DAMASCUS TOWNSHIP, PA — At its July 20 meeting, the Damascus Township Board of Supervisors heard public comment on a pair of topics: the Boyce Bridge project, and the township's continued work to develop a data center ordinance. 

Boyce Bridge

Supervisor Steven Adams plans to complete the application for the multi-modal transport fund grant for Boyce Bridge in the near future. This application needs to be submitted by the end of July. 

The old bridge was unsalvageable and the upgrade project has been under discussion for quite some time. The old bridge had a capacity of 3 tons only which is not enough to accommodate the emergency vehicles in use nowadays; by comparison, the township ambulance weighs 10 tones. The old stone bridge had steel beams, and there were no engineers who would agree to attempt their replacement, so the bridge has to be done over. 

The projected cost is $789,389.00 and it is unclear how much would be granted to the township from the multi-modal transport fund.

Letters had been sent to the property owners on Boyce Road, as to the work plan for the bridge, and the possibility of closing off the road and placing a cul-de-sac, and their right to comment 

Stephen Schoenfeld said that the area residents near Boyce Bridge had adjusted to the closure long ago, and the area was quiet with the low traffic. 

Janet Rea, who identified herself as a full-time, 40-year-resident of Boyce Road, said that the first responders had accessed the area over the bridge, sometimes by foot when necessary, and that the current closure has meant inconveniences of mail delivery access, garbage and propane delivery access, and daily trips to work and back. If, for example, a fire or a medical emergency such as heart attack or injury in a home occurs, there will be delays in access, she said. She also said once re-opened, the bridge will likely see 10 cars a day or so, which means it will still be quiet. 

Data center ordinance

The Damascus Planning commission has been working up a proposal for the ordinance. The proposal will be sent to the Township Solicitor and also to the Wayne County Planning Commission. It should be noted that there is no specific proposal or plan for a Data Center within Damascus Township. 

Next steps, the township will announce when the plan will be available for the public to review and a Public Hearing will be scheduled. The date of the hearing will be announced as well. The ordinance, if deemed appropriate, would not be adopted until after the public hearing. 

Roger Brinkerhoff asked if the township was aware of the model ordinances that are being shared, (or circulated ) to assist localities to excerpt control and protect residents. 

Joseph Canfield, chair of the board, said “Yes, the township supervisors have seen them.” Regarding expected adverse impacts, Barbara Arrindell said that sound, air and water studies should be conducted in considering data center project proposals. She said the sound studies should use the dBC scale in addition to the dBA scale, because the dBC scale will catch low frequency noise, so that is rather important. Noise can be measured on a dBA, B or C scale; C is mostly used at very high pressure levels.

Kyle Devlin, candidate for the Pennsylvania Assembly District 111, alluded to his familiarity with the Clinton Township data center issue and asked about the process of finalising and adoption of the data center ordinance. Later he clarified, in response to a River Reporter question, that he was concerned that the process was being misinterpreted, saying, “A couple of questions in the room suggested concern that the public is being kept out of the process. I didn't interpret it that way.” 

Extension request for Coast Energy /Honesdale Solar 1 LLC. 

Honesdale Solar 1 LLC, which is owned by Coast Energy, had requested an extension of its conditional use permit. The Coast Energy project has been known as Funaro/Honesdale Solar and is a joint township project with a part of the parcel in Damascus Township and a part in Lebanon Township.The current extension for this project ends in September 2026. The other involved township, Lebanon Township, has tabled the matter. 

Supervisor Steven Adams had spoken to the solicitor on the matter, and was told that despite an apparent violation in the agreement, the lack of a compelling or “legitimate” reason to deny the request could result in unwanted legal action. It is was clear to the supervisors that the Coast Energy folks are serious about their commitment to this project. Chair Canfield therefore made the motion to extend the permit for six months in order to get the permit issued and another six months to begin construction. The motion was passed. 

Pension Plan for Township Employees 

The motion was passed to approve the Pennsylvania Municipal Pension Fund for the full time township employees.

Manchester Twp / Reflection Lakes 

Donna Burrows of the Manchester Township Sewer and Water Authority in Manchester Township came to present a request for sponsorship. It has applied to Monroe County for a LSA Grant for $250,000 in order to upgrade its spray field. It needs a sponsor from a surrounding township in order to complete this application. 

Reflection Lakes has 400 lots (101 mobile home lots, and about 300 campsites). $500,000 is the amount of the estimate for the spray field upgrade. The presenter said she was very happy to visit Damascus again as she had been there many years before, and planned to visit Buckingham Township for its meeting the next day. The possibility of a Wayne Economic Development Corporation grant was discussed. 

Roads and Township projects 

Hopkins Rd project has resumed. 

Stonehouse Rd concrete culvert project is to proceed, engineer was consulted. Concrete culvert work on Beaver Hill Rd. also. 

Township Building Driveway bid was postponed, due to closing of driveway for the project on the park and grounds.