The Greene Township, Pike County, Board of Supervisors have adopted Ordinance #99 – Short-Term Rental Ordinance at the regular meeting on November 2, 2022.
Ordinance #99 regulates short-term rentals within the township and establish penalties for violations. A copy of the ordinance is available for review below.
The Greene Township, Pike County, Board of Supervisors have adopted Ordinance #101 – Amending the Short-Term Rental Ordinance at the regular meeting at 7:00pm on December 6, 2023 at the municipal building, 198 Brink Hill Road, Greentown, PA. Ordinance #101 amends Ordinance #99 which currently regulates short-term rentals within the township and establishes penalties for violations. A copy of the amended ordinance is below.
At the regular meeting on November 1, 2023, the board of supervisors took official action to contract with Bureau Veritas for enforcement of Ordinance #99 – Short-Term Rental Ordinance and Ordinance #101 – Amending Short-Term Rental Ordinance.
The board of supervisors have adopted Ordinance #101 which amends portions of Section 12 of the Short-Term Rental Ordinance. The original ordinance is below for comparison.
Three separate checks should be submitted per the following: Payable to Bureau Veritas = $500 Payable to Greene Township = $200 Payable to Greene Township = $100
Application
If you operate a short-term rental property in Greene Township, Pike County, PA, please submit an application and applicable fees to:
Greene Township Short-Term Rental Application 198 Brink Hill Road Greentown, PA 18426 Lourdes Aponte Email: lourdes.cardinez@bureauveritas.com
Each Short-Term Rental Unit must be renewed and the annual fee paid before February 15th of each calendar year, and at any time when any of the conditions of the rental which are governed by this Ordinance are changed.
If you are a property owner in Greene Township and would like to submit a complaint about a Short-Term Rental property, please submit a Request for Action Form.
Often, there is a lot of confusion around how to develop land. This post will clarify the processes and explain different types of development.
When combining, dividing, or developing land, the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) regulates what is required. The full ordinance can be found here: SALDO
Here are some definitions of terms that are frequently used in developing land:
Lot Combination – a lot combination is when you have two or more parcels of land that you want to combine into one parcel, that does not create new lot lines
Lot Improvement – a lot improvement is when you move lot lines in order to make an existing lot bigger
Subdivision – a subdivision is when you have one parcel of land that you want to divide into two or more parcels
Land Development – a land development is when you want to build a commercial building, or two or more residential buildings on one parcel
The process of submitting a plan for any type of development requires the following procedures:
Submission to the Township Office
Submissions must be physical plans. The Township cannot accept electronic submissions.
The Township Office distributes all plans to the following agencies:
The Township Planning Commission (which is a recommending body made of volunteer members)
The Township Solicitor
The Pike County Planning Commission
The Township Sewage Enforcement Officer (if applicable)
The Township Engineer (if applicable)
The Township Planning Commission adds the plan to their next regular meeting agenda
Their meetings are the 4th Wednesday of each month
They review and either recommend approval, denial, or approval with conditions to the Township Board of Supervisors.
Review letters are received from the agencies
The Township Solicitor and the Pike County Planning Commission send the Township Office their recommendation
Once all agencies recommend approval, the plans go to the Township Board of Supervisors for their approval
Plans are not approved until the Board of Supervisors takes official action at a public meeting to approve and sign the plan
Once signed, the plans must be recorded with the Pike County Recorder of Deeds Office
The applicant is responsible for recording the signed plans with the Recorder of Deeds Office within ninety (90) days of of the date of endorsement by the Board of Supervisors
Proof of recording must be submitted to the Township Office
If the plan is not recorded within ninety (90) days, the plan is null and void and must be resubmitted to the Township
If any agency has comments on the plan, their comments are forwarded to the applicant. The applicant may submit updated documents to the Township Office to satisfy any comments. The updated documents are then submitted to all agencies for another review.
Lot Combination
A Lot Combination involved the joining of two or more contiguous lots (lots that touch and share a common border) into one lot. This does not require a new lot line. This would remove the lot line that separates two parcels.
Lot Combinations are generally straightforward and do not require to be reviewed at a Township Planning Commission (PC) meeting (the Chairman of the PC may review them and recommend on behalf of the agency).
*Note: Plans may be required to go to a PC meeting based on the discretion of the Chairman
A Lot Improvement is the realignment of lot lines or the transfer of land from one parcel to another to increase the size of an existing parcel. This does NOT create new lots, just changes the size of two existing lots.
Subdivision
A Subdivision is the division of one parcel into two or more parcels. This is adding lot lines that didn’t exist in order to create more parcels.
There are two kinds of Subdivisions:
Minor – subdivision that creates five (5) lots or less
Major – subdivision that creates more than five (5) lots
Subdivisions require new maps since lot lines are being added. A licensed engineer or surveyor may be able to assist in the creation of new maps.
A Land Development is when you do any of the following:
Build a commercial structure (a commercial structure is any structure that is not used for residential purposes)
Build two (2) or more residential structures on the same parcel
Divide parcels among two or more occupants
A Subdivision of land
When proceeding with a Land Development plan, it is highly recommended to submit a sketch plan to the Township Office prior to submitting plans. Sketch plan submissions will go on the Township Planning Commission’s next regular meeting agenda for review. The applicant should attend the meeting to discuss their intention with the Planning Commission.
There are fees associated with submitting plans. The fees are to cover the Township costs of review, distribution, postage, and other expenses that the Township incurs. The Pike County Planning Commission has their own review fees set.
All plans must be submitted to the Township Office. They can be mailed to 198 Brink Hill Road Greentown, PA 18426 or dropped off at that location in person.
If my plans are not approved, can I get a refund of the fees I paid?
Fees are set to offset costs incurred by the Township for staff time, postage, and consults with professionals. Regardless of whether your plan is approved or not, the fees are non-refundable.
Are there restrictions on lot size?
Yes, the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance sets regulations on how many acres a lot can be. For example, lots that have NO central water supply or sewage disposal must have a minimum size of 87,120 square feet, or two (2) acres. All lot size restrictions can be found in the SALDO > page 61 & 62
When are the Township Planning Review Commission Meetings and can I submit my plans directly to the members at the meeting?
Township Planning Commission meetings are held the fourth (4th) Wednesday of each month.
HOWEVER, if there is nothing submitted by the prior Monday (seven business days in advance of the meeting), then the Planning Commission meeting is cancelled.
Therefore, we require plans (including sketch plans) to be submitted to the Township Office in order to ensure meeting will take place.
How do I know if my submission is on the Planning Commission’s meeting agenda?
Meeting agendas are posted on the Township website at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. You can see all meeting agendas by visiting the Meetings page of the website.
I want to construct a commercial building that will not be open to the public. Do I have to submit a Land Development plan?
Yes. All structures that are not residential (like a home) or an accessory to a residential structure (like a shed) require a Land Development Plan. Please see the definition section of the SALDO > Article II which start on page 2
I am interested in buying a property and don’t want to go through the process if my plans will be denied. How do I know I can do what I want with the property if I purchase it?
To discuss your plans and if they may comply with the SALDO, we highly recommend submitting a sketch plan. A sketch plan submission will ensure the Township Planning Commission will hold a meeting and that your plan will be on the agenda. You should attend the meeting and explain your plan to the members. They will be able to give you direction on whether or not the plan will comply with the SALDO. More information on what is required in a sketch plan can be found in the SALDO > Article III starting on page 11
Can I speak to a Planning Commission member on the phone before submitting plans?
The Planning Commission members are volunteers. They do not have office hours or public phone numbers. In order to discuss your plans with them, you should submit a sketch plan and attend the next regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting.
There is a vacancy on the Pike County Planning Commission. The county would like the vacancy to be filled by a Greene Township resident who is qualified to assist in guiding growth and development within the guidelines set for by our municipality’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
The requirements of this volunteer membership include regular attendance at the Pike County Planning Commission’s monthly meeting, which is held the 4th Monday of each month at 3:00pm via ZOOM and/or in the Pike County Commissioners Meeting Room in Milford. The member will be compensated for their mileage to attend meetings, at the GSA rate.
This position is considered to fulfill a vacated seat with a term that runs until 12/31/2026.
Interested parties can contact the Pike County Planning Commission with questions, or submit the below Pike County Planning Commission Board Member Nominee Form to Greene Township at secretary@greenetownship.org by August 30, 2024.
Members of the planning commission are appointed by the Pike County Commissioners.
Held August 21-22, 2024, Bike4Chai is a rules of the road cycling event that fundraises for children’s health support network, providing unparalleled assistance and year-round services to thousands of families confronting illness, crisis and loss. Additional information about the ride can be found here.
This year’s routing will bring the bikers through Greene Township on August 21 & 22, 2024. The roads utilized are PA 930 and 191/507.
The event overview, along with the routes, are attached below.
Operating township equipment, such as grader, end loader, tractor, and roller.
Simple maintenance of equipment, such as fixing chains, painting, greasing, changing tires and minor repairs.
Repair and replace road pipes.
Clean ditches.
Fill potholes.
Cut and remove downed trees.
Any other work deemed necessary by the Roadmaster and/or Board of Supervisors
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Class A CDL license + manual transmission
Heavy equipment operation
General laboring
This job description should not be considered all-inclusive. It is merely a guide of expected duties. The employee understands that the job description is neither complete, nor permanent and may be modified at any time. At the request of their supervisor, an employee may be asked to perform additional duties or take on additional responsibilities without notice.
We do not discriminate in employment based on race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, disability, age, marital status, medical history, parental status or genetic information.
Roadwork is scheduled to begin on Route 447 in Greene Township in the beginning of May 2024.
Please be advised of possible road restrictions and/or closures during construction.
Project Limits: Pike County, Greene Township, State Route 447 (Panther Road) Narrative: Resurfacing on State Route 447 (Panther Road) from Pike/Monroe County Line to Wayne/Pike County Line in Greene Township, Pike County.
This is a state owned road; therefore, Greene Township has no authority over this project. This is for informational purposes only. Please contact PennDOT with questions and/or concerns regarding Route 447.
Greene Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania will hold the annual Clean Up Day on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 8:00am-2:00pm at the municipal building – 198 Brink Hill Rd., Greentown, PA 18426.
The township will not accept anything outside of the scheduled hours of 8am-2pm on May 18th
You must be a Greene Township resident. Please keep in mind that some of Greentown is in Palmyra Township. To verify you are a Greene Township resident, please check your tax bill, voter registration, or the Pike County GIS Map which can be accessed here: GIS Map. Please bring proof of residency, as you may be asked for it.
We cannot accept the following: hazardous materials, daily garbage, construction materials (shingles, lumber, bricks, etc.). Please check the flyer for a list of hazardous materials.
Registration Open for Pick Up the Poconos Spring Cleanup Volunteers needed for region-wide effort on Saturday, April 20
March 7, 2024 – Celebrate Earth Day early this year by spending time caring for the environment. The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau (PMVB) is seeking volunteers for its next region-wide litter pick-up day on Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (rain or shine). The Pick Up the Poconos Spring Cleanup is just one component of the PMVB’s “Pick Up the Poconos” campaign, which has resulted in nearly 38,000 bags of trash being picked up and properly disposed of.
Individuals and groups interested in helping the cause can fill out the Volunteer Form or Group Sign-Up Form located at PickUpthePoconos.com. The deadline to register is Wednesday, April 10, 2024, by 5:00 p.m.
There are nearly 20 participating locations across Wayne, Pike, Monroe, and Carbon counties for volunteers to choose from. Private cleanups led by various community groups are also planned in conjunction with this initiative. Volunteers will receive supply kits on the day of the event consisting of trash bags, gloves, safety vests, and other supplies.
After the cleanup, volunteers are invited to the annual Earth Day Celebration at Pocono Organics from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for exclusive access to door prizes, complimentary refreshment vouchers, educational activities, and more. The event is hosted by Monroe County Waste Management Authority, Pocono Organics, and the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau.
Help spread the word about the Pick Up the Poconos Spring Cleanup by sharing the event on Facebook (HERE).
For resources and safety tips about picking up litter, visit PickUpThePoconos.com.
Pocono Mountains visitor information is available online at PoconoMountains.com or by phone at (570) 421-5791. Follow @PoconoTVNetwork on X to stay current with up-to-date information. Established in 1934, the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit membership organization. The PMVB is the official destination marketing organization for the four counties of Wayne, Pike, Monroe, and Carbon in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
It’s easy for taxpayers to say, “I pay my taxes, I want MY road fixed!” But, do you know what your taxes go towards?
Your local government starts at the municipal level. Run by a three member board of supervisors who are elected into office by the electors of the municipality, this board makes all decisions on behalf of the township.
So, what kind of decisions is your board of supervisors responsible for? Some aspects of municipal government are:
Road Maintenance
The township roadcrew is only responsible for township owned roads. State owned roads are maintained by the state (PennDOT) and privately owned roads (such as in an HOA) are maintained by the property owners. To find a list of township owned roads, click here
Land Use
This includes things like combining two lots into one lot, subdividing one lot into numerous lots, and building commercial structures. This is governed by the Subdivision & Land Development Ordinance, which can be found here
Building Inspections
The International Building Code is enforced at the local level. Our township contracts a third party building inspection company, Bureau Veritas, to perform inspections and issue permits in the township. More information can be found here
Sewage Enforcement
Along the lines of building inspections, certain regulations must be followed for installing and maintaining a septic system. The township’s Sewage Enforcement Officer handles this. His information can be found here
Enforcement of Local Laws
Local laws, also known as ordinances, govern the health, safety, and welfare of the township residents. The township adopts ordinances to regulate junkyards, dangerous structures, short-term rental properties, outdoor fires, and signs. These laws are meant to protect the residents and provide a safe community. They can be found here
“Where does the township get funds from?”
In order for the board of supervisors to properly complete their responsibilities, funds are required. Funding for townships comes from many different sources, the main source being taxes.
Taxes
Property taxes (tax based on the assessment of your property) and transfer taxes (tax paid when a property title is transferred to another party) are the main sources of income for townships.
Permits
Fees for permits, such as septic system/well permits and building permits generate income. However, this income is directly used to pay wages for the SEO (Sewage Enforcement Officer) and the third-party building department.
Liquid Fuels
LFF are provided by the state to the township. These funds can ONLY be used on road and vehicle maintenance (learn more about these funds).
The township receives funds from some other sources, too. These include:
Fines and forfeits which come from the District Court Magistrate and Probation Fines.
Interest on township funds that are deposited into interest bearing accounts such as money markets and CDs.
State payment in lieu of taxes which comes from state owned land.
“So use the Liquid Fuels Fund (LFF) to pave my road.”
With all the funds received by the township, you may wonder where they all go. For example, in 2023 the township received $169,255 from LFF for the maintenance of the twenty-two roads totaling 34.65 miles that are owned by Greene Township. In order to maintain the road equipment, trucks, and other machinery, $38,165 was spent. Another $32,976 was spent on material to repair and maintain the actual roads by filling potholes, fixing washouts, and spreading cinders. $14,512 was spent for fuel to operate the equipment.
After deducting all the expenses, the township was left with approximately $83,600 of liquid fuels money at the end of 2023.
The most recent paving project the township did was to pave a portion of Valley View Road and a portion of Saw Mill Road in 2021. The paved area totalled about 1 mile of road and cost $186,358. Since then, material and expenses have increased substantially.
Therefore, the funds received from Liquid Fuels is not enough to cover the current expense of paving even 1/2 mile of road.
Bridges
In addition to road maintenance, the township is also responsible to maintain numerous bridges in the area. Township owned bridges include Lake Russell Road Bridge, Saw Mill Road Bridge, Mozzette Road Bridge, among others. Many of these bridges are in severe condition and require repair or replacement. Click here to see the bridge conditions in our township.
Lake Russell Road Bridge was just repaired (not replaced) in 2023 and cost approximately $268,000.
You may notice that some bridges are restricted to weight limits and/or one lane. This is because these bridges are in dire need of replacement. The past few years, the township has applied for grant money to try to get some of these bridges replaced. The estimated cost to replace Saw Mill Road Bridge and Mozzette Road Bridge is $3,000,000 (yes, that’s 3 MILLION). So far, we have not been awarded any money.
Even if we do get awarded money, many grants require the township to match a portion of the cost and pay other expenses that are not covered under the grant money, such as engineering and administration costs. And many grants do not award the full amount requested. So, in an effort to have the substantial funds required for bridge repairs and replacements, the township must keep saving money to eventually complete these projects.
“So what about my taxpayer dollars?”
Other sources of income for the township may be used to pave roads. However, these funds must also be allocated for general operating expenses, too. The township office is open to the public four days a week. A secretary and treasurer perform the duties of paying bills, depositing funds, answering resident inquiries, accepting land development submissions, completing employee paperwork, ordering supplies, and many other tasks.
The road work that’s required is completed by a road crew. Greene Township’s road crew currently consists of three full time employees and one part time employee.
Other operating expenses include the cost of keeping the township facilities running. Heating, electric, internet and phone, postage, website, solicitor, park maintenance, and many other fees are required to keep the township operating.
Between the general municipal operating costs, payroll, insurance on township buildings and equipment, there are a lot of expenses which are paid for with taxpayer dollars.
Other Township Expenses
Other expenses that are the responsibility of the township:
Workers’ Compensation Insurance for volunteer fire companies – Promised Land Volunteer Fire Company & a portion of Greene-Dreher Volunteer Fire Company.
Clean Up Day – in 2023, the annual clean up day for township residents cost approximately $5,742. The fees paid by residents who participated generated only $2,785, leaving an almost $3,000 gap.
Memberships – memberships which provide resources and training to township officials and employees, such as the membership to the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS).
Tax Collector – the tax collector receives 3.5% compensation for all taxes collected.
Engineering – certain road work requires a licensed engineer to review.
Advertising – the township legally must advertise meetings and other requirements in a paid newspaper of general circulation.
“So how do we get more funding?”
There are two ways to increase township funds:
Raise Taxes
Lower Expenses
DID YOU KNOW? – Taxes have not been raised in Greene Township in 16 years!
The quickest way to increase revenue to fix roads and pay expenses is to raise taxes. However, all of the township supervisors throughout the past 16 years have not done so. Raising taxes is a last resort, as the supervisors strive to keep them affordable.
Lowering expenses is another way to keep funds that are required. Many steps have been taken recently to try to lower township expenses. Energy efficient windows were installed in the meeting room/offices, heating oil quotes are received from numerous suppliers to ensure the lowest price, insurance was switched to a company with a lower premium, and other cost effective implementations.
The Bottom Line
While the township does plan to eventually pave and repair all roads and bridges, it is a long-term goal. Each year a budget is developed and adopted to allocate funds to all areas required. While the township budget is available for inspection before it’s adopted (click here), residents are also encouraged to attend budget meetings, and all other township meetings.
…the electors of each township shall elect three supervisors, three auditors and one tax collector. No person shall at the same time hold more than one elective township office.
…at each municipal election, the electors of each township shall elect one supervisor to serve for a term of six years from the first Monday of January after the election.
Greene Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania is a township of the Second Class. We have a 3 member board of supervisors who serve overlapping 6 year terms (visit the home page of the website to see the current board of supervisors). To serve as a supervisor, you must have resided in the township for at least 1 year, be at least 18 years old, be registered to vote, and continue to reside in the township.
The electors of the township are responsible for electing the board of supervisors. There are eligibility requirements for voting in Pennsylvania. They can be found here.
First Time Voters
If this is your first time voting in Pennsylvania, you may be confused about what to bring, or where to go to vote. Greene Township, Pike County’s voting location is the Hemlock Grove United Method Church located at 491 Roemerville Rd, Greentown, PA 18426. The polls are open from 7:00am-8:00pm. For more information on what to bring, click here.
How to Register to Vote, or find Elections Information
The Pike County Elections Office maintains and controls all activities relating to Voter Registration and Elections under the supervision of the Pike County Board of Elections.
Nadeen Manzoni – Director 506 Broad St. Pike County Administration Building Milford, PA 18337-1535 (570) 296-3426 • nmanzoni@pikepa.org