Crebilly 2 hearing underway

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on December 19, 2019

People request party status during the first session of the conditional use hearing for the Toll Bros. plan to develop Crebilly Farm held at Rustin High School on Dec. 18.

Round two of the Toll Bros./Crebilly Farm conditional use hearing in Westtown Township is underway. There was nothing special during the first night, which began the same way as round one went in 2017 with residents and others requesting party status.

Having party status allows people to cross-examine witnesses and appeal the supervisors’ decision if they feel that is necessary.

Gregg Adelman, the attorney representing Toll, stipulated in writing that those who had party status during the Crebilly 1 hearing would have status again. Among those re-granted party status for Crebilly 2 were Neighbors for Crebilly, the West Chester Area School District, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Birmingham and Thornbury (Chester County) townships, and Randell Spackman of Thornbury Farm Trust and numerous individuals.

Several dozen other individuals sought party status for the first time during the Dec. 18 session. Most were granted but several people were denied after objections by Adelman because they live more than a mile away from the property.

In all, more than 30 individuals and organizations have party status, according to Westtown Township solicitor Patrick McKenna. He added that people who want party status but couldn’t attend Wednesday’s session may apply during the next meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 30 at Rustin High School on Shiloh Road.

McKenna said two other hearing sessions are already scheduled. The February session is set for Feb. 25 at Stetson Middle School. There is also a session scheduled for March 25 back at Rustin.

Crebilly Farm is 322-acre property bounded by Routes 202 and 926, and S. New Street and W. Pleasant Grove Road. Toll wants to build 317 new homes on the site, 182 single-family homes and 135 townhouses.

Westtown supervisors denied conditional use approval during round 1, and Toll appealed. Chester County Court of Common Pleas upheld the supervisors’ decision and Toll then appealed to Commonwealth Court. That court last week issued its opinion which also upheld the denial.

Toll filed an updated plan in August and that is the plan currently being heard by the supervisors.

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.