Defying the advent of spring, a storm system is expected to return snowy weather back to the region on Friday, March 20, the National Weather Service said.
Chester and Delaware Counties are under a winter weather advisory from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday when a high temperature near 35 is expected. The chance of precipitation is 90 percent, with snow predicted to arrive before 5 p.m.
The National Weather Service says accumulations are expected to range from an inch or less over southern New Jersey and central Delmarva to four to six inches in the Poconos and northern New Jersey. Areas of Chester and Delaware counties near the I-95 corridor may receive two to four inches. The late afternoon commute will likely be affected over much of the region.
On Friday night, the chance of precipitation will drop to 80 percent with a low temperature around 29. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch is possible.
By Saturday, the sun should return with a high near 49.
The Chester County Commissioners advanced the preservation of more than 1,000 acres of open space at their meeting on Thursday, March 19 – for projects that include the Strode’s Mill Historic District, Anson B. Nixon Park, Barnard’s Orchard and the ChesLen Preserve.
The Chester County Commissioners approved a $105,000 contract with East Bradford Township for half of the purchase price of nearly seven historic acres that contain the home of Strode’s Mill sausage.
The commissioners also applauded the news from Mark Rupsis, the county’s chief operating officer, that the county’s bond refinancing – expected to save $3.5 million – produced a $5.4 million windfall. Both Rupsis and the commissioners credited a team of hard-working employees for the transaction’s successful outcome.
During Tuesday’s Sunshine meeting, Bill Gladden, director of the county’s Department of Open Space Preservation, noted that the grants to conservancies will preserve 1,054 acres and grants to municipalities will preserve about 17.5 acres, creating recreation opportunities at two new community parks and in three municipalities.
“The recreation opportunities in the municipalities that will result from this round of open space funding benefit all residents,” said Chester County Commissioners’ Chairman Terence Farrell. “Chester County’s well-earned reputation as one of the top counties in the nation to live and work is due, in large part, to our balance between managing growth and preserving open space.”
Among the local contracts approved was $105,000 to East Bradford Township, half of the $210,000 needed to acquire a 6.9-acre tract at the corner of Route 52 and Birmingham Road, a property with a colorful history that includes Strode’s scrapple and Revolutionary War heroes.
The commissioners also approved $57,000 to the Kennett Area Park Authority toward a $349,700,000 project to make improvements to the entrance of Anson B. Nixon Park and construct a dog park there.
The Land Conservancy (TLC) for Southern Chester County will receive $500,000 for the purchase of a conservation easement, including public access on 125.2 acres of the Miller property in Kennett Township. The total cost of the project is $1.88 million.
TLC will also get $244,860 toward the purchase of an $822,210 farmland conservation easement on 74.3 acres owned by Barnard’s Orchard in Newlin Township.
Natural Lands Trust will receive $1 million toward the $2.5 million purchase price of 58.2 acres in Newlin Township that will be added to the ChesLen Preserve.
“Chester County’s open space preservation is a key component of our strategic plan,” said Commissioner Kathi Cozzone. “The insight of our open space preservation staff ensures that we are working smart in both the selection of open space projects and the cost to preserve.”
Rebecca Brain, a county spokeswoman, said the more than $5.3 million in open-space expenditures was included in this year’s $7.5 million capital budget for open space preservation. As a result, funds remain for other eligible projects in 2015, she said.
“Open space preservation fits perfectly with Chester County’s VISTA 2025 efforts to guide economic growth over the next 10 years, through a focus on both progress and preservation,” said Commissioner Michelle H. Kichline, who is also co-chair of VISTA 2025. “We know that maintaining our ‘quality of place’ through the preservation and expansion of agriculture, parks and trails is attractive to both residents and businesses.”
The county partnered with municipalities as well as agencies that included the Brandywine Conservancy, Natural Lands Trust, and the Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County. By the end of 2014, Chester County had preserved more than 123,500 acres, which represents over 25 percent of the county, according to county records.
Peter Simone provides an overview of the draft of the Chadds Ford Village Master Plan to an audience at the Chadds Ford Historical Society on Wednesday, March 18.
Updated on Friday, March 20, to add link to plan
The first public presentation of a proposed master plan draft for a walkable Chadds Ford Village – a layout that would enable visitors to traverse the town’s numerous attractions with ease – received an enthusiastic reception during its unveiling Wednesday night at the Chadds Ford Historical Society.
The yellow dotted lines show the location of proposed pedestrian walkways in the draft for the Chadds Ford Village Master Plan while the green lines show Brandywine Conservancy trails.
Peter Simone, a landscape architect with Simone Collins and a consultant for the project, presented a 50-minute slide show that provided an overview of the proposal as well as some conceptual renderings of some of its possible features. He then fielded questions for about 20 minutes from the audience of nearly 50 people, stressing that the plan “is still fluid.”
Simone encouraged area residents and stakeholders to submit feedback to Beth Burnam, a senior planner for the Brandywine Conservancy and one of the lead organizers of the project. Paper copies of the plan will be available at the Chadds Ford Township building, and electronic versions will be posted next week on websites of both the Brandywine Conservancy and the township.
After comments are received, the plan, which has been in the works since November, is expected to undergo additional revisions before the final master plan is submitted on May 20. “That’s when the real work begins,” Simone said.
He said that the plan already contains input from myriad sources, such as the Brandywine Creek Greenway Strategic Action Plan, a conservation initiative that involves 24 municipalities along the east and west branches of the Brandywine Creek; the Brandywine Battlefield Preservation Plan; and the Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan.
Simone said the goal is to make motorists realize that they are approaching “a special place” with myriad offerings, connect those offerings by adding pedestrian-friendly walkways, and create a sense of community that encourages visitors to linger.
He said the village would be delineated from Fairville to Ring Roads on Route 1 with “gateways” at either end that would visually alert drivers that they are approaching a noteworthy place through signage, banners or landscaping. He said traffic would be slowed by reducing lane widths and erecting medians, preferably elevated ones where possible.
A conceptual drawing shows how landscaping could showcase Chadds Ford Village.
A pedestrian walkway is proposed along the south side of Route 1, also known as the northbound side, that would provide many opportunities for pedestrians to access attractions safely. Another walkway would run along the west side of South Creek Road from the intersection of Station Way Road north to Route 1.
A new traffic light is suggested for the intersection of South Creek Road and Route 1, next to the Post Office and Bryn Mawr Trust branch, which would enable drivers to turn left onto Route 1, something that is currently illegal.
The new light would be synchronized with the one at Station Way Road so that it would not slow traffic, and Station Way Road would switch from one-way north to one-way south, providing better access for businesses. All three traffic lights in the village area – the other is at Ring Road – would have buttons to assist pedestrians in crossing the street, Simone said.
A drawing shows the proposed narrowed traffic lanes and the walkway on the northbound side of Route 1.
To improve parking, Simone said the Brandywine Conservancy has spoken with the owner of the property behind the Post Office, who is amenable to the idea of adding a parking lot for about 30 cars. He said details, such as who would pay to construct it, remain undetermined.
On the southbound side of Route 1 at Creek Road, Simone said a walkway is recommended from Hank’s Place along North Creek Road to the Chadds Ford Historical Society. The existing walkway adjacent to the Sanderson Museum could be upgraded to access other businesses, such as Antica and Brandywine Prime, along southbound Route 1. In addition, a boardwalk around the back of Hank’s would showcase a pond that is largely hidden from view while connecting to the conservancy’s existing trail network.
A couple of audience members asked whether anything could be done to prevent the flooding that plagues the area once or twice a year. Simone said the only solutions for that appear to be very expensive, regional ones that involve stormwater retention basins that protect downstream communities by controlling the release of water.
Although Simone said he did not know of grant money available for that kind of initiative, he said it is definitely available for the kind of recommendations in the Chadds Ford Village Master Plan. “We’re in a good funding environment right now,” he said.
The fact that the proposal involves both Delaware and Chester County and two townships – Chadds Ford and Pennsbury – increases the likelihood of getting funding, he said. “State agencies like to do projects that are multi-municipal,” he said.
Because it’s difficult to predict what funding would occur at what time, he said the project should be done in stages. “It’s a 10-, 15-year plan,” Simone said. “It’s not going to happen overnight.”
The audience included two Chadds Ford Township supervisors, Frank G. Murphy and Samantha Reiner. “We look forward to working with you,” Murphy told Simone.
Click here to see draft of Chadds Ford Village plan Readers are invited to send comments and questions from March 18 through April 15. Either email Beth Burnam at bburnam@brandywine.org, or call 610-388-8396. The final plan presentation will be held on May 20 at 7 p.m., at the Chadds Ford Historical Society.
Concord Township supervisors voted 3-1 to grant preliminary plan approval for the Vineyard Commons project, but they still hope to preserve the land. And the township is putting up its own money to help make that happen.
Supervisors’ Chairman Dominic Pileggi said at the beginning of the March 18 meeting, held for the sole purpose of the vote, that the township was dedicating $500,000 of open space money to help some private conservation entity buy the property.
Pileggi also announced that Delaware County Council Vice Chairman Colleen Morrone said the county is committing $250,000 to save the land. Morrone is a Concord resident and former supervisor in the township.
No such private entity has stepped forward publicly as yet, however.
“We’re encouraging those groups that are actively pursuing it to continue to do so. I would also say that I’ve been told on numerous occasions there are groups out there but, so far, the only two to put their money up are Concord Township and the County of Delaware,” Pileggi said.
He said after the meeting that he knows there have been talks between the developers — McKee-Concord Homes and Eastern States Developers — and private conservation groups to keep the land open and that he hopes those talks will continue.
“We’re hoping they’ll bring that to fruition,” Pileggi said.
Laurie Curl holds a sign encouraging Supervisor John Gillespie to vote against the Vineyard Commons play. Gillespie voted to approve.
While it was not brought out in the meeting, the Delaware Congressional Delegation of U.S. Rep. John Carney and U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons are hoping for the same.
The trio sent a letter dated March 18 to Woodlawn Trustees, the property owner, and the developers recommending a “cooling off period” so that they can get together with the private conservation community to workout a reasonable offer on the land.
“We hope that you recognize there is more than one path ahead of you, and you will consider our proposal or find another way to preserve this land in the Brandywine Valley in a way that everyone will benefit,” they wrote.
The audience reacted to Pileggi’s announcement about the money with cheers, but those cheers turned to chants of “You should be ashamed” when the vote was taken.
The property in question is 230 acres straddling Beaver valley Road. Woodlawn is selling the acreage to Eastern States Developers and McKee Homes. They want to build 160 homes on the property.
Sherri Evans-Stanton, the executive director of the Brandywine Conservancy said she was disappointed with the outcome.
“There was significant information presented by a number of experts that would have supported a decision against the development. It would have given time to people who have raised issues of protecting the land. The battle is not over. There are a lot of conditions the developers will have to meet and there will still be opportunities to try to turn this around,” she said.
Concord residents Laurie Curl and Ken Hemphill were more than disappointed.
“Disappointed. Upset. Furious,” was Curl’s response when asked her reaction.
“I just don’t understand why the Board of Supervisors have no clue of the impact of destroying this precious open space. I just don’t see how they don’t see that clearly enough,” she said.
Hemphill, too, was angry with the decision and the supervisors who voted for the approval. He thinks the pledge of money lacks sincerity and will actually raise the price of preserving Beaver Valley.
“What’s going to happen is the land is going to be saved. The little charade at the beginning of the meeting promising money from the county and the township is proof that it’s going to get saved…but it’s going to cost the people more,” he said.
Hemphill called the actions corrupt because, he said, one of Woodlawn’s board members is Richard Julian who is also owner of Eastern States Development.
The developers would get nothing if the plan was denied, but now they can get more for their equitable ownership in the property, even if the property is preserved, according to Hemphill.
Another Concord resident, Chris Donnelly, was more reflective in his opinion.
“It’s not a win, but it’s not a complete loss,” Donnelly said. “By denying some of the waiver requests, increasing buffers and making the builders spend more money is making it more difficult on their pocket. Maybe they’ll allow us to buy it.”
Chadds Ford Township resident Rob Gurnee, who is the vice chairman of Save the Valley, one of the groups fighting the plan, also reacted.
“I am hopeful that out of this deeply flawed and unsettling process, a window may be open to find a preservation option for Beaver Valley. For the sake of our community, lets hope the opportunity is real and that everyone works to capitalize on it.”
The applicant had requested 10 waivers, but three were denied outright and another three were denied in part by the supervisors.
Another sign urges Kevin O’Donoghue to reject the plan. O’Donoghue did just that.
Approval also came with a list of 19 conditions. Among those conditions, the builders must make improvements to Beaver Valley Road, conduct traffic counts to gauge cut through traffic on Summit, Dain and Watkin avenues, retain a forestry expert to confirm tree loss estimates and to increase the buffering around the Brandywine Summit Camp Meeting.
The lone vote against approval came from Supervisor Kevin O’Donoghue. He said he did not agree with granting any of the waivers, nor does he think that improvements to Beaver Valley Road, as required by one of the conditions, would adequately address traffic congestion or gridlock.
O’Donoghue went on to say that development would have a negative impact on the environment and would adversely affect the residents of Concord Township and surrounding communities.
“This is a very unique tract of land and must be treated as such. I have heard others say, and I agree, ‘Once it is gone it is gone.’ Any individuals or groups that have a genuine interest to buy and preserve this precious land, I hope they step forward now.”
The applicant presented, what attorney John Jaros said is, a by-right plan because no zoning changes were requested. All of the township consultants — engineers, land planners and fire marshal — said the plan met township criteria.
According to Supervisor John Gillespie, it’s a matter of whose opinion counts the most, the township’s consultants or those of the opposition.
“I feel strongly in the ability of our consultants. Every year we select our township professionals and I have every confidence in the township team. That’s reason why I’m voting yes,” he said.
Supervisor Libby Salvucci voted for approval, saying she had to rely on the township’s consultants for their interpretation of the code. She added, however, “My heart is not in this vote.”
Salvucci’s and Gillespie’s comments were met with boos and jeers, as was the vote itself. Pileggi also voted to approve.
Solicitor Hugh Donaghue said there is a 30-day in which to appeal the decision.
The vote was for preliminary approval only. The applicant must still present a more detailed plan and show that the conditions set forth in the resolution have been met before final approval can be granted.
Jaros said he could not comment until he had time to read the full resolution and the 19 conditions.
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.
