Day care center, conservation area, get first nod
By Anya Tikka
DINGMAN TOWNSHIP — A new day care center and environmental recreation area may be coming to Dingman Township.
Supervisors at their meeting Tuesday granted preliminary approval to the day care project and final approval to the recreation area.
Open space preservedKyle Shenk represented the Conservation Fund, which is acquiring 40 acres of the estates of William H. McGaughey and Joan Durham McGaughey on Old Bridge Road. He appeared before the board with surveyor Frank Smith.
“We're buying the property for open space,” said Shenk.
Shenk is implementing a fund to mitigate the impact of a transmission line upgrade in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (see sidebar).
The 40 acres are located near Milford Knob, where the star overlooking Milford shines during the holidays.
The environmentally protected area will be open to the public for recreation.
"Nothing will be built,” Shenk stressed.
Because the fund is buying only a portion of the estate, it asked for permission to subdivide the property. The fund also sought a waiver from the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance because the land will remain undeveloped. After some discussion, supervisors decided to grant both requests.
Walter H. Myer, chair of Dingman Township Planning Commission, recommended the project.
Township solicitor John Klemeyer said it was unlikely the federal government will ask for more documentation.
Child care centerA new Good Shepherd Child Care Center proposed for 102 Route 2001 in Milford also received preliminary approval for land development.
Myer recommended the project, with conditions. He said Bill Mikulak, the emergency management coordinator, should review the applicant's revised emergency and evacuation plans before the township gives final approval.
The safety of residents is the supervisors' foremost responsibility, said supervisors' Chair Tom Mincer. Supervisors discussed the safety of pedestrians walking from the parking lot to the center. The applicants will build a new path so that pedestrians don't have to cross the busy road, and will also seek additional parking.
Myer said the applicant proposes to install fencing that is an "acceptable alternative" to the requirement in the township's ordinance.
Because the project is partly located in the Conservation and Parks zoning district and partly in the Floodplain district, the applicant has asked for a special exception zoning permit from the planning commission.