Discussion of the proposed Chestnut Street Wellness Center plan dominated the March 16 Upper Milford Township supervisors’ meeting. The center is being proposed by Pro-Cere Constructors LLC on the site of the former Blue Butterfly Tea Room and gift shop.

The plans are to remove the tea room building and add on to the existing gift shop building. The center would be occupied by two physicians. The main concern of both supervisors and the township planning commission in its recommendations is the location of the entrance to the center.

Officials would like to see the owners of the center work with the neighboring property owner to move the driveway so it is in line with the intersection of Chestnut and Allen streets, where a traffic light is being proposed.

They fear that if the driveway remains where it is located on the plan, it would create a hazardous situation between the proposed turning lane from northbound Chestnut Street onto Allen Street and traffic trying to exit and enter the center, several yards away from the intersection.

“It looks like a head-on accident waiting to happen,” supervisors Chairman George DeVault said.

They all agree the rate of development in that part of the township, as well as the proposed replacement of the railroad bridge and the future widening of the turnpike are creating major traffic issues through the Chestnut Street corridor.

“This is the worst spot in the township,” DeVault said.

However, Supervisor Robert Sentner and solicitor Marc Fisher agreed if the plan meets the requirements of the township ordinance, they have to approve it.

Noting the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is fine with allowing left turns into the center, Sentner said, “We have no ability to hold the developer to a higher standard than PennDOT.”

After considerable discussion, supervisors approved most of the waivers and deferrals requested by the developer, as well as approval of the plan, contingent on a number of factors, including approval by all outside agencies.

Planning Coordinator Brian Miller said most of the waivers are standard. The vote on the deferrals was unanimous, but DeVault voted no on the waiver requests and the contingent final plan approval. He said his concern about the safety of traffic going in and out of the center was the reason for his opposition.

“I’d like to go back to the drawing board and come up with a better plan,” he said.

In other business, supervisors and members of the audience praised the township road crews for their clean-up work after a recent snowstorm, but weren’t so happy about PennDOT’s effort on state roads.

“PennDOT did a lousy job,” DeVault said, and resident Phil Casey agreed, saying they did a very poor job on the road leading into Vera Cruz. However, Sentner, a frequent critic of PennDOT, said “Route 29 was perfect.”

Supervisors also discussed the future of the revived fire company steering committee with Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator James Krippe and Jason Tapler of the Vera Cruz Fire Company. Krippe said a meeting of the committee had been held the previous night and they want some clarification of what the supervisors expect of them and whether the supervisors will follow up on the committee’s recommendations.

Tapler charged, “When we had the last committee the supervisors didn’t listen to our recommendations.”

Sentner said the supervisors can not promise they will accept every recommendation the committee makes, but they’ll listen.

The discussion became somewhat testy, but concluded with DeVault asking the committee to put its concerns and recommendations in writing to bring to the board.

“It’s a new start,” Krippe said. “What’s past is past.”

New assistant township manager Bud Carter, who was introduced at the beginning of the meeting, made his first recommendation, to make Raymond Street a no parking zone from Winfield to Grace streets. He said parking on the street makes it difficult for snowplows and other emergency vehicles to get through. Supervisors authorized township staff to follow up.

Supervisors also received a letter from Seem Seed Farm complaining about the condition of an adjacent property, which the farm owner said is in deteriorating condition, with overflowing rubbish and 20-30 cats roaming the property. He said the owner was given a year to make repairs, but nothing has been done.

Fisher said Zoning Officer Alan Brokate should review the situation and recommend further action. Carter said he thinks the home is no longer occupied.