Bombshells and insults

First the “bombshell”. What a surprise it was to learn tonight that Weis Markets submitted a traffic study to Forks Township in August of 2006! This was stunning as we have repeatedly requested this report from the Township on multiple occasions and had been told that it was not yet submitted to the Township as recently as January 12, 2007! This report is a crucial piece of information to us, and should be readily available to every citizen of Forks Township who wishes to review the traffic impact of this project.

Now the insult. When the Board of Supervisors returned from Executive Session regarding this revelation, our attorney requested a 30-day continuance in order for our traffic experts to review the complete report. Supervisor David Hoff instead offered that the Hearing be continued next Wednesday and Supervisor John Ackerman seconded his motion! How in the world could any engineer review such a voluminous report in six days! Keep in mind that as of tonight we still do not have the report! Eventually there was a compromise and the Hearing will be continued on Tuesday, February 6, 2007, 6:30pm at the Forks Municipal Building. We are still left wondering why is the Board rushing this project?

Whatever your position on Weis Markets, EVERY citizen of Forks Township ought be outraged at the way the Board of Supervisors has handled this matter. We can only imagine how irate and disgusted the Zoning Hearing Board must feel knowing that this report has been available for so long yet they had no access to it. Moreover, how in the world must the Planning Commission be feeling knowing that they voted for Weis Markets without the benefit of seeing this traffic study before their vote?

Ladies and gentlemen, you can’t make this stuff up! Tragically, its real life in Forks Township.