A sign and trail map can be seen at the entrance to Fischer’s Park in Towamencin in fall 2022.
A major step taken in July could help spell out the future of Towamencin for the next several decades.
The township supervisors have awarded a $140,000 contract to develop an updated township comprehensive plan.
“The board authorized a request for proposals for an update to the township’s comprehensive plan at our March 22nd meeting,” said Supervisors Chairman Chuck Wilson.
“The RFP was sent to 10 consultants with experience in preparing municipal comprehensive plans. On April 21st, two submissions were received,” he said.
Throughout the past two-plus years, the township’s supervisors and residents have debated the pending sale of Towamencin’s sewer system, with the elected officials arguing that sale proceeds could be used to pay down debt, lower taxes, and be invested to generate revenue that could then be used to tackle projects around the township. Sale opponents, in addition to passing a home rule charter they argue could stop the sale, have made the case that the township has no clear plan to spend those proceeds, and the last township-wide comprehensive plan update is now several decades old.
Since the sewer sale debate started, the township and its consultants have seen and fielded updates to a master plan for Veterans Park, located off of Allentown Road just west of Forty Foot Road, in late 2022 and a parks master plan in 2020-2021 spelling out additional facilities, amenities, and upgrades needed in each township park. The supervisors also heard a presentation in May 2023 looking at sidewalks throughout Towamencin and suggesting several links that could be added to increase pedestrian safety.
The next step came on Wednesday night when Wilson reported on the results of the earlier RFP: a $130,000 proposal was received from Philadelphia-based CHPlanning, and a $140,000 proposal from Simone Collins, the Norristown-based consultant that had done the prior parks and sidewalk studies for the township. Both presented details of their proposals to the township’s planning commission on July 10, Wilson announced on July 26.
“I would note the board was also invited to attend that meeting as well, to see the presentation, rather than have the applicants come out twice,” he said.
“The planning commission is recommending the board consider selecting Simone Collins, based on their presentation and the familiarity they have with their previous work produced for the township,” Wilson said.
Supervisor Laura Smith then made a motion to award the contract, supervisor Rich Marino seconded, and the board approved with no further discussion. The board also voted ahead two items that could appear on such a plan: a proposal for engineering services to develop plans for a soccer field at Green Lane Park, and a proposal for upgrades to Fischer’s Park that could include more parking, new pickleball courts, and a new pavilion.
Design manual update gets OK
The supervisors also approved advertising an update to the township’s Village Overlay design manual, which sets out specifications for the types of fixtures and furnishings that can be used in the designated area near the intersection of Forty Foot Road and Sumneytown Pike.
“Lighting standards will now require LED fixtures, and may include additional fixture choices depending on the fixture’s location noted on the property site map, such as interior parking lot lights,” Wilson said.
“In addition, the standard bench outlined in the manual is no longer available, and a comparable model has been cited,” he said.
The township’s planning commission has vetted and recommended the update, and the supervisors did so as well, with supervisor Joyce Snyder moving Marino seconding, and a unanimous vote approving.
Chicken code tabled
One long-discussed item did not secure approval: a long-discussed code update to allow residents to keep backyard chickens was withdrawn from the board’s agenda.
“This item is not ready for action this evening. Is there a motion to table this matter?” Wilson said.
Towamencin officials first held talks about allowing residents to keep chickens on their properties back in 2017 after a resident requested the board consider modifying local codes to do so. Similar talks were held in Lansdale and North Wales Boroughs at the time, and Towamencin sent the topic to their planning commission. In May Towamencin’s supervisors reported that the township’s planning commission was close to finalizing a draft code for board consideration, and an authorization to advertise an ordinance allowing them was on the board’s agenda until the unanimous vote to table it.
Supervisor Laura Smith made that motion, before explaining why: “I just want everybody to know, we’re getting there. It just wasn’t right. So when it’s right, we’ll get it moving,” she said.
Fire company requests could be addressed in budget
The July meeting also contained a hint as to several topics that’ll be discussed by the board this fall, when talks on the township’s 2024 budget begin. In his finance committee report, Wilson reported that that group held talks in mid-July with members of the Towamencin Volunteer Fire Company, to discuss what he termed current issues and “potential future needs.”
The fire company also asked the township to consider increases to incentive programs meant to attract and retain volunteers, instead of hiring full-time fire personnel.
“Towamencin Township was an early adopter of an incentive program, but it has fallen behind its peer companies in recent years,” Wilson said.
The talks between fire company and staff also raised the topic of hiring a full-time township fire marshal, “as the lack of a full-time position leads to additional work” for the volunteer members of the fire company, Wilson said.
“We agreed to bring up both of these issues at the budget hearings this fall, and for the full board to discuss those at that time,” he said.
Towamencin’s supervisors next meet at 7 p.m. on Aug. 9 at the township administration building, 1090 Troxel Road. For more information visit www.Towamencin.org.
This article appears courtesy of a content share agreement between North Penn Now and The Reporter. To read more stories like this, visit www.thereporteronline.com.
See also:
Details, Timeline For New Hatfield Police Station Unveiled At Township Meeting
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White's Road Park Receives PECO Open Space Grant
