Chester County Real Estate News: Week of February 8th
W. Whiteland prepares for redevelopment
West Whiteland Township has approved a new stormwater management ordinance that addresses redevelopment. With the township mostly built out, township supervisors theorized that more projects would come before them on land that was already developed. Since older developments, built right after World War II, frequently didn’t have stormwater management controls, any redevelopment would be an opportunity “to repair the mistakes of the past,” noted John Welter, director of planning and zoning for the township. Township officials are primarily concerned about the redevelopment of sites with lots of impervious coverage built in the 1950s and ’60s. It was common in the past for building lots to be completely covered in asphalt, a practice that would be prohibited today because municipal zoning ordinances govern how much impervious surface is allowed. The state requires counties and municipalities to adopt stormwater management ordinances that control the rate and volume of stormwater discharge and how stormwater must be managed. The goal is to keep stormwater on site to recharge groundwater. Weller said few redevelopment projects have come before the township. But he speculated the section of Route 100 between Business Route 30 and the township line could be ripe for redevelopment, with developers combining small lots into larger lots. Click here to learn more about stormwater management in West Whiteland Township
Source: Daily Local; 2/2/10
East Goshen fills vacant supervisor spot
A former chairman of the township planning commission was sworn in Tuesday as the newest supervisor. Senya Isayeff will complete the term of former supervisor Joseph McDonough, who retired last month. Isayeff was chosen out of a field of six applicants by a majority of the board of supervisors at the Jan. 25 special meeting. The co-owner of a West Chester-based company that does hazardous waste abatement and demolition, Isayeff said Wednesday that he was pleased to have the opportunity to “serve, protect and perpetuate what has been a wonderful community.” A resident of East Goshen since 1995, Isayeff serves on a number of boards including the Chester County Historical Society and the West Chester YMCA. He served on the West Chester Regional Planning Commission for five years and was on the township planning commission for six years.
Source: Daily Local; 2/4/10
Unionville-Chadds Ford anticipates property tax hike above state index
The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District will seek to increase the tax rate above the state index for the 2010-11 school year. At last Tuesday night’s meeting, school board member Keith Knauss said the district would apply for two exceptions that could allow the district to raise taxes above the current 2.9 percent state index. If the state allows the exceptions, the administration could raise the real estate tax rates as high as 5.89 percent in Chester County and 3.68 percent in Delaware County. With those maximum increases, the tax rate would go from 23.58 mills to 24.97 mills in Chester County, and from 20.68 mills to 21.44 mills in Delaware County. A mill represents $1 in tax per every $1,000 of assessed real estate value. Under the proposed maximum increase, the owners of a home valued at $250,000 in Chester County would pay roughly $6,200 per year in school property taxes. In Delaware County, the same home would come with a $5,360 school property tax bill. Two factors are working against the district for the 2010-11 school budget year: the lowest-ever state index of 2.9 percent coupled with the recent downturn in real estate assessments in Chester County. Add to that a decrease in real estate transfer taxes, the district’s second-largest source of income, and the figures take on a grim hue. Click here to view the proposed preliminary budget in full.
Source: Daily Local; 2/1/10
Downingtown Area officials update budget struggle
Downingtown Area School District administrators announced Wednesday they are making the necessary cuts to ensure an anticipated school property tax increase will not exceed limits established by the state. District Chief Financial Officer Richard Fazio said the district would not increase taxes 4.9 percent as originally proposed, but he doubted a 2.9 percent increase could be avoided. The only way the district could increase taxes beyond 2.9 percent is if it applies for a state exception, which most school board members said they are unwilling to do. Fazio said that to meet the 2.9 percent increase, an additional $1.4 million must be cut from next year’s budget, as it now stands. The board must pass a preliminary budget by Feb. 12 to file for the state exceptions allowing the district to increase its tax levy beyond 2.9 percent. Lower assessed property values have hurt the Downingtown Area School District. In the 2004-05 school year, the district saw an additional $4.3 million in revenue from changes to its tax base. But this year that will drop. The district expects to make 1 percent of its budget from investment interest for the 2010-11 school year. Just three years ago, interest revenue made up more than 3 percent of the budget. Click here to learn more.
Source: Daily Local; 2/5/10
West Chester Borough sewer rates likely to begin long upward climb
Sewer rates in West Chester Borough will increase this year and will continue to increase each year for the foreseeable future, borough officials said. The borough is in the process of inspecting and repairing all of its sewers. Until recently, the borough responded to sewer problems but did not try to pre-empt them, said Public Works Director Bob Wilpizeski. The borough is in the midst of cleaning all of its sewer pipes, many of which are terra cotta and susceptible to cracks, root infiltration and other problems. After they are clean the borough will send cameras into the pipes to search for damage and other problems. This project is scheduled to take eight years. And as the borough identifies problems, it will raise sewer rates to pay to repair them, officials said. This month, sewer rates will increase 10 percent; a month of sewer service will now cost $22. If a property drains more than 2,000 gallons into the sewer during a month, $5.80 will be charged for each additional 1,000 gallons.
Source: Daily Local; 2/5/10
