Chester County Weekly News update
Gas firm, East Caln residents reach agreement
An agreement was reached Tuesday in federal court between Williams, the natural gas giant, and the last six landowners who were fighting eminent domain proceedings brought against them by Williams last March. The agreement, approved by a federal judge, will allow Williams access to the residents’ land for surveying, but does not grant Williams possession of the land until the state environmental agency issues a permit for the crossing of the East Branch of Brandywine Creek. The decision was hailed as a victory by the landowners, who said judges usually just grant the utility’s request for possession of land needed for an approved pipeline project. In this case, Williams was not granted the land automatically and will have to wait until the DEP issues a permit for the Brandywine Creek crossing. The landowners fought against granting Williams their land not because they were disputing compensation but because they want to protect the Brandywine Creek watershed.
Source: Daily Local; 7/10/09
West Whiteland deed dispute ends
The township will get the deed to the land for its new municipal building, a judge ruled this week, and the township must pay the developer $242,063 in back taxes. This is good news for the township, where construction of a $16.8 million municipal building has gone forward without clear title to the land on which it sits. According to court documents, the $242,063 in taxes includes $12,078 paid to the township, $45,394 paid to Chester County and $184,589 paid to the school district. The developer refused to turn over the deed until the back taxes were reimbursed, and in November 2005 the township filed an emergency petition to enforce the settlement agreement and turn over the deed.
Source: Daily Local; 7/3/09
Parkesburg’s deficit not as bad as projected
Parkesburg Borough’s deficit is not as bad as it seemed a few months ago, but it still looks like money could run out before the end of the year. During Monday’s Borough Council meeting, council President David Jones reported that with a projected deficit for the year of $91,000, by November the borough will not be able to meet its payroll. Back in April, the deficit for 2009 was being projected at $200,000. The borough has been implementing cost-saving measures, and will not be ordering new police cars this year. Other austerity measures are in place, which the borough hopes will cut the deficit further.
Source: Daily Local; 7/10/09
Unionville area residents want to preserve open space
Officials of the three area townships covered by the Unionville Area Regional Comprehensive Plan held a public session June 18 to inform interested residents about the process of updating the plan and to solicit their thoughts on what its goals should be. While the project is in its early stages, there was evidently a consensus that area residents and township officials alike had the goal of reining in development, especially commercial development, and preserving the farmland and other open space that gives the Unionville area its character. The three townships in the regional plan — East Marlborough, Newlin, and West Marlborough — were represented by three members of their boards of supervisors: Cuyler Walker, Robert Pearson and Michael Ledyard.
Source: Daily Local; 7/4/09
