KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Muncy Township Supervisor Terri Lauchle announcies her recusal from all FAMvest/Bass Pro related decisions.

PENNSDALE-In a departure from what people have come to expect, this week’s meeting of the Muncy Township Supervisors was calm and civil beginning with the recusal of Chair Terri Lauchle from any interactions with FAMvest, developers of the District and the subsequent approval of land development plans for a Bass Pro Shop at the site.

“It has come to my attention that FAMvest has filed a lawsuit against the township. It is my understanding that FAMvest is requesting that I recuse myself from consideration of any involvement from the FAMvest Bass Pro project,” Lauchle said.

“Although I can be completely neutral and decide any application on its merits consistent with the applicable laws, in order to avoid any distractions and negative publicity to the township, I have decided that I will recuse myself from discussing and voting on any issue involving the FAMvest Bass Pro project,” she added.

The recusal comes after months of stalling and blocking any action on the subdivision and land development plans that the company had submitted to the township, specifically by Lauchle and fellow supervisor, Denise Artley. Those actions culminated in FAMvest filing a lawsuit asking for Lauchle’s recusal, either voluntarily or by the courts on the grounds that she has not been unbiased in her interactions with the project or the developers.

The developers alleged that a pattern in which they comply, sometimes repeatedly, with steps in the application process for approvals and permits only to be ignored or stone-walled indicated that Lauchle had an “obvious and manifest bias against the project and FAMvest.”

KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Attorney Joseph Oros III, left, talks about his return as the solicitor for Muncy Township at Wednesday night's meeting.

Lauchle apparently decided on self-recusal, which paves the way for FAMvest to move forward with the project, which is estimated to bring much needed revenue and tax dollars into the community which has been faced with losses since the closing of the former Lycoming Mall.

Prior to the board’s action, the township’s planning commission had met approving the land development plans for the Bass Pro Shop with conditions outlined by the township engineer, Dan Vassallo.

Although he stated that he “has not done any review as such, but hopes to look at it further next week,” Vassallo said that he recommended approval be granted by the planning commission and the supervisors pending the following conditions: an acceptable review by the zoning officer, such as setbacks, screening, landscaping and buffer yards; building height; parking, including ADA; lighting; impervious surface; and building percentage and floodplain management compliance.

Other conditions include: Subdivision and Land Development (SALDO) including land development and right-of-way and use agreements; utility easements, financial security-opinion of probable costs; permits; will serve-water and sewer-letters from utility companies; lighting requirements; off-street loading/unloading requirements; wetlands (JD by Army Corps of Engineers; sign regulations; Stormwater Management Ordinance (SMO) including stormwater operation and maintenance agreements, and stormwater and drainage easements.

Vassallo stated that he will “have no review done until next month’s meeting.”

Attorney Joseph Oros III also returned as Muncy Township Solicitor, beginning July 1, and ratified at Wednesday night’s meeting, according to Orso.

During the first public comment period of the meeting Orso detailed why he is returned as solicitor for the township and apologized for his conduct at a previous meeting.

Full story to come later today.