Caernarvon Township may soon deal with those pesky weeds that take root in the seam between the curb and the street.
Pennwood resident Paul Schenk asked the board of supervisors at its Tuesday night meeting what could be done about weeds growing as high as about two feet along the curb. While many homeowners in the development are responsible enough to remove the weeds or spray them with herbicide, he said, others have allowed the plants to proliferate.
Chairman Scott Moyer said that while he thinks it is primarily a homeowners’ association issue, the township does have a weed ordinance that requires residents to maintain the weeds on their property below a certain height.
Tom Hornberger, township maintenance, said if the maintenance department had to weed-whack along the curbs throughout the township, it would take up a lot of time and have to wait until other important projects are done.
However, Hornberger is working on obtaining a spraying license, so that next year he will be able to spray along all of the curbs in the spring to prevent weed growth.
For now, the maintenance department will identify problem areas to be weed-whacked, but Hornberger said they won’t be able to tackle the weeds until August.
The board is also moving forward with a zoning change that will give residents more leeway in constructing accessory buildings on their properties.
The proposed amendment to the zoning code would allow outbuildings such as sheds and garages to be built as close as 10 feet to the side and rear property lines on Effective Agricultural Preservation (EAP) zoned land. The code currently mandates a larger distance from the property line, but that has posed a problem for many property owners in the township.
‘Similar issues kept coming before the zoning hearing board, and on somewhat of a regular basis, they were being granted,’ Township Solicitor Brett Huckabee said.
There was no comment from the public during the hearing at the start of the meeting. The ordinance is currently under review by the Berks County Planning Commission and could be voted on at the township’s next workshop meeting.
In police business, Chief Paul Stolz said there were 304 calls for service, 23 citations and three criminal arrests in the township last month. A possible kidnapping turned out to be a bachelor party stunt. There were nine calls in New Morgan, with no citations or arrests.
Stolz added that the police have been working with a Caernarvon Township in Lancaster County resident who has been practicing his first and second amendment rights by walking through the community with unloaded firearms clearly visible and signs supporting the right to bear arms.
Stolz said he has met with the school district, banks, pre-schools and other institutions that may be concerned about individuals with guns passing near their properties to keep them informed of the situation and maintain the public peace. The man, who Stolz declined to identify, has remained on public property and has been cooperative, he said.
Stolz said he believes the man may stop his public demonstrations soon.