A contingent of approximately 20 Summit Lawn citizens had questions for the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners about the proposed Girl Scouts camp improvement project atop South Mountain.

The Girl Scouts project was not on the agenda of the Oct. 26 meeting in the municipal building. Residents spoke during the meeting’s courtesy of the floor portion.

Some residents said they were under the impression the sewage plan had been approved for the project.

The sewage plan has not been approved.

The sewage plan is under review by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

The Salisbury Board of Commissioners had voted on a procedural matter relating to the sewage plan.

At the Sept. 14 township meeting, Salisbury commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a resolution for revisions to the official sewage facilities plan for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania land development plan on South Mountain for Adventure Place at Mountain House, 2638 W. Rock Road, west of the Interstate 78 Interchange, Summit Lawn.

“We have to formally approve it so that the Girl Scouts can move forward with their project,” Salisbury Township Assistant Manager-Director, Community Development Sandy Nicolo said before the Sept. 14 vote.

In approving the plan, Salisbury Township found the sewage facilities planning module “conforms to applicable sewage-related zoning and other sewage related municipal ordinances and plans, and to a comprehensive program of pollution control and water quality management,” according to the resolution.

With the vote, Salisbury adopted and was to submit to DEP the revision to the sewage facilities plan.

At the Oct. 26 commissioners’ meeting, seven township residents spoke during an approximate 30-minute question and answer session about the Girl Scouts project.

Residents are concerned about how the sewage project, if and when approved, might affect water quality in wells on their properties. Several of the residents said their homes are on properties that are downhill from the Girl Scouts’ facility.

“That plan is with DEP,” Nicolo said at the Oct. 26 meeting. “Once DEP approves the sewer module, everything goes back to the [township] planning commission. And that’s when the conversation would start.”

Nicolo said residents would be notified of the planning commission meeting pertaining to the Girl Scouts’ project.

“We are concerned the character of our neighborhood is going to change,“ one of the residents said.

“The Girl Scouts were there for a long time,” Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners President Deb Brinton said, adding, “The houses were built after the Girl Scouts.”

Some township commissioners expressed surprise at the number of residents who attended the Oct. 26 township meeting to inquire about the Girl Scouts’ project.

“We’ve gotten letters that something was going to be discussed,” Summit Lawn resident Jacqueline Straley said.

The Girl Scouts have owned the 15.21-acre Summit Lawn site and operated it as a private recreation area since 1952. A cabin was on the site as of 1943.

The Girl Scouts had first submitted a sketch plan for Adventure Place at Mountain House to the township planning commission at its Dec. 10, 2019, meeting.

The Salisbury Township Zoning Hearing Board voted March 9, 2020, to approve the Girl Scouts’ appeal to build the approximate 7,000-square foot building that is to be heated; include bathrooms with showers, sinks and flush toilets; activity rooms, staff offices, “trading post” for purchase of Girl Scouts items and a paved parking area for 15 vehicles.

Salisbury commissioners had voted 3-0, with two commissioners absent March 9, to approve a motion to accept the time extension to March 31, 2024, for the Girl Scouts’ land development plan.

The November Salisbury Township municipal building meeting schedule includes: 7 p.m. Nov. 8, zoning hearing board; 7 p.m. Nov. 9, board of commissioners; 7 p.m. Nov. 21, board of commissioners, in lieu of Nov. 23, Thanksgiving Day and 7 p.m. Nov. 29, planning commission.