The first public presentation of a proposed master plan for a walkable Chadds Ford Village is set for March 18. In preparation for that presentation — to be held 7:30 p.m. at the Chadds Ford Historical Society — the steering committee reviewed a draft of that plan two weeks ahead of time.
Some of the recommendations include possible zoning changes, adding a traffic light at Route 1 and South Creek Road and changing Station Way Road from one-way northbound to one-way southbound.
Landscape architect Peter Simone, of Simone Collins, the consultant for the plan, gave the committee a PowerPoint presentation during a 90-minute meeting in the Environmental Management Center at the Brandywine Conservancy on March 4.
Simone defined the actual village area as the stretch of Route 1 from Ring Road in Chadds Ford Township to Fairville Road — at Chadds Ford Elementary School — in Pennsbury Township.
He also said there would be “gateway transition zones” leading into the village area.
Driving lanes would be narrowed from 14 feet wide to 11 feet and speed limits would be lowered to 45 mph or slower. Helping to slow traffic through the village would be landscaped medians.
Bicycle and pedestrian lanes would be added on the south side of Route 1 — the northbound lanes from Fairville to Ring Road — and shoulders would be added to both sides of the road. In addition, Simone said, there could be “pedestrian scaled” lighting for safety, as well as pedestrian activated crossing lights.
Among the suggested zoning changes, Simone said rezoning North Creek Road from residential to B business would allow for more businesses while keeping residential use as a pre-existing nonconforming use.
Rezoning Station Way Road to business is also suggested. Another suggestion is to rezone the LI, light industrial, area of Route 1 and South Creek Road. Simone said that could become either a residential district or get a special open space zoning designation.
He also said reducing the 75-foot front yard setback along Route 1 would be more in keeping with a friendly village feel.
Chadds Ford Township Open Space Committee Chairman Deb Reardon suggested that the committee drop the rezoning idea for use of Route 1 properties, at least for the time being.
Changing the one-way traffic flow on Station Way Road — and including a walkway — adding pedestrian crossings on South Creek Road and adding a traffic signal at South Creek Road and Route 1 could help create a “Chadds Ford Commons” area to the village, Simone said.
He said the area could be a place where people can walk after a dinner at a local restaurant or sit down and have some ice cream. Station Way could also be closed off for a public event, he said.
Other ideas include having a pedestrian walkway along the west side of North Creek Road from the Chadds Ford Historical Society to Route 1 at Hank’s Place. Included in that idea are boardwalk or overlook sections at the little parking area across from the Sanderson Museum and another in the rear of the parking lot at Hank’s.
Simone said those areas would give pedestrians a better view of the wetland and provide a place for artists and photographers to do their thing.
The draft plan also shows walking trails between the Brandywine River Museum of Art and the Kuerner Farm and another trail crossing the Brandywine Creek along the old, unused railroad tracks at the museum to Fairville Road.
Areas of responsibility — which governmental or private entities would do what — is still to be determined as are cost estimates to implement the various suggestions.
A pubic meeting to present the final plan is tentatively scheduled for May 20.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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