Upper Nazareth Township Meetings

Upper Nazareth Supervisor’s Meeting – February 21, 2024

ANNOUNCEMENTS/EVENTS

There is an open position on the Recreation Board. Residents who’d like to serve should send a Letter of Interest to the Township Office.

There is an open position on the Environmental Advisory Committee. Residents who’d like to serve should send a Letter of Interest to the Township Office.

March 23^rd – Annual Easter Egg Hunt at 12 Noon at the UNT Fire Station, 25 Newport Avenue

June 22^nd – Free movie night at Tuskes Park

August 24^th – Free movie night at Tuskes Park

November 29^th – Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Township Municipal Building

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR

A Tatamy Road resident asked for an update on Stormwater management in his area. The Engineer reported that the investigation is ongoing.

He also asked about the trial with Faust Family Limited Partnership suing to take the land of the paper roads that border the property on 55 W 4^th Street and was told the Judge would be issuing a verdict in approximately 4 weeks. * A description of the trial is included at the end of this blog.

SUPERVISORS COMMENTS

Scott Sylvainus said Supervisors continue to work on the following issues: the Faust Family Limited Partnership lawsuit, flooding in the Farmview Estate neighborhood, issues with the gate on 4^th Street, parking around the High School and rezoning.

TOWNSHIP ENGINEER

The Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) plan for the signal at the Rail Road Crossing on Gun Club Road is in its final form. Supervisors will be able to approve it after the 20 day review.

TOWNSHIP MANAGER

Approval for the Eastern Suburban Water Authority (ESWA) to add a Fire Hydrant at 946 and Georgetown Road. Once installed, the township will have to pay a quarterly fee of $65.

Approval by a vote of 4-to-1 to pay up to $3,000 for Carroll Engineering to prepare a quote for the Municipal Building Renovations so the township can apply for a grant. If awarded, the grant could provide between $250,000 to $1 million for the project. (Brian Sayago voted against).

PLANNING & ZONING

Approval for an Extension to June 20, 2024 for the review of the Penn Dixie Commercial Park

Approval for an Extension to September 30, 2024 for the Nazareth Boro Yard Waste and Recycling Drop-Off Facility on Gracedale Avenue.

MS-4 STORMWATER

Revisions to the Storm Water Management plan are almost ready to be distributed to the Supervisors. It includes an ordinance concerning animal waste.

The Fieldview Plan is out for review.

Designs for basins at Tewksbury and Sycamore are finished.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Approval to accept a resignation from a part-time officer effective June 20, 2024.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Approval of Resolution No. 24-07 – the Upper Nazareth Township Emergency Operations Plan.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The EAC, with the Monacacy Watershed Association, plans to do a Livestate Workshop on March 16^th where they will harvest branches from native shrubs around the stream that runs through Gracedale and propagate them at the creek at Route 946 and Penn Allen Road, helping to establish a Riparian Buffer.

Becky Bartlett covers these meetings because citizens have a right to know what their government is doing.

PROPERTY LAWSUIT

The Faust Family Limited Partnership court case was held on February 12, 2024 in Courtroom #2, Judge Abe Kassis presiding. Several residents of Farmview Estates and Mt. Vernon attended.

Here are a few details.

Faust Family Limited Partnership, represented by Attorney Kovacs, is trying to claim legal title to the paper streets around Faust’s 55 W 4th Street Property (Mt. Vernon East Apartment Buildings). A paper street is one that appears on the map but hasn’t been developed yet. The three areas at issue are:

· West Street (runs north/south, parallel to Industrial Drive, along the west side of the property)

· 2nd Street (runs from Mt. Vernon to the west end of the property)

· Wood Avenue (runs north/south, parallel to Mt. Vernon on the east side of the property)

The verdict will determine if local residents can continue to have access to the paper roads.

UNT Township Solicitor Gary Asteak addressed the court, explaining that the township has no interest in these streets as they were never dedicated and the township has never maintained them.

Troy Faust was asked if he was seeking to claim the paper streets so he could build another apartment building. He initially said ‘no’ then said he wasn’t sure if he would put in another set of apartments or not.

William and Becky Bartlett testified to regularly using the right-of-ways on 2nd Street and West Street to walk their dogs since they became aware of the public access in the initial lawsuit Faust Family Limited Partnership filed in 2018. They also reported seeing kids use the area.

A resident on Mt. Vernon’s, whose yard abuts both the 2nd Street and Wood Ave paper roads said that she and her neighbors have maintained those areas for the last 20-40 years. Also, residents use that section of 2nd Street for parking as there is no parking on Mt. Vernon.

The judge asked the lawyers to send him their written arguments in the next two weeks and he will render his decision sometime after that.