Chester County Real Estate News: August 16, 2010
Coatesville seeks accountability for vacant homes
After a year’s moratorium on registration charges for vacant properties, Coatesville City officials plan to discuss reinstating the registration fee during council’s regular meeting Monday. Two years ago, the city passed an ordinance requiring the owners of a vacant property to register it with the city. The cost for registration is $250, but last year, the city voted to waive the fee. In addition, according to Karl Marking, city council vice president, some concerns arose regarding how fairly the statute was administered. A vacant property is defined as one in which no one resides for more than 60 days, but city officials have acknowledged that legitimate reasons may exist for a property to be empty. The ordinance may be amended after council discusses it. Damalier Molina, urban planning and codes director, is hoping that the fee will be reinstated, partly to help pay for a new codes enforcement officer. Molina estimated 125 to 200 properties are vacant in the city. The primary purpose of the registration is to make it easier for the city to hold property owners accountable, officials said. Suburban REALTORS Alliance staff is meeting with the Coatesville codes department early next week; please submit any comments to esmist@suburbanrealtorsalliance.com.
Source: Daily Local; 8/8/2010
Residents ask Phoenixville to maintain street trees
The Phoenixville Shade Tree Commission heard from nearly 20 residents regarding trimming issues and the possibility of the borough turning tree trimming back over to homeowners. Commission member Paul Kusko told the audience that the borough is dealing with budget issues. Currently, by ordinance, the Borough of Phoenixville is responsible for the care and maintenance of regulated street trees, including the removal of those that are dead, dying, and/or hazardous. Amid tough budget conditions this is one borough service that is being considered for termination for the upcoming fiscal year. This would shift the responsibility of the maintenance and removal of regulated street trees back to the homeowners of properties abutting the right-of-way where the trees are located. Over the past four years the borough has been spending $40,000 to $80,000 per year on regulated street tree maintenance and removals.
Source: Daily Local; 8/11/2010
Hearings scheduled on Coatesville water rate hike
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission said Friday it has scheduled two hearings to receive public comment on the proposed rate increase by Pennsylvania American Water Co. Coatesville Wastewater Operations. The meetings will be held at 1 p.m. on August 24 in Council Chambers of Coatesville’s City Hall and at 7 p.m. on August 24 at Rainbow Elementary School (1113 W. Lincoln Highway). More information on the ratemaking process is available on the Commission’s Web site at www.puc.state.pa.us. Coatesville’s Wastewater Operations provides service to about 6,035 customers in the city of Coatesville, Parkesburg Borough and West Sadsbury, East Fallowfield, Caln, West Caln, West Brandywine, Valley, Sadsbury and Highland townships. Members of the public are invited to attend the hearings and provide comments. Customer testimony will become part of the record on which the utility commission will issue its final decision.
Source: Daily Local; 8/6/2010
Tredyffrin to consider regulating student rental housing
The Tredyffrin Board of Supervisors will consider two ordinances that would regulate student rental housing in the township at their August 16 public meeting. A proposed property registration ordinance for student rental housing would require the registration of student contact information with the township. The ordinance places a limitation on the number of student tenants living in a home to three. It also provides for minimum distances between student homes. The Suburban REALTORS Alliance has been closely monitoring the progress of this ordinance. Click here to read the summary for each ordinance. Please contact esmist@suburbanrealtorsalliance.com with any questions or comments.
