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With 60% of county-owned bridges ‘structurally deficient,’ repairs a key topic

<p>DORRANCE TWP. &#8212; Public hearings on the proposed Blue Ridge residential development were extended a little longer this week because another expert witness for TFP Limited could not attend to testify.</p><p>TFP Limited of Wilkes-Barre is the firm seeking township approval for the housing project.</p><p>John (Jack) Varlay, a planning consultant for Varlay Associates of Wilkes-Barre, was out of town on business and was not available for comment, so township solicitor Donald Karpowich decided to continue the hearing until an undetermined date in May.</p><p>Varlay, who appears to be the last of a team of experts to testify for TFP, has been designated a key witness because of being previously retained by Dorrance to help author the code book which is the basis for zoning enforcement in the township.</p><p>&#8220;I have a lot of questions for Mr. Varlay,&#8221; attorney Mark McNelis said. McNelis represents about a dozen nearby residents of the 101-acre site, which is adjacent to the Blue Ridge Trail Golf Course. The residents oppose the development.</p><p>Another major issue is a public water system for the homes.</p><p>Although Brian Oram, a certified hydrologist and geologist, testified at the outset of the hearings that surveys he conducted for TFP determined there is sufficient subsurface water, an inquiry was still made to Pennsylvania American Water Inc.</p><p>Tom Connolly, the civil engineer who did the plot designs for TFP, said he was in communication with Pennsylvania American and learned the closest possible water pipeline connection is several miles away at Yeager Road and South Main Road in Mountain Top.</p><p>Connolly also said any pipeline installation would have to traverse several roads &#8212; half of which are township-owned and the other half state-owned. Connolly added the lines would have to cross Interstate 81 and Little Wapwallopen Creek.</p><p>When asked, Connolly estimated installation costs at $110 per foot.</p><p>He was unsure if the water company would be receptive to such a project.</p><p>Robert Tamburro, a TFP executive, confirmed that on-site water systems remain, at this point, a major consideration. However, he added: &#8220;If there can be a way, we certainly will be willing to team up.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Huntington</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Hearing delayed on Dorrance housing development