Alliance disagrees with West Brandywine interpretation of International Building Code
West Brandywine Township supervisors recently voted to end a “moratorium” on conducting point-of-sale use and occupancy inspections of residential real estate. After a long and heated debate over whether the township should move forward with an inspection program, the board voted 2-1 in favor of inspections. Supervisor Thomas McCaffrey voted against the measure. Supervisor William Webb, who began serving on the board in January and is the building codes officer in Valley, supports the inspections and asserted that the township could be liable for negligence if it does not require inspections. During the debate Township Manager Ronald Rambo claimed that the inspection program is required because the township has adopted the PA Uniform Construction Code (UCC), which includes the International Building Code (IBC). Both the Suburban REALTORS Alliance and PA Department of Labor and Industry – which regulates the UCC – disagree with Rambo’s interpretation of the IBC and its impact on the sale of existing homes. Alliance staff is currently in discussions with the township, but encourages REALTORS® to follow the new requirements until further notice. The township is currently compiling a list of potential inspection items.
Source: Daily Local; 2/21/2012
Coatesville officials bargain for parking lots
The Coatesville Redevelopment Authority authorized a lease agreement that allows the city to use some of its properties for fee-operated parking lots. According to the agreement, the authority will lease 300 E. Lincoln Highway, 7070 E. Lincoln Highway and 706 Diamond St. to the city for either permit or paid parking. The authority wants to retain ownership of the property in case of any future developments. Authority The authority still owes the city $7 million from a loan a few years ago, and the rental payment from the city could be used as debt relief.
Source: Daily Local; 2/22/2012
Great Valley school officials discuss budget gap
Great Valley School District has begun mapping out a strategy for closing the budget gap for the 2012-13 school year and beyond. The preliminary budget for the school district, which was approved Jan. 17, is $79.1 million — a 2.4 percent increase over the 2011-12 school year. Even with a $3.8 million supplement from reserve funds, a $1.47 million budget gap remains. According to Superintendent Alan Lonoconus, revenue shortfalls, due to charter or vocational technical schools and a decrease in real estate values, will result in tax increases and making up the difference with the reserve balance. The reserve fund is expected to be completely depleted by the 2016-17 school year if the current pattern of revenue shortfalls continues. Lonoconus also said that the district can expect to see about $2.5 million in reduction to the school budget every year for the next three years. The administration also plans to host community outreach meetings to discuss the budget, the first one taking place in East Whiteland on a to-be-determined date. The school board plans to approve a final budget by June 4.
Source: Daily Local; 2/19/2012
Coventry Mall not closing, but will challenge its assessment
Contrary to rumors, Coventry Mall will not close or be put up for sale anytime soon, but mall officials do plan to once again challenge the property’s current tax assessment. An appeal filed last summer that would have reduced the mall’s assessment from $54.9 million to $51 million was denied by the Chester County assessment board in September, according to North Coventry Township Manager Kevin Hennessey. The mall currently pays $1.5 million in property taxes to the Owen J. Roberts School District, $217,728 in property taxes to Chester County, and $87,860 in annual property taxes to North Coventry Township. All three taxing entities are sharing the cost of having a new appraisal of the property conducted for use in the court case.
Source: Daily Local; 2/23/2012
