The Chadds Ford Township Board of Supervisors last week approved several proposals from the Brandywine Conservancy as it continues to recover from the effects of Hurricane Ida. Those approved proposals include a consolidation of 11 parcels, the demolition of six buildings that can no longer be used, and the renovation of 6 Station Way Road.
The lot consolidation, a reverse subdivision, will bring the 11 parcels into one zoning district, the Cultural Campus Zoning District that was created last year.
With damaged buildings being demolished, the renovation of 6 Station Way Road will allow that structure to house the offices that were destroyed in the flood from Ida. During a zoning hearing earlier this year, Conservancy Executive Director Virginia Logan said 25 or 26 employees would have 6 Station Way as their office building.
The Zoning Hearing Board granted waivers and variances that will allow the conservancy to elevate the building by five feet and with a finished floor at 2 feet above the base flood plain, and for an addition to be put on the rear of the building, which would double its size to accommodate employees who can no longer use other buildings.
Other business
• Lee Weersing, president of the Concordville Fire & Protective Association, addressed the board to discuss what the fire company and people needing emergency treatment must contend with because of the closing of Crozer Hospital.
“Right now, hospital waits because of the closure of Crozer Hospital, can range from one to three hours,” he said, “that’s for all the hospitals around here. Earlier today, I was told that Riddle had more than 100 people in the emergency room and only 23 beds available — not very good odds.”
He added that getting to the hospital via ambulance will not get a person treated any sooner than if they arrived by car. All patients will be triaged before being admitted, and there must be a bed available in the emergency room.
The Crozer system closed on April 25.
Weersing added that from Jan. 1 through April 30, Concordville made 415 total fire rescue calls, with 81 in Chadds Ford, and 1,394 EMS calls, with 1525 being in Chadds. Ford.
• Also involving the closing of Crozer, the board formally ratified the Declaration of Disaster Emergency•, originally issued last month. Supervisors’ Chairman Timotha Trigg made the declaration on April 30 for seven days (by state law), and the board then extended the declaration indefinitely in a special meeting on May 7. During the May 14 meeting, the board ratified the declaration with a resolution saying the state of emergency will remain in effect until it’s revoked by the board.
• The board also recognized recently retired library Director Susan Sternberg for her years heading the Rachel Kohl Library.
“The township proudly recognizes Susan Sternberg, director of the Rachel Kohl Library, for her leadership, dedication, and long-standing service to our community,” Trigg said. “We are honored to publicly recognize Susan’s dedication and hard-earned retirement with a formal resolution of appreciation.”
Sternberg thanked the board, saying it had been a pleasure serving the community for the last eight years. She also introduced Rayna Whitright as the new executive director.
• Rob King, the owner of Chadds Ford Tree Service and a member of the Open Space Committee, was appointed roadmaster. The position has been vacant since the beginning of the year.
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.
