Lower Paxton watchdog, 01.05.09

Updated with link to meeting agenda at 10:58 am.

The Lower Paxton Twp. Board of Supervisors, along with all other borough and township governments across the state, will hold their annual reorganization meeting tonight (Jan. 5), 7:30 pm at the Municipal Center, 425 Prince Street. The meeting will be broadcast live on Comcast channel 20. (meeting agenda)

The first agenda item under New Business a public hearing on a zoning change requested by Augustus Papandrea, Jr., MD for his property at 4300 Devonshire Road that formerly was a medical office building (pictured). The property currently is zoned residential (R-1), and the proposal calls for it to be changed to Business Campus.

According to the August 2008 newsletter published online by watchdog group SWAN, Papandrea wants to use the building for a daycare center, which is not a permitted use in a residential district. He requested a special exemption, but the supervisors denied it mainly because of the traffic congestion at the site, which is located at the busy intersection of Devonshire and Colonial roads.

Papandrea now wants to change the property’s zoning to Business Campus because daycare centers are permitted in the zoning district. In evaluating the rezoning request, the township Planning Commission noted that all the properties to the north, east and south of Papandrea’s lot are zoned R-1. The commission members felt that the existing zoning of this site was appropriate and they recommended that the township supervisors deny the rezoning request.

Other township meetings this week:

· Arts Council – Wednesday, Jan. 7, Friendship Center, 4:15 pm

· Greenway Committee – Wednesday, Jan. 7, Friendship Center, 6 pm

· Parks and Recreation Board – Wednesday, Jan. 7, Friendship Center, 7:30 pm

· Zoning Hearing Board – Thursday, Jan. 8, Municipal Center, 7 pm – William Balough is appealing an order issued by the township zoning officer to demolish a structure located at 5470 Newside Road.