February 13, 2020

Mercedes Benz of West Chester is looking to move into Chadds Ford. The dealership is currently in Birmingham Township but is leasing the space and wants its own property.

Lou Colagreco, the attorney representing the dealership, presented a tentative plan Wednesday night to the township Planning Commission about a site along Route 202 just south of Brinton’s Bridge Road. The site includes the Leon Chetty property and one of the Eileen Lenz properties. In order to get approval for the proposed use, a zoning change from PBC to PBC-1 would be needed.

Three buildings are proposed, one of 50,000 square feet, a second of 20,000 square feet and the third of 10,000. The larger building would be for the main showroom and service area for standard vehicles, while the second building would be for commercial vehicles. The third would be used for high performace vehicles. According to the dealership’s Chris McGarity, Mercedes corporation requires 80,000 square feet for its dealerships.

Traffic engineer Nicole Kline said engineering industry standards indicate 1,000 vehicles in and out each day but added it would probably be less in reality. Ingress and egress would be right in/right out only, and customers test driving cars would be making only right-hand turns: right out onto Route 202 and down to Route 1, another right to Creek Road where they would make another right to Brinton’s Bridge and then back up to the dealership on 202.

Using the Chetty and Lenz properties, there would be some parking in an R-1 zoning district because of split zoning and a special exception would be needed from the Zoning Hearing Board. Commission Chairman Craig Huffman asked McGarity if there had been any discussions with Andy Variale and Susan Darrel about buying their properties.

Variale owns Enzo’s and Darrel has a house and antique shop, both properties are between the end of the Lenz property and the corner at Brinton’s Bridge and Route 202. Huffman said buying those properties could eliminate the need for parking in the R-1 zone and the need for the special exception.

McGarity said having access to the corner “would be advantageous,” but added that it could be costly.

Nothing was finalized and there was no vote. The applicant will be back for another meeting after checking with the other property owners.

Other business

• The commission also heard an application from Michelle Parker, the veterinarian who owns Glen Mills Veterinary Hospital on Route 202 — 1785 Wilmington Pike. Parker wants to put on an addition that would add three more examination rooms and add some additional parking.

The plan would require increased sewer capacity, so she has to go to the sewer Authority before the Planning Commission can vote on a possible recommendation. Were it not for the added sewer needs, Huffman said, there would be no problem from a planning standpoint.

• The commission didn’t have a meeting in January, so it had its reorganization session prior to the start of its regular meeting. Huffman was re-elected chairman and Valerie Hoxter was elected vice chairman. Tammy Maciolek was officially appointed Planning Commission secretary.

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.

Around Town Feb. 13

Along the Ford

A film crew sets up for a scene near the Andy Wyeth Studio at Creek and Murphy roads.

• The ‘Mare’ was back in town this week. A production crew was in Chadds Ford Monday and Tuesday shooting more scenes for the HBO limited series “Mare of Easttown” starring Kate Winslet. Crews used the parking lot of the Brandywine River Museum as a staging area. As Chadds Ford Live reported in November during the initial shoot, the series is expected to air this year. Winslet portrays Mare Sheehan, a small-town detective investigating a murder while her personal life is in disarray.

• The Uptown! Speaker Series welcomes back Ray Didinger on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. The Philadelphia Sports Radio celebrity, author, and sportswriter presents, “Eagles 2019 Season: An Insider’s Perspective.” Following the success of his previous engagement at Uptown! this past September, Ray will talk through the Eagles’ 2019 season highlights and what they mean moving forward. The Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center is located at 226 North High Street, West Chester. Tickets, if available, can be purchased at UptownWestChester.org, at the box office, or call 610-356-ARTS(2787).

• State Sen. Tom Killion, R-9, Chester and Delaware counties, will hold a telephone town hall meeting for 9^th District residents at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19. To encourage participation, Killion will be broadcasting the townhall event live on Facebook. To gauge the topics of most interest, Killion is conducting an online poll that can be accessed at senatorkillion.com/tele-town-hall-survey. Users will then be redirected to the townhall’s registration page. District residents will receive an automated phone call immediately prior to the start of the event and need only to stay on the line to participate. Killion emphasized that those who would like to participate in the townhall by mobile phone must register for the event. Those wishing to participate online should go to facebook.com/SenKillion at the time of the event.

Summer Discovery Camp at Newlin Grist Mill begins in July. Registration is now open.

• Registration is now open for Summer Discovery Camp at Newlin Grist Mill. The camp is designed for children ages 4-12, where they can explore learning, friendship and fun. Three week-long camps are offered, running from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. each day. In 2020, the themes for these camps will be Around the World with Newlin (July 6-10), Colonial Kids (July 20-24), and Full STEAM Ahead (August 3-7). The cost per session is $150 for members and $200 for non-members. In addition, a series of Afternoon Adventures will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. on selected dates during the summer. Scheduled for this summer are Pond Life Safari (July 7, ages 4-12), Colonial Cookies (July 9, ages 4-8), Recycled Boat Regatta (July 21, ages 4-12), Growing Up Colonial (July 23, ages 4-8), Hydro Heroes (August 4, ages 6-12), and Cookin’ Up Cornbread (August 6, ages 4-8). The cost per adventure is $30 for members and $40 for non-members. For more information, visit https://www.newlingristmill.org/summer-discovery, or call the site at 610-459-2359.

• A presentation on Delaware County’s Tax Reassessment Project will be held on Feb. 18 at 1 p.m. in the Council Public Meeting Room. (201 W. Front St., Media PA.) Tyler Technologies will present information on the county’s Tax Reassessment Project currently underway. They will detail the timeline and the process to appeal the new tentative value of a property. The presentation will be followed by a Question and Answer session.

• The Kennett Brewfest presents the eighth annual Kennett Winterfest on Saturday, Feb. 29, from 12:30 –4 p.m. at 109 S. Broad St, Ste 2, Kennett Square.

• All driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Saturday, Feb. 15, through Monday, Feb. 17, in observance of Presidents Day. Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.pa.gov.

• Chester County Historical Society presents Painting with Pippin on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to noon. Learn about Chester County’s Horace Pippin and his impact on the world of art. Enjoy a reading of “A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin,” and then create a Pippin craft that children can take home or display here!

• The Tony Award-winning hit Broadway comedy, “The Play That Goes Wrong” will make its Wilmington debut at The Playhouse on Rodney Square for six performances, March 12-15. “The Play That Goes Wrong” is a comedy about the theater. The play introduces The ‘Cornley University Drama Society’ who are attempting to put on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong, does, as the accident-prone thespians battle on against all odds to get to their final curtain call. For tickets and showtimes, visit BroadwayInWilmington.org, call 302-888-0200 or visit The Playhouse box office located within the historic Dupont Building at 1007 N. Market Street, Wilmington. Ticket prices start at $40.