Concord Township has secured another 50 acres of land for preservation. The township entered into an agreement with the Wilcox family to buy a conservation easement on the family’s property in the Ivy Mills Historic District.
Council Co-Vice President John Crossan — who leads the township and sits on the Delaware County Green Space Task Force — said the property could have been developed into a 12- to 14-unit cluster subdivision, but the township is buying the development rights for the appraised value of $715,000. The Willcox family — Mark and Anne Willcox — will retain the right to build one additional home on the 50 acres. There is also a provision for potential trail access to the township’s trail plan.
“The Willcox family have been an integral part of Concord since 1729, and this conservation easement ensures their legacy and reflects the family’s commitment to being good stewards of our land, water, and history,” Crossan said.
The agreement will be drawn up within 90 days for final approval.
Coming on the heels of Concord preserving the 43-acre Chetty farm on Featherbed Lane, this easement brings the total open space owned or eased by the township to over 425 acres. Of that, 125 acres were preserved in just the past three years.
According to Crossan, this is the largest conservation action since Beaver Valley was preserved in May of 2017, and preserves a pristine landscape, an historic mill complex, a beautiful viewshed, and the watershed of Chester Creek.
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.
