Development gets preliminary approval
Chadds Ford Township supervisors Wednesday gave preliminary approval for Wonderland Farms, a proposed planned residential development along Oakland Road. The vote was 2-0 with Supervisor Noelle Barbone abstaining.
The development — proposed by Harrier LLC, a Grace Family development company — calls for 22 new single-family homes on the west side of Oakland Road and 12 twin units on the east side between Brinton’s Bridge and Webb roads.
Among the many conditions read by township solicitor Michael Maddren, Harrier must agree to improve the condition of Oakland Road with new paving and stormwater collection management facilities from the five-points intersection at Brinton’s Bridge Road approximately 2,000 feet. A pedestrian crossing must also be installed at five points.
Additionally, a stop sign must be installed on Oakland Road at the entrance to the east side of the development. There also needs to be a raised intersection. A pedestrian crossing with actuated flashers, and traffic-calming devices must be installed according to recommendations from the township engineer.
The development would be on public water provided by Chester Water Authority. Another condition is that Harrier must provide access to the public water system to adjoining properties within 200 feet of the development. Maddren stressed, however, that Harrier did not have to supply water to those other properties, just allow access to laterals bringing the water into the area.
The total acreage is 89, and 27 of those acres will remain as open space.
Prior to Maddren’s reading the resolution with the conditions, Supervisors’ Vice Chairman Samantha Reiner spoke for about three minutes, congratulating members of the Planning Commission and other members of the community for their efforts in trying to come up with a proper solution by listening to all concerns. One member of the audience then thanked Reiner for her efforts.
Later, reflecting on the more than two years the development has been discussed and debated, Supervisors’ Chairman Frank Murphy said, as he has said previously, that the board is just trying to do the right thing.
“To me, this process was a sample of the best way to do things. I believe we listened to everything that everyone in the public had to say, and listened to every concern that every neighbor and resident had to say. We listened to every concern and issue the applicant raised …The decision in front of us accommodates all the competing interests,” Murphy said.
The plan must be further engineered before final approval can be given. When the applicant will be ready to proceed is not yet known since no one from Harrier attended the Nov. 30 work session.
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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