Chester County Real Estate News: Week of January 18th
Chamber of Commerce hosts transportation forum
A transportation forum organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Greater West Chester provided an overview of the changes and improvements that will affect the way West Chester travels, as well as the borough’s economy. In a recent survey, the Transportation Management Association of Chester County reported that 86 percent of people said that the lack of regional transportation, specifically to and from Philadelphia, impairs West Chester economically. A widely shared concern among the panel involved the lack of available funds to conduct certain projects or to complete them as desired. Reconstruction plans for Route 202 Section 300 (North Valley Road to the Route 30 Bypass) will include widening, providing an additional lane on each side of the highway. But PennDOT does not expect to begin the $115 million construction project until early spring in 2011. In addition to the highway reconstruction, SEPTA’s regional railroad system will receive upgrades in March, when it will introduce three new trains to replace transit vehicles that have been operating for close to 50 years.
Source: Daily Local; 1/13/10
West Pikeland to reopen budget
The West Pikeland Board of Supervisors voted on Monday to reopen the township’s budget in order to increase taxes once again. The board increased taxes for the first time in approximately 30 years when it moved the millage from 0.125 up to 0.2 mills. But the plan now is to move the tax rate up to 0.5 mills, quadrupling the 2009 tax rate. Residents currently pay between $30 and $40 per year in property taxes in West Pikeland on average. Now they will pay between $120 and $160. The township will hold a public hearing concerning the proposed tax increase on Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. The supervisors’ desire to increase the township’s working capital stems from a report done in 2009 by an engineering firm, McCormick Taylor Inc. The report said that the township needed to undertake road repairs and maintenance over the course of the next decade that would cost a total of $6.5 million. Given the report, the township’s financial review committee recommended that the board increase taxes up to 0.5 mills.
Source: Daily Local; 1/7/10
It’s not all Transco wanted, but bigger pipeline delivers more natural gas
Transco’s new and wider pipeline, which crosses five Chester County townships to bring natural gas to the Northeast, is delivering an extra 100 million cubic feet of gas a day. The additional volume is due to the recent expansion of its pipe in the county from 30 to 42 inches in diameter. The pipe expansion was completed after a plan to add a fourth pipe drew complaints from property owners and others. The controversial project took three years to complete, and one 2,000-foot-long section of the pipeline, which runs under East Brandywine Creek, remains 30 inches in diameter. As a consequence, the pipeline in this area is less efficient, according to a spokesman for Transco’s parent company, Williams, a major natural gas producer. Williams wanted homeowners who have these pipes in a 100-foot right of way on their land to grant the company an additional 20 to 50 feet of right of way to put in a fourth pipe. The protests of many homeowners reached local, state and federal lawmakers, and Williams later decided to abandon plans for a fourth pipe and instead take one of the three existing pipes and increase its diameter. More conflicts with the homeowners forced Williams to pursue eminent domain proceedings against 36 of the 175 landowners affected by the pipeline project. While the project is done and more natural gas is flowing to Northeast customers, some local residents still wonder if it’s not just a matter of time before Williams is back to replace that last section of pipe.
Source: Daily Local; 1/12/10
County, federal authorities conduct forensic audit in Coatesville
Coatesville City Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday night inviting federal and county authorities to conduct a forensic audit of the city’s finance and realty transactions. The resolution states:“Chester County Detectives, in conjunction with the FBI, will immediately conduct a forensic audit of the city’s finance and real estate transactions for the purpose of determining evidence of obstruction of justice, misdirection of funds, willful negligence and actions of criminal intent by the city’s administration and/or council.” Recently, authorities reportedly raided the office of Harry Walker, the city manager placed on administrative leave earlier this month. Council hired John Carnes last week after removing Andrew Lehr from the city solicitor’s position. Assistant City Manager Kirby Hudson is acting as the interim city manager.
Source: Daily Local; 1/12/09
Deadline looms for West Bradford Streetscapes work
West Bradford Township has selected a design consultant for the Marshallton Streetscapes project, but questions still remain regarding whether the necessary paperwork to qualify for $2 million in federal stimulus funds can be completed by deadline. Township officials and the township’s new design consultant met with officials from the state Department of Transportation and Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission on Friday to go over a schedule for the many reviews and reports that have to be submitted. Known as the Marshallton Gateway Project, the plan is to add brick sidewalks, curbing, crosswalks, improve stormwater drainage, repave Strasburg Road and add welcoming gateways at both ends of the village. The township has been working on this project for five years and has spent $80,000 in engineering costs.
Source: Daily Local; 1/13/09
Valley officials approve budget with real estate tax hike
Valley Township supervisors recently approved the 2010 budget which includes a real estate tax hike — the first increase in more than 20 years. The Board of Supervisors approved the 2010 budget at $2.9 million on Dec. 28. This reflects a 13 percent increase over the 2009 budget. The tax rate was raised to 1.5 mills, with one mill equal to $1 in tax for every $1,000 in assessed property value. An average taxpayer with a home assessed at $110,005 would therefore generate a municipal tax bill of $165 — an increase of $68 over the prior year. Township officials said the increase in taxes was necessary due to a decline in construction permits and realty transfer tax revenue.
Source: Daily Local; 1/10/09
