Letter: Better plan needed for Crebilly

Posted by ChaddsFordLive on January 30, 2017

Crebilly Farm is an historic landmark in Chester County and part of the Brandywine Battlefield. She is one of the last three large, open spaces left in Westtown Township and is currently threatened by mass development.

Located North and South between West Pleasant Grove Road and Route 926 and East and West between Route 202 and South New Street, her breathtaking, 322 acres of rolling hills, streams, woods, open land and wildlife have been farmed since prior to WWII. For Crebilly Farm to fall victim to mass development would be an iconic loss.

In June of 2016, an agreement of sale was reached between Toll Brothers and the owners of Crebilly Farm. The sale is contingent upon 'conditional use approval' by the Westtown Township Board of Supervisors. That means this is not a done deal.

Crebilly Farm Friends respects the rights of landowners and believes in fair compensation. It is our hope the township and the developer will devise a thoughtful and balanced development plan that does not compromise this incredible piece of American history: conserve the open space and preserve the Brandywine Battlefield.

We, the community, need to hold our townships and developers to the highest standards in order to preserve the integrity of unique land such as Crebilly Farm. The Crebilly Farm Friends website was created to inform and empower concerned citizens by providing a resource to turn to for upcoming meetings, news and educational information as we navigate this journey through the Planning Commission meetings and soon, the Board of Supervisors 'Conditional Use' hearings which begin Feb. 22. Our goal is to work toward the best possible outcome.

Massive public outcry is our best ally against permanent destruction of Crebilly Farm. Knowledge is power. Please make the commitment to attend as many meetings as you can. Read and educate yourselves and others about this heart-wrenching, potential loss. Together we are making a difference. This is how we maintain the values of what makes Chester County such a desirable place to live.