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Survey: Coatesville residents want grocery store

The results of a survey given to Coatesville residents and nearby communities are clear: There is a need for more restaurants and a grocery store downtown. City Council was recently presented with the results the survey, completed by approximately 325 residents, and will use the input to create a vision for the future of the city. The survey is part of an early intervention program, which is in its third and final phase. Beyond restaurants and grocery stores, other developments that a majority of responders wanted to see in the city included office space, a performance space, hotels and residential homes. While residents may not be happy with the current state of the downtown, they were very clear about what they envision for the city. Nearly 80 percent of responders said they would like to see Coatesville resemble West Chester after it’s developed.  Responders said the top priority for the city should be to repair existing sidewalks.

Source: Daily Local; 2/14/2012

Exton mall appeals property tax assessment

A Common Pleas Court judge is weighing two competing property value estimates for the Exton Square Mall for a decision that could have a significant negative impact on the West Chester Area School District’s annual budget for the foreseeable future. The mall owners have argued in court that the downturn in the economy has reduced the mall’s overall rental income, and that the property is now worth about $95 million, not the $112 million-plus that the school district contends is its fair-market value.  Should Senior Judge Thomas Gavin side with the figures presented by attorneys for the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT), owners of the 1 million-square-foot-plus shopping mall, the school district could lose as much as $180,000 a year in property tax revenues. That loss would not be for just 2010, the year in which the mall appealed its real estate tax assessment to the Chester County Board of Assessment. Because of state law, the lowered assessment would remain in place for as long as the county maintains its current assessment rate, no mater what the economy holds in the future for the mall. Only a countywide reassessment of all properties would return the property value to a higher amount, should the economy boom and Exton Square fill its currently vacant storefronts. The last full county reassessment took effect in 1998, and before that in 1975. Talk of a countywide examination and adjustment of property values is not currently on the county’s political agenda. The mall is one of a few large property owners appealing their property tax assessments in 2010.

Source: Daily Local; 2/13/2012

East Brandywine seeks input on Guthriesville Village

East Brandywine Township adopted a Guthriesville Village Vision Plan and Development Strategy as part of the 2009 update to the township’s Comprehensive Plan. The township is now looking for public feedback on the current conditions and potential future of the Village. A visioning meeting will be open to the public on February 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Township Meeting Hall. If you are unable to attend the meeting, but would like to provide an opinion regarding Guthriesville’s future, please contact Township Manager Scott Piersol at scottpiersol@ebrandyine.org.

Funds approved for Paoli SEPTA station design

A SEPTA spokesperson confirmed last week that SEPTA’s board has approved nearly $7.5 million to design the Paoli Transportation Center. This funding is only for designing the station, but it will not go towards building the station. Specifically, the board resolution passed in late January calls for the provision of architectural, engineering and construction-related services [to be provided] over 2,110 calendar days [for payment] not to exceed $7,499,225. SEPTA’s 2012-13 budget lists the Paoli Transportation Center construction project as a proposed capital project for 2016-23. The finished station is proposed to be 80 feet west of the old one, better connecting with SEPTA and private buses. According to the published SEPTA budget, the Paoli Transportation Center will cost $35,615,000 and will provide an “intermodal station complete with high-level platforms, waiting area, ticket office and passenger amenities.”

Source: Main Line Suburban Life; 2/8/2012

For Sadsbury property owners, a different kind of sewer backup

Sadsbury Township is billing some landlords and business owners for five years’ worth of back charges after realizing in December that public sewer customers were not being properly billed. The township ordinance concerning public-sewer billing states that customers pay a flat rate plus a fee for usage. In December, supervisors realized that the flat fee should not be charged per customer, but per equivalent dwelling unit, or EDU. Since the public sewer system was installed more than 10 years ago, the township has been charging each customer a single flat rate. However, customers with multiple EDUs should be charged the flat rate times the number of hookups they have. Multiple-dwelling units, such as apartments, have one EDU for each residence, while businesses have a varying number of EDUs based on the business and how much sewer service it uses. Once township officials realized they had been under-charging some customers, they sent out bills for the uncharged fees dating back to Jan. 1, 2007. The board also voted to lower the flat rate to $360 per EDU.

Source: Daily Local; 2/10/2012

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Downingtown agrees to suspend enforcement of U&O inspection

After discussions with Suburban REALTORS Alliance staff, Downingtown Borough has agreed to suspend enforcement of a recent requirement for point of sale use and occupancy inspections. The Borough Council will consider the passage of an ordinance in the future. Alliance staff will continue to work with the borough to ensure both residents and our members who conduct business in the Borough will be able to understand how any such adopted ordinance will impact them and their clients. Please contact the Alliance with any questions or concerns at sra@suburbanrealtorsalliance.com.

Coatesville planning to cut size of planning commission

The City Council of Coatesville will consider for adoption an Ordinance reducing the number of planning commission members from seven to five members. The meeting will take place on Monday, February 13, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at Coatesville City Hall, One City Hall Place, Coatesville, Pennsylvania,

Source: Daily; 02/05/2012

West Bradford to consider changes to official map

The West Bradford Township Board of Supervisors will conduct a hearing to consider an ordinance amending the Official Map, to add certain public parklands and improvements. The hearing will take place on Tues., Feb. 14, 2012 at 8 p.m. at the Township Building, 1385 Campus Dr., Downingtown.

Source: Daily Local; 02/06/2012

Thornbury inspector quits

Thornbury Supervisors accepted the resignation of Ted McCandless as township code inspector. Chilli’s Inspection Service was appointed to replace McCandless. In other matters, it was announced that during re-organization of the township sewer committee, Ted Jacquet and George Morley were reappointed chairman and vice chairman, respectively. Supervisors approved the appointment of Michael Serth as a member of the sewer committee.

Source: Daily Times; 2/6/2012

Upper Uwchlan to hold hearing on Capital Improvements Plan

Upper Uwchlan Township Board of Supervisors shall hold a public hearing to gather public comment concerning the amendment and reauthorization of the Capital Improvements Plan – funded by previously approved transportation impact fees – as recommended by the Township’s Transportation Impact Fee Advisory Committee. The proposed Capital Improvements Plan is available for public inspection at the Township Office, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The hearing will be held Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Township Building, 140 Pottstown Pike, Chester Springs (Eagle) 19425.

Source: Daily Local; 02/06/2012

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Downingtown requires resale inspection

Downingtown Borough Council passed a resolution requiring the inspection of properties at point of sale.  The inspection fee has been set at $100. A list of the residential inspection criteria has been posted on the Alliance’s municipal database. The Alliance has questioned the validity of passing such a requirement through resolution – with no prior public notice – but encourages REALTORS to follow the requirements until further notice.

Downingtown Borough tables well ordinance

Borough Council will wait until March to make a decision on a proposed well ordinance from the Downingtown Municipal Water Authority. The ordinance is expected to be discussed again on March 7. The ordinance would prohibit the drilling, installation or use of any new wells, or the expansion of existing wells, for water service. Residents may seek written approval from the authority to construct new wells or expand existing ones. Council President Anthony “Chip” Gazzerro said the proposed ordinance would not become a “major problem” in Downingtown but rather it is a way to keeping someone from accidentally connecting a well to the water authority’s system and possibly causing contamination. The ordinance would also enforce having users connect to the water authority on a “going-forward basis,” which would apply to members of the borough, East Brandywine and East Caln. According to Borough Solicitor Andrew Rau, municipalities can provide water service in one of two ways: from a body of water or a company, or from a municipal water authority. “The borough code says if you create a system, you can make people use it” to ensure that a public system is financially able to continue to operate, said Rau. To date, neither East Brandywine nor East Caln has approved the ordinances submitted to them by the water authority. The revised ordinance is expected to be presented to East Brandywine supervisors again at a March 21 meeting.

Source: Daily Local; 1/31/2012

West Whiteland Township to consider trash fee increase

Discussions on proposed fee increases have been postponed by West Whiteland Township officials until Feb. 22. Residents were invited to the initial proposal made by the township manager last week, but township supervisors decided on an additional meeting because of the late notice residents received. Township Manager Michael Cotter proposed doubling the fee per trash bag from $2 to $4. The increase would alleviate some of the burden on the township, which has seen reduced funding for the waste removal system in recent years. The state reworked the formula it uses for calculating the amount of performance grant money townships receive, Cotter explained. The change will leave a significant gap between the cost of waste removal and the funding the township sets aside for it. In 2008, West Whiteland received $542,811 in grants compared to 2009’s $171,472. Supervisors said township residents on average pay $104 annually for waste removal. That fee would jump to $208 at $4 a bag. For 2013 and after, there was also a recommendation to create a potential series of small scale fee increases to recapture the cost of operations, stabilize reserves and address longer term capital requirements. The full presentation made by the township manager can be found at the township’s website, www.wwhiteland.org. The next meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22, at the township building, 101 Commerce Drive, Exton.

Source: Daily Local; 2/1/2012

West Chester Borough Council to draft changes to building height regulations

West Chester Borough Council directed its solicitor to draft changes to the borough’s building height regulations. Proposed by Council President Holly Brown, the changes would restrict a height option overlay district west of Adams Street to 45 feet by right and 60 feet with conditions. The current ordinance allows for 45 feet by right and 75 with conditional use, with an additional option to go to 90 feet only if a building has 25 percent or more residential use. As a frame of reference, the parking garage on Chestnut Street across from the YMCA is 75 feet tall. Though arguments were made for and against the proposal, most residents expressed a desire to change the ordinance to reflect the proposed heights, saying that it would preserve the appeal and charm that makes West Chester attractive for most visitors and residents. Residents and borough officials agreed the aesthetics of the building were much more important than the actual height itself. This was reflected in the vote Wednesday that gave permission for the proposed ordinance with the condition that it would not be advertised until after June 3.

Source: Daily Times; 1/31/2012

Phoenixville School District preliminary budget increases

The preliminary budget for next year’s Phoenixville Area School District increases spending about 3.89 percent over the current year. If adopted as is, property taxes would increase about $162 on a house valued at $150,000, according to district figures.

Source: Daily Local; 1/30/2012

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