Mercedes still looking at CF

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on August 13, 2020

A plan to move Mercedes-Benz of West Chester into Chadds Ford Township is back on the table. The dealership is looking at the area of the Lenz property surrounded by Route 202, Oakland Road, and Brinton's Bridge Road. The dealership is leasing its current site in Birmingham Township.

Attorney Lou Colagreco brought the plan back to the Chadds Ford Planning Commission during the commission's Aug. 12 meeting held via Zoom. The commission heard the plan initially in February, "pre-pandemic," as attorney Lou Colagreco said Wednesday night.

Colagreco acknowledged that there would have to be a zoning change from PBC to PBC-1 to allow for car sales. He said that could go before the Board of Supervisors sometime this fall. In addition to the zoning change, the application would also need conditional use approval and routine subdivision and land use approval.

Township resident Susan Darrel, who owns two properties on Brinton's Bridge Road, expressed concern that building the dealership could pollute her wells and that her property could be damaged by stormwater runoff.

Colagreco responded by saying state and township codes would not allow the plan to go through if Darrel's property could be harmed.

Another point of concern is traffic. The modified plan now includes an access road between the property and Brinton's Bridge Road and two access points on Route 202. Those are right in/right out.

According to traffic engineer Nicole Kline, that would help traffic flow. Without that access, customers coming from the south on 202 would have to go farther north, then find a place to turn around. It would also allow customers who want to go north on 202 to avoid driving south first, then find a spot to make a U-Turn.

Commission Chairman Craig said he was concerned about drivers wanting to turn left on Brinton's Bridge after leaving the dealership. He said that could cause problems because the five-point intersection of Oakland, Brinton's Bridge, and Birmingham roads, which he said is already "poorly controlled."\Kline also said a possible test drive route would include all right turns, leaving the dealership onto southbound Route 202 to Route 1, then a right to Creek Road and then another right onto Brinton's Bridge back to the dealership.

There were also discussions about an outdoor seating area, plantings, possible sidewalks, and pedestrian trail access. None of the concerns were resolved during the meeting, and Colagreco said the plan would be revised in a week or so and that he wants to have a meeting with township land planner Tom Comitta.

Other business

Huffman announced the resignation of commission member Dennis Quinn. Quinn has moved out of the township.

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.