Spirited debate over a proposed ordinance amendment imposing a park and recreation fee on developers occupied more than half of a nearly two-hour Kennett Square Borough Council meeting on Monday, May 2.

Several residents favored imposing the $2,000 impact fee – in lieu of dedicating parkland – per dwelling unit on a large developer, but they suggested that it represented a burden for a homeowner who might want to subdivide a smaller tract.

“It doesn’t seem fair for a small lot,” said resident John Thomas, suggesting a revision to exclude a smaller property owner. He also said he wished the fee had been in place sooner. “This should have been done 20 years ago,” he said.

Council President Danilo P. Maffei said the ordinance would give the borough an opportunity to preserve what little land is left. “We’re never going to get another Anson B. Nixon Park; that ship sailed a long time ago,” he said.

Another source of contention, initially raised by Councilman Wayne Braffman, involved language that the fee “shall be used only for the purpose of providing, acquiring, operating or maintaining park or recreational facilities.”

Braffman suggested that the money be limited to providing or acquiring a park, not maintaining an existing one. “It would be easy to use this for the wrong reason,” he said, urging an amendment to the proposal.

After discussion, Marc D. Jonas, the borough’s solicitor, advocated passing the ordinance and then initiating the process to amend it. He explained that the language had already been approved by both the county and the borough planning commissions and that any changes would have to be signed off by them.

The ordinance passed unanimously, and then Braffman made a motion to begin the amendment procedure by recommending that the words “operating and maintaining” be eliminated. It passed 5 to 1 with Maffei in opposition. Councilman Jamie Mallon was not present.

During public comment, residents Tony DiOttavio and Tony Talamonti both criticized the passage of the ordinance, suggesting that it unfairly treats longtime small property owners the same as developers.

Resident John Thomas said he was distressed by the progression of events. “You couldn’t come to a consensus,” he noted. “Then you turned around and said: ‘Now we’re going to revise it.’”

Thomas said he believed the questions raised were legitimate, and he said he didn’t understand why they hadn’t been discussed previously by members of the council. Starting the process over would be costly, he said. “It’s irritating to me to see you waste money,” he added.

Braffman later explained that he understood Thomas’s frustration. He said before he was elected, he used to wonder why it seemed like council members hadn’t talked about issues before they came up at meetings. “We are discussing it for the first time,” he said, adding that to do otherwise would violate the Sunshine Law.

In other business, Mary Hutchins, executive director of Historic Kennett Square, reported that two downtown buildings sold in April: 109 S. Broad St., which will be renovated into a fitness facility; and 120 E. State St., which will become a home and style boutique.

Council members unanimously approved a waiver request from Mike Pia Jr. for the Kennett Business Park Subdivision, a development that that is mainly in Kennett Township. Pia said he had acquired a six-acre tract in Kennett Township and needed lot-line changes on that portion of what is now a 24-acre parcel. He said the township had already granted the approval, but he needed the borough’s OK since an acre of the tract lies within the borough.

The council also heard a request from Kristin Proto, executive director of the Garage Youth Center. Proto said the center wants to replace the dated artwork on the front of the building on Union Street, which is in the historic district, and needs council approval to begin the application process.

Proto said artists would be solicited to submit designs, which would then be subject to council approval.

“I think it’s a terrific idea – very creative,” said Councilman Geoffrey R. Bosley.

Council members acknowledged the likelihood that they would approve the design but noted that they were simply voting to approve the application process.