Photo by Joseph Bell
Ridgway Township supervisor Sarah Dickinson, left, reviews a subdivision map as fellow supervisor Milly Bowers looks on.

By Joseph Bell

Staff Writer

Stemming from recent subdivision plans, Ridgway Township resident Don Sampson attended last night’s board of supervisors meeting to discuss an ongoing situation ‘adjoining (Sampson’s) property on Evergreen Drive regarding accessibility.’
“This entire situation has developed through a failure of the board of supervisors to exercise diligence in the review and approval of the subdivision of the Dr. Rees property,” Sampson said. “You were presented with a subdivision survey plan that clearly indicated a landlocked piece of property without legal access-way provided whatsoever.
“The one continued being that it abutted the proposed grantee’s land that he previously owned. However, in examining that plan, the plan also clearly locates graphically his homestead site. If you look at that, although the township didn’t require for it to be dimensioned, even graphically it’s pretty easy to see that there’s not going to be a vehicular access achievable through his present land into the piece that you guys approved for subdivision.”
Evergreen Drive is the connecting roadway between Grant Road and state Route 948 (Montmorenci Road) in Ridgway Township.
According to Sampson, supervisors ‘opened the gate’ by approving a ‘landlocked’ piece of property to be subdivided and accessed.
“The fact of the matter is, since the supervisors didn’t require or at least examine and interrogate what access would be used to go through to that property, the landowner or prospective land-buyer I guess, has chosen to take his own route to get there without benefit of a proper subdivision review,” Sampson said. “That’s kind of where it stands.
“To me, it’s probably a more simplified issue that we’re dealing with, circumstances where we’ve got a couple of individuals currently in violation of the township’s subdivision code. You guys (supervisors) brought it on when you gave tentative approval to subdivide that property without proper access. It’s apparent on that plan. There should’ve been question then on how he proposed to access that.”
However, according to supervisor Milly Bowers, officials have yet to approve the subdivision plan in question.
“It was approved pending he do a few things and it never came back,” Bowers said.
Fellow supervisor Sarah Dickinson interjected and said that the supervisors consulted the township’s solicitor and a plan of action was drafted.
“We have a plan of action and I don’t think we should discuss it anymore in an open meeting since it is a matter of legal and enforcement action at this time,” Dickinson said. “We have a course of action planned but we really can’t say anything more.”
However, in Sampson’s opinion, supervisors preliminarily granted approval contingent upon three stipulations which dealt with ‘minor map alterations and notations,’ but nothing regarding access.
“Do you understand that when we went to the solicitor, we dealt with all these things? We are planning to take action,” Dickinson said. “We’ve already taken a serious look at it and are continuing to do so.
“It’s in the hands of the solicitor. I understand your point completely.”
No official decision was made regarding the subdivision.
“All I can tell you then is that with that attitude and that response Sarah, I’ll be back at your next meeting,” Sampson said. “Eventually, you’re going to have to address this issue. You approved it with the following stipulations, and not one dealt with access. I’ll be back to ask you to explain to me how you dealt with that. Do you understand me?”
“I understand you completely,” Dickinson said. “You are always articulate.”