The
Journal of the POCONO PLATEAU ©2022, All Rights Reserved
VOLUME 26, NUMBER 23
Late May, 2022
Tunkhannock Twp. supervisors honor memory of Bill Byron The Tunkhannock Township board of supervisors meeting on May 11 began with a special ‘thank you’ in memory of Bill Byron who recently passed away. Bill led the township’s EMA for over 16 years and was a devoted member of the community. His wife Miriel accepted a memorial plaque. Supervisors passed a resolution to use half of the American Rescue Plan 2021 funds for salaries, benefits,
and government services during the COVID period, and to cover any losses that occurred during that time. The other half was put in the general fund. Once the Township receives the final numbers for the proposed 2022-2023 insurance renewal costs from Brown and Brown (broker) and Selective insurance, a motion will be made to approve them. Claims are up $5,000 from 2019. Franchise agreements for Breezeline Cable and
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Tobyhanna Twp. says no to zoning change for Glacial Til by Ruth Isenberg
by Lori R. Cooper
BOXHOLDER Presorted Standard
Blue Ridge Cable are up for renegotiation. The Township will get a proposed cost to have a law firm do both contracts. Kevin Comstock was appointed as Constable. Richard Jackson was appointed to the Zoning Hearing Board. David Schreiber was appointed as Emergency Management Coordinator. Supervisors approved buying three storage bins for the ballparks at $40 each. See TUNKHANNOCK TWP, page 2
Tobyhanna Township Supervisors turned down a proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment at their May 16 meeting. Glacial Til proposed the amendment changing 400 acres on both sides of Caughbaugh Road to commercial. Its current zoning allows surface mining and heavy industrial uses. Glacial Til contended this would open the property to uses with less noise, dust, etc. and provide more higher paying jobs and tax revenue. Glacial Til has owned the property since 2006, and is licensed to operate it as a quarry. They have had several inquiries about the property, including warehouse distribution, a greenhouse, and a solar farm. They have permission to operate 24/7, but aren’t right now. They would defend any appeals to the change so the township would not have to.
Several people testified against the agreement, from North Pocono CARE, a Lehigh River watershed protection group. Daniel Walsh noted that the site is in a high quality stream area, mostly forested. Abby Jones, an attorney from PennFutures, entered an objection, saying it only would benefit the property owner, and would be spot zoning. Ellen Lott said that the site has not been used as heavy industrial for 30 years, and only 45 acres are actually developed, 95% of the land is not. It is surrounded by 11 miles of open space land. Alex Jackson, of the Tunkhannock Township Planning Commission suggested subdividing the area out, rather than changing the whole parcel to commercial. At the close of the hearing, supervisors voted not to move forward, with supervisor chair John Kerrick abstaining.
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