Chester County Real Estate News At A Glance: Week of November 2nd
West Goshen commission rejects development plan
A controversial plan to build a 128-unit senior living facility on Boot Road next to the Goshen Fire Company was rejected by the West Goshen Planning Commission Oct. 20. The West Goshen Commission voted unanimously not to recommend that the Board of Supervisors grant Traditions, the proposed 55-plus community, conditional-use approval. The planning commission can only make recommendations. The board of supervisors makes the final decision. The project has come under fire from members of the fire company, residents along Boot Road and adjoining property owners on Culbertson Circle. The chief point of contention is that access to the development would be through the Goshen Fire Company’s driveways on Boot and Greenhill roads. The next conditional-use hearing for the project will be Dec. 1.
Source: Daily Local; 10/26/09
Oxford Area subdivision sewer issues under review
If a subdivision uses on-lot sewer systems, the Oxford Area Sewer Authority will not step in if the systems fail. This was the observation as authority members recently expressed their concerns about a proposed five-lot commercial subdivision on 60 acres near the serpentine barrens, where soil water absorption problems have been found in West Nottingham. The authority does not get involved with individual failed systems, although it does allow owners with problem systems to tie into existing sewer lines when possible.
The authority is attempting to take steps to expand its existing system with help from a $27 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The loan application is ready for submission but will take time to process. Also, the authority is awaiting a state grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development.
Source: Daily Local; 10/27/09
West Chester approves $19,500 for study on maintaining ‘historic qualities’
West Chester Borough Council decided Wednesday to pay a consultant $19,500 to prepare a preservation plan for West Chester’s historic neighborhoods. The plan will identify historic buildings and give owners of those buildings advice on how to preserve and enhance the structures’ historic qualities, according to Malcolm Johnstone, director of the West Chester Business Improvement District. A state grant will fund $10,000 of the project, and the remaining $5,000 will come from McCool Properties, a local developer.
McCool is demolishing the Yearsley Building on Market Street. The plan will identify which buildings are of historical significance and will set forth a strategy for how the borough should disseminate information to property owners about how their buildings can best be preserved.
Source: Daily Local; 10/26/09
Easttown residents oppose ‘nuisance taxes’
Facing a forecasted operating deficit of as much as $1 million for 2010, Easttown Township has been exploring the implementation of one or more Act 511 taxes (often called “nuisance taxes”), including an earned income tax — an unpopular revenue-generator in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Many of the 250 residents who attended the township supervisors meeting told the board that it should consider cuts before raising existing property taxes or implementing new taxes. According to numbers generated by tax-collection companies, the township estimates that a 1 percent Earned Income Tax could generate more than $3 million in 2010. However, Easttown estimates that perhaps only $1.3 million would actually be collected next year because of collection issues with new taxes. The township implemented a 3.86-percent real-estate tax increase for 2009 after initially proposing one of more than 5 percent. During budget discussions, supervisors said they did not want to overburden residents during a recession. A budget discussion is slated for the supervisors’ meeting Nov. 2. A proposed final budget will be presented at the board’s meeting Nov. 16, which would also serve as the deadline for a decision to implement any Act 511 taxes, including the earned income tax. The final 2010 budget will be adopted at the board’s Dec. 21 meeting.
Source: Daily Local; 10/25/09
Chester County Department of Voter Services
For polling place and precinct information in Chester County, visit the Chester County Department of Voter Services webpage here. The Suburban REALTORS® Alliance encourages you to exercise your right to vote in the upcoming municipal elections next Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and registered voters who are in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
