January 2024 e-Newsletter

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Lower Gwynedd Township Upcoming Meetings & Events: 

January 10

EAC Meeting-7pm

January 11

Zoning Hearing Board-6pm

January 15

Martin Luther King Jr. Day-Offices Closed

January 16

Parks & Recreation Board Meeting-6pm

January 17

Planning Commission Meeting-7pm

January 20

Curbside Christmas Tree Collection-6am

January 20

EAC Battery Recycling & Techno Trash-9am-11am

January 23

Board of Supervisors Meeting-7pm

January 30

EAC Bird Walk-Treweryn Farm Trail Park-8:30 am

Lower Gwynedd Township Welcomes Two New Elected Officials

Lower Gwynedd Township welcomed two new elected officials at the annual reorganization meeting held, Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024. Supervisor Jimmy Chong and Auditor Ron Amchin were officially sworn into office by the Honorable Edward Levine. Congratulations Jimmy & Ron!


Supervisor Danielle Duckett was elected Chair of the Board for a third year in a row. Supervisor Mike Twersky was also re-elected Vice Chair with Tessie McNeely, Janine Martin, and Jimmy Chong completing the board. The Board of Supervisors approved the slate of staff, professional consultants, and appointees to various boards and commissions as listed on the agenda linked below. In addition, they established the banking institutions, set the meeting calendar, approved the holiday schedule, and adopted the fee schedule.


January 2nd Re-Organization Meeting Agenda

And Says Farewell to Another...


The Lower Gwynedd Board of Supervisors recognized Supervisor Kathleen Hunsicker at their final meeting of the year on December 12th, 2023, for her 14 years of service to the Township as a Supervisor. Kathleen's term ended on December 31, 2023, and she did not seek re-election. Friends and colleagues gathered to honor Kathleen and to wish her well in the future. On behalf of the Lower Gwynedd Board of Supervisors and Staff, we thank Kathleen and wish her all the best!

General News


Christmas Tree Recycling


Republic Services will provide two curbside Christmas tree recycling opportunities as per the contract. These pick-up dates are scheduled for Saturday, January 20th, 2024, and Saturday, January 27th, 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.


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


Comp Plan-Transportation

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback at the open house and through survey responses. We're in the process of reviewing information gathered so far. The steering committee is currently focused on TRANSPORTATION issues in the Township. Nearly 70% of survey respondents drive to work and for daily errands, and 55% of survey respondents want to see new sidewalks and pedestrian safety improvements. What do you feel are the most important-related issues that the comprehensive plan should address? You can still share your thoughts by emailing them to jworman@lowergwynedd.org.

 

EAC Green Tip of the Month


Hundreds of packages were received last month during the holidays as people order gifts online. Many of these packages contain bubble wrap, packing peanuts and other materials that end up in the landfills. Before throwing the shipping materials or boxes in your trash look at various ways to reuse (ideally) or recycle (as a second choice). Or even better, in the future, do as much of your gift shopping locally so no shipping materials are needed getting the items to your home and there are savings on fuel/transportation costs!


  • Join a local Buy Nothing or Pay it Forward group on Facebook and offer up the materials – people are always moving and needing to pack up fragile items and would love to be gifted packing materials and boxes rather than buying new.
  • Many UPS stores will accept packing materials to reuse or recycle – check your local one to see what they may take back.
  • Check out GiveBackBox, where you can request a free shipping label for the shipping boxes you already have to make a donation of new or very gently used clothes, shoes, and accessories.
  • Styrofoam (clean and dry #6 material, typically found around electronics) can be recycled locally at Northeast Foam Recycling in Chalfont.

  

Mark your calendar for these upcoming EAC events (Listed in above calendar):

Tuesday, January 30th 8:30am Bird Walk @ Treweryn Farm Trail Park

Join Steven Saffier, Lower Gwynedd EAC member on this walk through the woods and around Lower Gwynedd’s hidden get - the reservoir and Treweryn creek. Waterfowl are possible, but the park is better known for woodpeckers, raptors, and songbirds. Meet in the parking lot at 1340 Sumneytown Pike, Lower Gywnedd (GPS: Ambler) Please RSVP to contactus@lowergwynedd.org

 

Departmental Round-Up:


Building & Zoning

Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB)

The Zoning Hearing Board met on December 13th and heard the following cases. They will meet on January 11th, 2024, to hear the applications listed below.


December Hearings- December 13th, 2023

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. (Decision Pending)


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 to January 11th, 2024)


January Hearings- January 11th, 2024

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. (Decision Only)



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.

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 PC meeting on January 17th, 2024. Under review.
  • #20-01LD-Janssen Permanent Parking Lot LD-Amended plan application requesting for the removal of one parking lot and replacement of a different parking lot that is a change from the originally approved plan. To be discussed at the PC meeting on January 17th, 2024. Under review.

Public Works Department


The Township's Public Works Department is responsible for plowing and salting of roads in Lower Gwynedd. Whenever roads are snow covered or icy, or the forecast calls for inclement weather, please move your vehicles out of the street and onto private driveways so that plowing and salting operations can be done safely and efficiently. Remember that during a snow emergency all vehicles must be removed from the roadways.



The Township plows all Township roads as soon as possible. The Township crews make at least two passes on each road and plow from curb to curb. There are over 40 miles of roadway for municipal crews to plow and each operator plows a set route. To avoid having your driveway plowed in with snow, wait until after the trucks pass to clear your driveway and/or shovel snow to the right side of the driveway, facing the road. This will help to reduce the amount of snow pushed back into your driveway during plowing. Do not throw snow from a sidewalk or driveway into the roadway.

If mailboxes have been inadvertently plowed in, the Township cannot go back and dig them out, as we cannot take the employees off the snow removal equipment to do that. It is very important that the roads be kept clear of snow and ice. State and county crew plow their own roads.

 Lower Gwynedd Township

1130 North Bethlehem Pike

Spring House, PA 19477

Phone: (215) 646-5302

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