HARRIS TOWNSHIP

Planning Commission

Minutes – February 18, 2002

7:00PM

Members Present: Dan Duffy - Chairman, Bob Potter - Vice-Chairman, Paul Weener, and Ron Buckalew.

Others Present: Tom Miller - Township Manager; Todd Shea - Township Zoning & Ordinance Officer; Lori Cahill - Secretary; D.J. Liggett - CRPA; Van Winter, Randy Weaver, and Chris Dry - Boalsburg Fire Company; Dennis Hameister and Tom Yarner - Linden Hall.

A. CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Duffy called the meeting to order at 7:16 p.m.

B. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

Mr. Buckalew moved to approve the minutes with corrections. Vice-Chairman Potter seconded the motion: Ayes - 4, Nays - 0.

C. CITIZEN COMMENT

No Comments

D. PLANNING COMMISSION BUSINESS

1. REGIONAL FIRE PROTECTION REPORT

Chairman Duffy asked Mr. Miller, Mr. Shea, or Ms. Liggett to introduce what the Regional Fire Protection Report is about.

Ms. Liggett stated that she passed out a spiral-bound copy of the report to the Planning Commission Members and also a copy of the presentation made by the Fire Protection Committee to the General Forum and CRPC.

Ms. Liggett suggested going through the report to answer any questions that may come up. In addition, Ms. Liggett mentioned that the memo from Mr. Shea regarding his perspective on the report and the Planning Commission's report would be forwarded on to COG.

Ms. Liggett introduced Boalsburg Fire Chief Van Winter, a representative of the Fire Protection Committee, and one other person who was here, Supervisor Dennis Hameister, who was representing a public services committee member on the Fire Protection Committee.

Ms. Liggett explained that the committee has a number of members: Scott Fry from the Alpha Fire Company; Van Winter from the Boalsburg Fire Company; Dennis Hameister of Harris Township and Jim Roberts of Patton Township from the COG Public Services Committee; Max Gill from State College Borough Water Authority; Richard Harris from the College Township Water Authority; and Centre Region Fire Administrator, Walter Wise.

Ms. Liggett stated that the Fire Protection Committee was charged by the General Forum to look at local Ordinances, particularly in the area of Fire Protection with regard specifically to water supply and access and to identify any other areas in the Ordinances that might need to be updated to provide more adequate fire protection for residents of the Centre Region as well as Volunteer Fire Fighters fighting the fires.

Ms. Liggett stated when the committee first met they identified a number of areas they would like to look at, one was access to properties, fire lanes, spacing and placing of fire hydrants, and the responsibilities of the fire chief that he or she signs off on development plans.

Ms. Liggett stated that several different fire companies serve Centre Region Municipalities: primarily the Alpha and Boalsburg Fire Companies. Port Matilda Fire Company serves Halfmoon, and the Warriors Mark Fire Company provides back up for a number of fire companies. Each of the fire companies provides back up for one another depending on the size of the fire involved.

Ms. Liggett stated that there are 175 volunteer fire fighters, approximately, and that they respond to around 1,000 incidents annually.

Ms. Liggett drew attention to the "Existing Problems" page in the presentation. Fire Chief Van Winter took over the presentation at this point.

Chief Winter introduced himself, Randy Weaver, and Chris Dry, all representatives of the Boalsburg Fire Company.

Chief Winter stated that the picture of the fire in the presentation was that of an issue of inadequate access for fire apparatus. The first engine that responded had a problem with the length of the lane being too long for the hose. Had to wait for more apparatus to reach hydrant to fight fire. Crew entered structure to do search and rescue, but had to leave because of inadequate water to fight fire. Whole back of house was totally destroyed.

Chief Winter stated there are two types of water supply systems for fire protection: (1) Community Water System which is any public or private water system that serves more than 15 homes or 25 residents. Fire hydrants are utilized for fire protection. Measured by gallons per minute. (2) Outside Community Water System which are areas utilizing wells for water supply and static water sources such as ponds and streams for fire protection. Measured by gallons of water.

Chief Winter stated that there are formulas to determine how much water is needed to extinguish a fire. Certain size houses are required to have a certain amount of gallons of water to extinguish.

Chairman Duffy asked Chief Winter if the formulas are based on worse case scenarios or on a typical fire.

Chief Winter replied that they are based on a typical fire.

Chief Winter stated that the Centre Region Fire Flow Calculation for Community Water System for one and two family dwellings is based on square footage of each floor, including garage and basement, and setbacks. An example is that a 2,700 square foot two-story dwelling with an attached garage would need a total fire flow of 650 gallons per minute.

Chief Winter reviewed the Recommendations for Developments Outside of Community Water Area. Water Supply is calculated using NFPA 1142 - Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting. There is a 4,000-gallon credit for water carried by fire department during initial response. 4,000 gallons of water can supply fire protection for a dwelling approximately 3,000 square feet; it should be able to extinguish a fire or at least contain it. Approved Rural Water Design, which is well water only, must be within 1,000 feet of any structure as apparatus travel - need two engines, one to pump and one to hold the water. The minimum storage capacity is 4000 gallons.

A question was asked whether the concept of storing 4,000 gallons is a new recommendation.

Chief Winter stated that it has been around for years and was incorporated into Patton Township regulations.

Chief Winter stated that the cost for installation of a 4,000-gallon capacity water storage tank would be $8 - 10,000.

Mr. Weener stated that he is not in favor of restricting the size of structures to be built.

In a motion by Mr. Weener, seconded by Mr. Buckalew and carried unanimously, Planning Commission members recommended that the Harris Township Board of Supervisors support the basic recommendations on water supply contained in the Report. Ayes - 4; Nays -0.

Chairman Duffy expressed concern about "how wide a net" Planning Commission members care to cast over the issue of fire protection as it will be contained in the final draft of the report.

Mr. Weener stated that the details of how these concepts will fit into ordinance form will come later and that Planning Commission members were showing support conceptually at this time.

Mr. Weener stated that there is no compelling reason to change from the street standards included in the draft amended street standards ordinance recently reviewed by Planning Commission members. He added that the Township doesn't need to design private roads for low probability events.

Upon a motion by Mr. Weener, seconded by Mr. Potter and carried unanimously, Planning Commission members recommended that the Harris Township Street Standards (revised), as proposed and forwarded to the Board of Supervisors January 2002, be used to guide street construction standards for Harris Township instead of the standards contained in the Regional Fire Protection Committee Report, and further Planning Commission members withhold recommendation on the number of residences allowed on a "single access street". Ayes - 4; Nays - 0.

Upon a motion by Mr. Buckalew, seconded by Mr. Weener and carried unanimously, Planning Commission members moved to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that the regulations relating to fire hydrant spacing, as contained in the Harris Township Subdivision Ordinance shall be retained and not be replaced by those included in the Regional Fire Protection Report. Ayes - 4; Nays - 0.

Upon a motion by Mr. Weener, seconded by Mr. Potter and carried unanimously, Planning Commission members moved to accept the Fire Lane Standards applicable to non-residential and multi-family residential uses as stated in the Regional Fire Protection Report. Ayes - 4; Nays - 0.

Upon a motion by Mr. Weener, seconded by Mr. Potter and carried unanimously, Planning Commission members moved to accept the recommendations of the Regional Fire Protection Report relating to the Fire Chief's review and signature of plans for development. Ayes - 4; Nays - 0.

It was the consensus opinion of the Planning Commission members present that the recommendations included in these motions be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors accompanied by a copy of the Harris Township Street Standards (revised).

E. REPORTS:

Zoning Permits:

January 2002 Permits were circulated.

CRPC:

Mr. Buckalew reported that on February 7, 2002 the Regional Fire Protection Report was presented to CRPC.

Village District Study Committee: Vice-Chairman Potter reported the Committee has been meeting and is trying to decide what elements to include in a draft report.

F. ADJOURNMENT.

Mr. Weener moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Buckalew. Chairman Duffy adjourned the meeting at 10:13 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

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Thomas C. Miller, Secretary/Treasurer