November 7, 2024 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Chadds Ford in brief

• Chadds Ford Township supervisors Wednesday night voted to advertise the 2025 budget with an eye on adopting it in December. There have been no substantive changes since the budget discussion during the October workshop.

The one exception to that, which was discussed last month, is that the annual Business Privilege Tax would increase from $100 per year to $225 per year. That increase, according to Finance Director Laura Lim, would go toward funding the Concordville Fire and Protection Association, raising the township’s contribution to $163,000. The fire company had requested $223,000. Last year’s contribution was $100,000.

Property taxes will remain the same.

Once advertised, the budget will be available for public inspection for 20 days before the vote to adopt.

• Supervisors also voted to officially spend some ARPA funds in the way they had previously discussed. Painters Crossing Condominiums will get $50,000; the Sewer Authority will get $40,000, and the Open Space Committee will get almost $208,000 for reimbursement of Walkable Chadds Ford expenses.

• The Open Space Committee will hold a special public meeting on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. to review and discuss the Sunset Hill Preserve Trail Implementation Plan. The public is invited to attend in person or on Zoom.

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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David Dodge wants carwash in Concord

Local News Concord, Local News

Dave Kelleher of David Dodge is acting on his announcement of April 2023 to open a detailing shop and training center in Concord Township. His plan also calls for a car wash; for that, he needs a conditional use hearing.

The shop and car wash would be on a 5.32-acre site at 830 Conchester Highway, across from Evergreen Drive.

Kelleher already received zoning clearance for the detailing shop in October when Concord’s Zoning Hearing Board granted a special exception for the use in the C-2 Zoning District. The conditional use hearing for the carwash began Wednesday night.

Attorney Lou Colagreco said Kelleher could not attend the session because he was under the weather, so architect Bob Linn became the lead witness.

Linn said an existing but vacated home on the site would be demolished, and two new structures — the detail shop and car wash — would be erected.

The shop would be at the rear of the property and have two stories. The lower level would be 27,600 square feet and have 23 service bays, while the upper level would be 7,700 square feet with offices and a training center.

Linn also said the car wash is planned to be 34,000 square feet toward the front of the site and have a 12-car queue-up lane between the carwash and the dealership building.

“That queue-up lane in no way impacts or impedes site circulation,” he said.

He added that the carwash would be “old fashioned” in that attendants would vacuum and hand dry cars, so customers would not need to do that themselves. Lin said the carwash is modeled after the one at 931 W. Lancaster Avenue in Bryn Mawr.

The car wash would be open to the public, but the detail shop would use it also since there would be no car wash station in the detailing area.

Linn testified that the pervious and impervious coverages are well within the township code.

Code allows for 35 percent building coverage, but Linn said the plan calls for only 13.4 percent. He also said that while the code allows for 70 percent impervious, the plan calls for 53.1 percent.

Parking is also ample and exceeds township requirements, Linn said. The code requires 88 spaces but, Linn said, there are 126 parking spaces available.

The hearing didn’t conclude Wednesday. It’s been continued to a date yet to be determined. When it does resume, Linn is expected to respond to questions from council members and the public, and then traffic engineer Al Federico is scheduled to testify.

About Rich Schwartzman

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Around Town Nov. 7

Along the Ford

Rachel Koghl Library — At the Rachel Kohl Library on Nov. 13.

• The Rachel Kohl Library will present Bonfire of the Ballet Girls on Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 2-3 p.m. in the Community Room. In the 19th century, the ballerina was the symbol of grace and beauty was the ballerina, in her gauzy white costume; meanwhile, the height of modernity on stage was gas illumination. The combination of the two could sometimes spell disaster for the ballerina, the theater, and the audience. This lecture explores the system of poverty, exploitation, and desperation which ultimately resulted in the fiery deaths of nine dancers in Philadelphia and dozens more around the world. This program will be presented by Jennifer L. Green of the Chester County History Center and author of Dark History of Penn’s Woods. Registration is encouraged but not required.

• West Chester University is producing the regional premiere of the new opera called Alice Tierney, written by Old City resident Melissa Dunphy. The story is based on Old City historical events. A woman named Alice Tierney was murdered in the late 1800s on a property that Dunphy owns. Dunphy is an alum of West Chester. She is an up-and-coming composer The opera is Nov. 15 and 16 in the Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, Philips Memorial Building, 700 S. High Street, West Chester. Tickets are $5 and are available here. Students, faculty, staff, and children under 11 enjoy free tickets with proper ID.

Chester County Art Association holds Craftapalooza on Dec. 7.

• Chester County Art Association is holding a crafting marathon for school-age children on Dec. 7. from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. At the Craftapalooza event, each child will have the opportunity to make four age-appropriate projects that can be used as holiday decorations or gifts for a special someone in their life. The only special skill required of participants is the willingness to try something new. Professional artists will lead each activity, which includes painting precast ceramics, acrylic paint pouring, jewelry making, and yarn art, with volunteers available to lend assistance. To register for Craftapoolza, and to check out the other offerings at CCAA, go to chestercountyarts.org. Tuition for Craftapalooza is $40, $30 for members. Chester County Art Association is located at 100 North Bradford Ave., West Chester, PA 19382.

Learn the Ecology of Mt. Cuba’s Meadow on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

• The late season is the time to learn the Ecology of Mt. Cuba’s Meadow, at Mt. Cuba. Learn about the plant species and wildlife that thrive in the ecosystem services of a meadow. Tour the meadow in all its glory and learn about the key plant species and their wildlife associations. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Wednesday, Nov. 13, from 1 to 3 p.m. The cost is $29. Register here.

• The event is five months away, but The Grand in Wilmington is already promoting and selling tickets for a performance by Dweezil Zappa, the son of legendary musician Frank Zappa. Dweezil Zappa The Rox(Postroph)Y Tour is scheduled for April 12, 2025. Currently, tickets start at $61 and are available here.

About CFLive Staff

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