December 1, 2017 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Roadwork for Dec. 2 through Dec. 8

PennDOT has announced the following road projects, which are weather-dependent and could affect residents in the greater Chadds Ford area during the week of Dec. 2 through Dec. 8. Motorists are urged to allow extra time if they are traveling through one of the construction zones.

• Sweeping, litter pick-up and inlet cleaning along Route 202 between Brinton’s Bridge Road and Route 422 will cause overnight shoulder closures in Westtown and West Goshen Townships between Dec. 4 and Dec. 8.

• Expect lane restrictions for utility installation on South Union Street between Meadowview and Hillendale roads in Kennett Township through Dec. 8

• Curb and sidewalk installation will cause lane closures on West Baltimore Pike between Penns Manor Road and Mill Street in Kennett Township from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. through the end of the year.

• Curb and sidewalk installation will cause lane closures on West Cypress Street Between Scarlett Road and Mill Street in Kennett Township from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. through the end of the year.

• Curb and sidewalk installation will also cause lane closures on Rosedale Road between Walnut Street and MacFarlan Road through the end of the year.

• Reconstruction and road widening will cause periodic lane restrictions on the Conchester Highway between Route 1 and Foulk Road through Dec. 9.

About CFLive Staff

See Contributors Page https://chaddsfordlive.com/writers/

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Court denies Chadds Ford relief

Local News, Local News Chadds Ford, Local News Concord

Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge Chad F. Kenney denied Chadds Ford Township’s petition for injunctive relief against Ridge Road Development and Concord Township. A hearing was held Thursday, Nov. 30 and the decision released Friday, Dec. 1.

Chadds Ford had asked the court to prohibit Concord from signing and releasing final plans for recording in Ridge Road Development’s effort to develop the commercial property at Route 202 and Ridge Road in Concord.

In his ruling, Kenney wrote: “Plaintiff [Chadds Ford] has not established the elements necessary for the issuance of a preliminary injunction…”

When contacted via email for comment, Chadds Ford Township solicitor Mike Maddren said he had not yet seen the order, but “would sit down and evaluate the merits of an appeal with the supervisors and ask for direction from there.”

Attorneys for Concord Township and Ridge Road Development, Kathy Labrum and John Jaros respectively, could not immediately say what happens next as there is still a complaint pending.

The matter is one piece in the ongoing litigation regarding the proposed widening of Ridge Road from two to six lanes. Widening Ridge is part of the already approved commercial development for the 25-plus-acre lot on the southwest corner of Ridge Road and Route 202. That property is in Concord Township, but Ridge Road is in both Concord and Chadds Ford and runs between the two municipalities at that intersection.

Maddren argued that Concord “granted a right” to Chadds Ford when Concord, as part of the approval process, included a condition — Condition 19 — requiring Ridge Road Development to get a letter from Chadds Ford saying proposed highway improvements are satisfactory, but took that right away when it settled a suit with the developer.

He conceded that a former township manager had signed applications for a Highway Occupancy Permit, but said those permits only dealt with stormwater management and a traffic light easement, not with widening Ridge Road to six lanes.

Jaros countered by saying Chadds Ford knew about the widening from the beginning because the plans showing six lanes were included with the HOP applications.

“If Chadds Ford had concerns, why did they sign the permit twice?” Jaros said.

Labrum said Concord never granted a right to Chadds Ford, that it just wanted to make sure Chadds Ford was fully aware of proposed changes so there could be coordination between the two municipalities.

“We didn’t say Chadds Ford had rights,” Labrum said. “Chadds Ford [now] says it has the right to dictate to Concord how it should run its township.”

Labrum continued, saying there is no legal basis for that type of argument and that Chadds Ford hadn’t cited any reference to the law for that position.

There is still a complaint from Chadds Ford that is pending. That complaint argues the same basic premise, and asks the court to declare that, by virtue of Condition 19, Chadds Ford has a “legally enforceable right to ensure all road improvements are satisfactory.”

Timeline

Chadds Ford’s filing was the third in a series of legal filings that began in May after Concord declined to remove Condition 19 or deem as satisfied by Chadds Ford signing for the HOP.

When Ridge Road Development, a subsidiary of Pettinaro Construction, filed the first complaint against Concord Township this spring, Concord responded saying Chadds Ford had to be brought into the suit because it was an indispensable party. The complaint was amended to include Chadds Ford, but Chadds Ford then said PennDOT had to be brought into the mix because it had approved the plan to widen Ridge Road. Judge Spiro Angelos then dismissed the case without prejudice.

In September, Ridge Road Development filed a second complaint against Concord. That complaint was settled in early November when Concord agreed that Chadds Ford had already given tacit approval when it signed off on the HOP.

It was during that time when Chadds Ford filed its complaint and asked for the injunction against Concord releasing the plans.

Concord Township first approved the development with 190,000 square feet of retail space in October of 2008 and then reaffirmed the approval in January 2014.

In December of 2012, former Chadds Ford Township Supervisor George Thorpe signed off on the traffic signal easement and, nine months later — in September of 2013 — former Supervisor Deborah Love signed off on the stormwater operations and management agreement. Also in September 2013, Matt DiFilippo, who was Chadds Ford’s secretary at the time, signed the Highway Occupancy Permit.

Thorpe and Love have since left the board. In January of 2014, Frank Murphy replaced Love. Samantha Reiner was appointed supervisor in February 2015 after Keith Klaver resigned.

In April 2015, former Chadds Ford Township Manager Amanda Serock signed another HOP application and signed for a HOP renewal in June of 2016.

Proposed road changes

• Plans call for Ridge Road to be widened from the intersection with Route 202 through the length of the property along that road.

• There would be three access points for ingress and egress, two right in/right out only points on Route 202 for traffic traveling south on that road, and the main entrance on Ridge Road for traffic traveling north on 202. Because of the divider on Route 202 and the proximity of the site to Ridge Road, a left turn into the site from northbound 202 would not work properly, according to engineers.

• Route 202 south would be widened to allow for a dedicated right turn lane onto Ridge.

• There would be three lanes on eastbound Ridge Road that would be dedicated for left and right turns and for straight through traffic.

• According to Penn Dot’s Fran Hanney, the changes at the intersection would allow for easier traffic flow with less delay for motorists even during peak hours.

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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Critter time at BRM

Home and Leisure

Critter_Kayaker_preview — A kayaking critter

Ten thousand handmade critters – made by 130 volunteers – are on sale today through Sunday at the Brandywine River Museum’s annual Holiday Critter Sale.

The critters, environmentally friendly Christmas decorations for both tabletop and the tree, have been a tradition at the museum for the last 46 years. The annual sale is held from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and will offer visitors a chance to purchase everything from river rats to fairies to artist palettes to spiders and sloths.

“Critter making is a natural extension of our mission, by using all-natural materials in a very creative and artistic way,” said Donna Gormel, the director of volunteers and events for the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art. “The critters and the talented volunteers that make them are a source of great pride and admiration for the museum.

An artist critter is apropos for the Brandywine River Museum of Art.

“These enchanting creations support and promote the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art’s mission of preserving art and the environment,” Gormel said.

Critters are for sale starting from $5, and proceeds benefit the Art Education and Programming and the Volunteers’ Art Purchase Fund.

The story of how the critters are made is as unique as the critters themselves.

“This is like kindergarten for grown-ups,” said Helen Springer, a volunteer who has spent the last four years meeting three days a week with others at the “Critter House,” turning pieces of bark, acorns, nuts, berries, and other natural items into whimsical decorations.

The Critter House is an almost-century-old building on the campus of the Conservancy and the Museum. “It has a lot of character and suits very well the activity of making critters,” Gormel said.

Volunteers can choose to meet on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays, or on all three days, throughout the year. Gormel said the volunteers are also helped by about 20 people who gather the materials and work with inventory.

For the last 10 years, Lynne Gingrich has spent her mornings with the Monday volunteer group making critters. Just as important as the critters they make are the friendships that grow.

Even critters know a bad day fishing is better than a good day at the office.

“It’s the camaraderie and the friendships you make,” Gingrich said. “We work together as a team.”

Springer said the volunteers often draw inspiration from and help each other with their projects.

“The material itself tells you what it wants to be,” she said. “You never know what you’re going to do.”

For this year’s sale, Springer made a variety of critters. In honor of the Brandywine Conservancy and River Museum of Art’s 50^th anniversary, she used pieces of bark and put two turtles on them, representing the conservancy and the museum.

She also made lifelike spiders in honor of the well-known arachnid from “Charlotte’s Web,” and teddy bears using the teasel plant.

Teasel, according to Gingrich, is one item that is used plentifully in critters.

Gingrich was inspired by a birthday card her husband received to make the “So Slow Sloth” critter this year. She also made monkeys in honor of the cartoon “Curious George.”

“They’re so cute – they have little bow ties on,” she said.

Those who miss the public sale this weekend can also purchase critters from the Museum shop from Dec. 4-Jan. 7.

For more information, call 610-388-2700 or go online at www.brandywinemuseum.org.

About Monica Fragale

Monica Thompson Fragale is a freelance reporter who spent her life dreaming of being in the newspaper business. That dream came true after college when she started working at The Kennett Paper and, years later The Reporter newspaper in Lansdale and other dailies. She turned to non-profit work after her first daughter was born and spent the next 13 years in that field. But while you can take the girl out of journalism, you can’t take journalism out of the girl. Offers to freelance sparked the writing bug again started her fingers happily tapping away on the keyboard. Monica lives with her husband and two children in Kennett Square.

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