The Washington Township Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a conditional use for a private, handicapped children's summer camp along Kutztown and Schwenkenfelder Roads on Thursday night.  The proposed camp, which will be called Camp Camino, must adhere to conditions mandated by the township supervisors.

            Among the requirements the camp must meet is a stipulation that bunk houses will hold no more than 80 children and 20 staff.  The proposed amphitheater is only permitted the maximum amount of seating shown on the plan for the camp.  Roads and trails throughout the campgrounds must be a minimum of 14 feet wide.  Lighting on the property must be shielded and angled so that it does not reflect onto neighboring properties.  The decibel limit for noise is set by the township code at 70 decibels from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m.  From 9 p.m. until 7 a.m. the decibel limit is 60 decibels. 

            Landscape buffering must be consistent with the plan.  Arborvitae is not permitted as a buffer.  Emergency access to the site will be determined by the township engineer with agreement from the project developer.  There must be a 40-foot setback from the property line.  If the owner of the property, Pearse Keating, purchases an additional 62 acres, access to the additional property must show plans for alternative ways to enter the property.

            The entire property comprises 173 acres.  Only 37 acres are expected to be utilized as a handicapped children's summer camp.  An additional 62 acres have the potential to be developed for 30 plus single-family homes.  A large 60-acre agricultural parcel can be subdivided into three homesteads.  The remaining acreage will surround the 1840s farmhouse and barns.  Once plans for Camp Camino are prepared they will be submitted to the township planning commission for a thorough review before the plans are sent to the board of supervisors for final approval.

            In another real estate matter, Howard Brown, the attorney for Prestige Properties, the developer of the proposed Edison Walk subdivision located along Route 100, informed the board of supervisors that Prestige Properties intends to acquire, through assignment, 10.42 acres along Old Route 100 that is zoned for 32 townhouses.  There is a question of whether Prestige Properties must pay the new sewer rate of $9,800 per Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU) or if the developer can purchase EDUs at the previous rate in 2011 when the project was first approved.

The supervisors approved a zoning ordinance amendment that would permit a fire station, but not a social hall, in a commercial district.  Eastern Berks Fire Company would like to purchase a parcel of land for a fire station along Route 100 near the Cavalry Baptist Church.  A fire station is a "by right" zoning use.  It is consistent with the Berks County Comprehensive Plan.

            Washington Township Chairman Dave Moyer urged residents to contribute to all the volunteer fire companies.  Moyer said, "It is sowing your seed for good.  The fire company is good soil."