Mr. Grey served as Township Supervisor for 12 years. He was also an active member on the Gwynedd Green Committee, which is now known as the Environmental Advisory Council. Mr. Grey has also been extremely involved with the Wissahickon Clean Water Partnership, which is a group of 13 municipalities and 4 wastewater treatment facilities working together to finalize a plan to clean-up the Wissahickon Creek. The Township Officials and Staff would also like to extend our sincerest congratulations to Mr. Grey and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. |
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Boards & Committee Updates |
The Lower Gwynedd BOS held their regular meeting on Tuesday, December 14th, 2021. The Wissahickon Fire Company presented a citation and blanket to Chairman Mark Grey and Supervisor Ed Brandt to thank them for their years of service and support of emergency management services. The BOS approved the 2022 Budget and Fiscal Plan with no tax increase. In other business, the BOS granted an extension to the approval resolution for the Goddard School Land Development as they wait for approvals from outside agencies, approved two administrative employment offers, and authorized the purchase of three new police vehicle laptops. The BOS also rejected all bids received for the HVAC replacement project at the Penllyn Woods Community Building. The bids came in much higher than anticipated and the project will be rebid at a later date. Mr. Brandt requested that the BOS consider preparing a resolution that would provide a monetary incentive to volunteer firefighters from the Wissahickon Fire Company and/or the North Penn Volunteer Fire Company residing in Lower Gwynedd Township. The BOS agreed to prepare a resolution in 2022 with the specific details of how the incentive will be provided. Mr. Brandt and Mr. Grey gave parting speeches and encouraged the current supervisors and welcomed the incoming supervisors. Everyone thanked Mr. Grey and Mr. Brandt for their service, direction, knowledge, mentoring, and friendship. They also wished them well in their future endeavors.
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The EAC held their regular meeting in December. The EAC revised their internal bylaws and discussed their 2022 initiatives. The EAC would like to focus on activities that are visible and helpful to residents. These activities will be focused in areas of land stewardship, water stewardship, resource conservation, and public outreach. The EAC is working on a tree giveaway program, highway litter cleanup program, waterway signage, waste reduction including better recycling and getting rid of single-use plastics and renewable energy demonstrations.
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The ZHB will meet on January 13th, 2022 to hear the following applications:
January Hearings
900 North Bethlehem Pk: D-Business District; Applicant seeks variance to permit three signs and a total signage area exceeding 40 square feet; and to permit signage higher than applicable building height limitations and higher than actual building upon which it is located; and any other relief deemed necessary for the signage at a new retail sales and farmers market located on this property. Applicant requested a continuance, hearing was rescheduled from December.
1 Gypsian Way: A-Residential District; Applicants seek variances and any other relief deemed necessary to permit a swimming pool, pool equipment, and a generator to be located within the front yard of an existing single-family dwelling.
1501 Cedar Hill Road: A-1 Residential District; applicants seek variances from side yard setbacks and flag lot access strip length requirements along with any other relief deemed necessary to facilitate a two-lot residential subdivision of their property.
December Hearings
801 Norristown Rd: A-1 Residential District; Applicant seeks variances for relief from the required lot area, lot width, and front and rear yard setbacks, and any other relief deemed necessary to facilitate the construction of a single-family dwelling on this parcel. Approved.
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(#20-04) 301 Norristown Road Land Development (Gwynedd Estates-Acts): Multi-family residential development that includes the addition of a new skilled nursing wing at the NE corner of the site and a reconfiguration of existing parking areas while also adding new parking and subsurface stormwater management facilities. Revisions were submitted and discussed at the October meeting. The applicant will comply with the conditions outlined in the letters. There will be an emergency access off of Tennis Avenue to the site. The applicant continues to work through sewer connection issues with Williams Pipeline. Issues regarding stormwater impacts to the adjacent property owner are under investigation. The applicant and adjacent property owner are working to resolve these issues. Status: Was not discussed at the December meeting. Remains under review.
(#21-03) 1612 N. Bethlehem Pike Land Development (Precision Watches & Jewelry): Non-residential commercial development of a 16,329 sq. ft. parcel located at 1612 N. Bethlehem Pike in the D-3 zoning district. The applicant proposes to construct a 2.5 story jewelry store and associated parking and other required improvements. The applicant's representatives showed renderings of the building as requested. It was explained that a cross-easement for additional parking spaces on the adjacent property owner's property will be prepared. Access to the site from Welsh Road will be through the Gwynedd Gate site, proper signage will be added to assist with the internal circulation of the site. Access from Route 309 will be right-in only. An underground detention basin will be installed for stormwater management. Status: This project was recommended for preliminary/final approval with conditions and will move onto the BOS for approval.
(#21-04) Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary Land Development (Gwynedd Mercy University Campus 1325 Sumneytown Pike): This project is a proposed land development of the Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary on the GMU campus. The plan proposes the consolidation of two parcels within the campus property and the addition of a new college residence hall with a chapel, new student life center, and a new maintenance building. Future plans for a gym and an additional building are also shown. The plans also provide for associated improvements including the reconfiguration and addition of parking facilities, new access drive, landscaping, and lighting. Two above-ground and one subsurface stormwater management facilities are also proposed. This project was introduced to the PC in December. Discussions about buffering around surrounding neighbors, lighting plans, overall capacity of buildings and campus, traffic studies, and timelines were among the various items covered. The applicants will make the necessary revisions and come back before the PC in the future. Status: Under review.
Property Maintenance Code: The proposed property maintenance code was circulated to the PC for review and feedback. Status: Not discussed. Remains under review.
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Lower Gwynedd Township welcomed a new Office Assistant, Jennifer O'Brien, in December. Jennifer supports the Building & Zoning Department and the Parks & Recreation Department. Jennifer came to the Township from Penn State University Abington Campus, where she worked as an Administrative Assistant. She resides in Abington Township with her husband and three children. Welcome Jen!
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The owner, occupant or tenant of any property fronting upon or alongside any of the streets in the Township shall remove or cause to be removed all snow and ice thereon fallen or formed, within ten hours after such snow and ice have ceased to fall or form. However, if the snow or ice has ceased to fall after 6:00 p.m., it may be removed at any time before 10:00 a.m. of the next day.
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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 February issue! |
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