DAMASCUS TOWNSHIP, PA — Discussion of Damascus Township’s sign ordinance centered around consideration of private property and public rights-of-way, when the ordinance came up for discussion at the January 20 meeting of the township board of supervisors. 

The township planning commission will take up the matter at its next meeting on February 13. 

Township secretary Melissa Haviland told the River Reporter the question arose concerning political signs specifically, and that the planning commission will review the ordinance to see if there need to be any updates. 

The supervisors agreed to change the township’s ordinance at an October meeting, allowing political signs to be permitted 90 days before an election and eliminating the requirement for a permit. The changes needed to be approved at a public hearing to come into effect. 

Planning and projects

A final land development plan for Honesdale Solar 1 was fully approved by the planning commission at its January 9 meeting. A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit was obtained. 

Honesdale Solar 1, a project known as Fumaro and represented by engineering firm LaBella, is a five-megawatt project proposed for the border between Damascus and Lebanon townships. 

Regarding final approval from the board of supervisors, the temporary extension is extended until March 21 for the Honesdale Solar 1 project to coincide with the judge’s order of March 21, 2024 and to address the insufficiency in the prior application. The supervisors will take up the matter on March 17.

Regarding an additional project, known as Tyler Hill Solar 1, the letter from the county was not in hand at the time of the meeting. The planning commission will continue its review of the Tyler Hill Solar 1 Land Development Plan at its next meeting on February 13. Tyler Hill Solar 1 is a five-megawatt project proposed on a 21.6 acre property off Cochecton Turnpike, with the same owners as Honesdale Solar 1. It was originally denied in June 2023 for having insufficient information in its application. The project team challenged the denial in court in 2024, and ultimately got it back on the township’s agenda for review. 

Township business

Work continues on the employee annual reviews and annual bonus. The board of supervisors tabled the matter until the next meeting. 

The supervisors also tabled the matter of the town’s contract with Blue Ridge Cable, as no reply has been received yet from the cable company.

Supervisor Steve Adams gave a report on the township’s roads and bridges projects. There were seven major snow clean-ups. Trucks and loaders are serviced regularly this season. 

Graveling will resume in the spring. The Henderson Road project will be put out to bid. 

The shop door and park bench, donated by 4-H Agricultural Club, will both be completed in the spring. 

Services and Damascus Manor Community Center 

Recycling was held on January 11 and attendance was fairly slow. Coffee and donuts were served. Recycling is on the second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. 

The food pantry served 22 families in December. Food pantry day is the third Thursday of each month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The phone number for emergency food requests is 570/224-4217 

The Damascus Manor Community Center thanked the Damascus Township Supervisors for their support.