The Planning Commission recommended preliminary approval of a small “development” of five lots served by a new public road about 900 feet long. This project will also create three other lots not part of the site condominium development. One of these three is 878 Buell Road and is already being built on by the developer for her private residence.
No paving of Buell from Landview to the entrance will be done. This cannot be required. The main concerns of Township Engineering Consultant, Matt Hocking were two. First, whether the soils in the area will be able to handle the stormwater which must sink into the ground fast enough to prevent overflow of the planned stormwater retention basin. There will be no stormwater piping off the site. Any overflow would be onto two lots planned on the stub street off Jack Pine, which is off Landview. HIs second concern was to see final plans that satisfy him that all storm water will drain properly into ditches along the proposed new road and not onto neighboring property. Details like this are often expensive to engineer and are approved by Planning Commission in the final plans, after the developer is assured that he can proceed with no major roadblocks.
Commissioner Judy Workings suggested they choose a tree species more disease resistant than Blue Spruce for landscaping. Commissioner Workings, who seems to have an extensive knowledge of plants,, offered that Blue Spruce are susceptible to a disease that in 10-15 years turns them in to ugly sticks with major needle loss. This is a problem all over Oakland Township.
Oakland Township Sentinel 