Downingtown requires resale inspection

Downingtown Borough Council passed a resolution requiring the inspection of properties at point of sale.  The inspection fee has been set at $100. A list of the residential inspection criteria has been posted on the Alliance’s municipal database. The Alliance has questioned the validity of passing such a requirement through resolution – with no prior public notice – but encourages REALTORS to follow the requirements until further notice.

Downingtown Borough tables well ordinance

Borough Council will wait until March to make a decision on a proposed well ordinance from the Downingtown Municipal Water Authority. The ordinance is expected to be discussed again on March 7. The ordinance would prohibit the drilling, installation or use of any new wells, or the expansion of existing wells, for water service. Residents may seek written approval from the authority to construct new wells or expand existing ones. Council President Anthony “Chip” Gazzerro said the proposed ordinance would not become a “major problem” in Downingtown but rather it is a way to keeping someone from accidentally connecting a well to the water authority’s system and possibly causing contamination. The ordinance would also enforce having users connect to the water authority on a “going-forward basis,” which would apply to members of the borough, East Brandywine and East Caln. According to Borough Solicitor Andrew Rau, municipalities can provide water service in one of two ways: from a body of water or a company, or from a municipal water authority. “The borough code says if you create a system, you can make people use it” to ensure that a public system is financially able to continue to operate, said Rau. To date, neither East Brandywine nor East Caln has approved the ordinances submitted to them by the water authority. The revised ordinance is expected to be presented to East Brandywine supervisors again at a March 21 meeting.

Source: Daily Local; 1/31/2012

West Whiteland Township to consider trash fee increase

Discussions on proposed fee increases have been postponed by West Whiteland Township officials until Feb. 22. Residents were invited to the initial proposal made by the township manager last week, but township supervisors decided on an additional meeting because of the late notice residents received. Township Manager Michael Cotter proposed doubling the fee per trash bag from $2 to $4. The increase would alleviate some of the burden on the township, which has seen reduced funding for the waste removal system in recent years. The state reworked the formula it uses for calculating the amount of performance grant money townships receive, Cotter explained. The change will leave a significant gap between the cost of waste removal and the funding the township sets aside for it. In 2008, West Whiteland received $542,811 in grants compared to 2009’s $171,472. Supervisors said township residents on average pay $104 annually for waste removal. That fee would jump to $208 at $4 a bag. For 2013 and after, there was also a recommendation to create a potential series of small scale fee increases to recapture the cost of operations, stabilize reserves and address longer term capital requirements. The full presentation made by the township manager can be found at the township’s website, www.wwhiteland.org. The next meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22, at the township building, 101 Commerce Drive, Exton.

Source: Daily Local; 2/1/2012

West Chester Borough Council to draft changes to building height regulations

West Chester Borough Council directed its solicitor to draft changes to the borough’s building height regulations. Proposed by Council President Holly Brown, the changes would restrict a height option overlay district west of Adams Street to 45 feet by right and 60 feet with conditions. The current ordinance allows for 45 feet by right and 75 with conditional use, with an additional option to go to 90 feet only if a building has 25 percent or more residential use. As a frame of reference, the parking garage on Chestnut Street across from the YMCA is 75 feet tall. Though arguments were made for and against the proposal, most residents expressed a desire to change the ordinance to reflect the proposed heights, saying that it would preserve the appeal and charm that makes West Chester attractive for most visitors and residents. Residents and borough officials agreed the aesthetics of the building were much more important than the actual height itself. This was reflected in the vote Wednesday that gave permission for the proposed ordinance with the condition that it would not be advertised until after June 3.

Source: Daily Times; 1/31/2012

Phoenixville School District preliminary budget increases

The preliminary budget for next year’s Phoenixville Area School District increases spending about 3.89 percent over the current year. If adopted as is, property taxes would increase about $162 on a house valued at $150,000, according to district figures.

Source: Daily Local; 1/30/2012

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Oxford school board representation dispute continues

Opposing sides in the dispute over reapportionment of the Oxford Area School Board’s voting districts agreed to sit down together and attempt to reach an agreement on new boundaries before fighting the matter out in Common Pleas Court. A hearing was scheduled to ask Judge Shenkin to approve the at-large plan for board representation that was approved by a 5-3 vote of the board last year, as is required by law. Opponents had, however, submitted two modified plans for regional and at-large representation to the court, asking Shenkin to give his nod to one of them rather than the board’s plan. Before the hearing began, with the courtroom packed on both sides of the aisle, attorney Patrick O’Donnell, representing the at-large plan opponents, suggested to Judge Shenkin that he appoint a mediator to help the sides settle the dispute. He noted that such a technique had been successful in two other contentious voting cases, including the fight over a polling place in Lower Oxford.  Shenkin gave the sides until March 8 to report on whether any progress had been made in negotiations or whether a full hearing on the issue would be necessary. Asked if he thought the two sides could reach a compromise between the at-large plan approved by the school board last year and the modified plans supported by some district residents, President Joe Scheese told a reporter “I don’t think so.”

Source: Daily Local; 1/23/2012

Phoenixville website highlights community

Phoenixville Borough’s website includes links to a Video TourBook, which highlights various aspects of the community. The videos are all available on the lower right hand side of www.phoenixville.org and include the following topics:

• Welcome
• Quality of Life
• Real Estate and Relocations
• Education
• Arts and Entertainment
• Parks and Recreation

Residents object to Parkesburg tax hike proposal

Changes in how money is being allocated means the 2012 Parkesburg budget will be advertised for reopening, but the 2012 tax rate is still expected to jump dramatically. The new tax rate borough council is advertising for this year is 10 mills, a 25% increase over the 2011 rate of 8 mills. For residents with a home assessed at $100,000, the two-mill increase will mean an additional $200 in taxes. Residents attended the January 16 Borough Council meeting to question the need for the increase. The tax ordinance and budget will be considered at the February 6 Council meeting.

Source: Avon Grove Sun; 1/19/2012

Ordinance gives residents right to permit parking

West Chester Borough Council gave residents of the 400 block of West Miner Street the right to permit parking. The new ordinance designates that West Miner Street between Wayne and Brandywine Streets will be included in residential parking permit zone B from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Residents brought the parking issue to the attention of council last year, citing problems with county employees using their spaces. Similar parking petitions from South Brandywine Street and Wayne Street were denied because council did not feel there was the same immediate parking issue. Councilman Jim Jones suggested creating an ad hoc parking committee to examine the borough’s long term parking problems.

Source: Daily Local; 1/23/2012

Solar farm developers promise sewer hookups, buffer expansion

The developers of a proposed solar farm project in Caln Township promised residents who live north of the property that they will expand a buffer and pay for sewer-connection fees. The farm is proposed for 46 acres south of Dogwood Lane. During a township hearing, developer Harry Keares said the new plan is to move the natural buffer on the northern part of the property from 25 feet to 100 feet. The developer will also pay for both a public sewer and water line along Scott Drive and Dogwood Lane and pay the tie-in fees to the 38 residences along those streets. The Board of Commissioners has 45 days to render a decision on the proposed project.

Source: Daily Local; 1/23/2012

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Early Coatesville District spending plan includes tax increase

The Coatesville Area School Board discussed a preliminary budget with a 3.36 percent tax increase during Tuesday’s finance committee meeting. The budget would require the district to apply for exceptions to increase taxes above the state-mandated 2.1 percent limit set by the Act 1 index, which is determined by various market measures. Board President J. Neil Campbell said he is uncomfortable with a tax increase over 3 percent, but he voted for the measure to move it forward and give the district flexibility. The proposed tax increase of 3.36 percent is below the estimated increase in expenditures at 3.5 percent. Many districts are filing for the exceptions at this point even if they do not plan to use them to give themselves flexibility. Two hundred districts in the state responded to a recent survey and nearly half said they are filing for the exceptions. The final budget will not be released until April or May.

Source: Daily Local; 1/11/12

Chester County’s former steel towns credit ratings shift

According to Moody’s, Chester County’s former steelmaking towns are headed in opposite financial directions. Moody’s boosted its rating on $12 million of Phoenixville’s general-obligation bonds to Aa3, citing the borough’s “ample financial reserves” and downtown redevelopment, which has put more property back on the tax rolls. Moody’s dropped the rating on $158 million in Coatesville Area School District general-obligation debt from A2 to A1 blaming the “structural imbalance in the district’s operating budget resulting in five years of operating deficits that have decreased the district financial position.”

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 1/10/2012

T/E board leaves options open for property tax exceptions

The Tredyffrin/Easttown Board of Education voted to publish notice of the intent to file for referendum exceptions that would enable the board to enact a tax increase of 3.3 percent.  The vote came after a presentation of preliminary budget options for 2012-13 within the context of a five-year projection of revenues and expenses. In a letter mailed earlier to all T/E taxpayers, the district had explained that it faces a deficit of about $6.2 million because of “continued revenue erosion, contractual salary expenses and benefit costs (and an) increased rate of retirement contributions to the Pennsylvania School Employees Retirement System.” That retirement-fund contribution rate is 12.36 percent of paid salaries for 2012-13 and projects to 23.66 percent in 2015-16, according to Tuesday’s presentation.

Source: Daily Local; 1/5/2012

Oxford council revisits sidewalk issue

Property owners in Oxford without sidewalks may have to install them, depending on their location in the borough. Councilman Randy Teel expressed concerns about the lack of enforcement of the sidewalk ordinance. According to borough ordinances, sidewalks must be installed on properties that do not have them when the parcel is sold. Teel has expressed concerns that Wells Fargo Bank on North Third Street was not required to put in sidewalks when ownership was transferred on the property. Enforcement of the ordinance seems to have varied over the years.  According to the borough solicitor, council can define a region for sidewalk improvements based on health and safety needs. Borough Manager Betsy Brantner pointed out that the planning commission will tell a builder if they need a sidewalk during their plan review. Now that sidewalks are being discussed again, the policies on enforcement of the ordinance are going to council’s codes committee for further discussion.

Source: Daily Local; 1/11/2011

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Portion of Downingtown rezoned

Downingtown Council members unanimously approved to rezone Brandywine Avenue and the 100 block of Washington Avenue to a General Commercial District. Under previous zoning, the area included residential, industrial and commercial zones. According to Andrew Rau, the borough’s solicitor, the area will now be both residential and commercial throughout, which will allow for a variety of different uses for the buildings, including churches, legal offices and stores. “The residence can always stay as a residence,” said Rau. Homeowners can also expand upon the current building, up to 25 percent. The most significant change will occur when a homeowner wishes to sell or change a property to a commercial building. If this change occurs and remains as a business entity for more than 12 months, and the owner wishes to return the building to a residence, they must petition to do so to the Zoning Hearing Board.

Source: Daily Local; 12/29/2011

West Vincent seeks volunteer for Planning Commission

The West Vincent Board of Supervisors is searching for a volunteer to serve on the Planning Commission.  This will be a two year commitment, with meetings taking place on the 2nd and 3rd Thursday of each month.  If you have a desire to serve West Vincent in this way, please send your name, contact information and any qualifications you feel would help the Township in this capacity to tswavley@westvincenttownship.org.

Easttown approves 2.5 percent tax increase

Easttown Township supervisors approved a 2.5 percent tax increase for the township’s 2012 budget. The increase is the lowest in the past four years and follows a 4 percent increase in the 2011 budget. The millage rate will increase from 3.919 to 3.979 mills. In October, Easttown residents found they would have a 2.5 percent increase in sewer rates for the next five years due to an ongoing and urgent need to upgrade the township’s part of the Valley Creek Trunk Sewer System, and also a 4 percent increase in trash removal fees.

Source: Daily Local; 12/27/2011

Oxford officials approve tax hike to fund $3.27 million budget

Oxford Council approved an increase in the real estate tax rate for 2012, bringing it up from 11 mills to 11.20 mills. For a homeowner in the borough with a property assessed at $100,000, that translates to a tax increase of $25 for the year.

Source: Daily Local; 12/24/2011

Downingtown council OKs sale of Kardon Park

Downingtown Borough Council approved an agreement to sell Kardon Park to developers Sarah Peck and Jack Loew. Prior to the meeting, Borough Manager Stephen Sullins said the agreement will outline how the sale would proceed when and if the litigation over Kardon Park is resolved, since everything in the courts must be settled prior to the land’s transfer. Solicitor Patrick McKenna said the agreement had undergone several revisions since Dec. 22. The agreement of the sale involves three park parcels, called Parcel 1, Parcel 2 and Parcel 3. Parcel 1 is measured at approximately 17.5 acres and is located in the borough; Parcels 2 and 3, in East Caln, are approximately three and seven acres, respectively. According to the newest revision of the contract, Parcel 1′s minimum price is $2.61 million; Parcel 2′s is $900,000; and Parcel 3′s is $860,000. McKenna said at the meeting that even if the developers purchase Parcel 1 and not Parcel 2, they must still remediate Parcel 2. The developers have already deposited $300,000, which will be applied to the total purchase price.

Source: Daily Local; 12/29/2011

O’Neill, Citizens settle dispute

Litigation between two of the region’s economic heavyweights, Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania and developer Brian O’Neill, is over. Accompanying word of settlement, O’ Neill made an enthusiastic pronouncement that his long-stalled Uptown Worthington mixed-use development near Malvern — which stood at the center of the nearly two-year-long dispute — would soon rumble with new construction. As Uptown Worthington progresses, it will include modifications to the original plan. What were once envisioned as condominiums will be 753 apartments built in three phases, the first to begin within six months. Construction of a 145,000 square foot office building will also begin within the next three months. An additional 375,000 square feet of retail space is expected to accommodate 55 stores and 15 restaurants.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 12/24/2011

No tax hike for residents in Pocopson

Pocopson Township residents can look forward to another year without a property tax increase from the township. According to Supervisor Steve Conary, new homes at Scaleby Farms and new construction by NV Homes have brought in taxes Pocopson had not expected. Conary also noted that the township’s open-space preservation program has officially ended. Enacted in 2006, the open space program used a 1 mill property tax to purchase open space throughout the township and place easements on those properties. At the time, the township officials limited the program to five years. The 1 mill tax, which was enacted by public referendum, will remain in place for the next few years to offset funds borrowed by the township to purchase land for the purpose of open space. The township has conserved 1,264 acres of land through the program.

Source: Daily Local; 12/25/2011

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Easttown Township sewer moratorium

Easttown Township is currently under a PA Department of Environmental Protection-mandated Capacity Management Plan (CMP), which effectively precludes adding new or expanded sewer connections. Several updates need to be made to the sewer system in the township before the CMP will no longer be active.  In order for that to happen, there needs to be an upgrade to the Valley Creek Trunk Sewer; six sewer pump stations in Easttown need to be replaced or refurbished; and the township must continue removing clean water (inflow and infiltration) from the system. The projects should take approximately three years to complete.

First Suburbs honors Coatesville official, Gerlach

The Southeastern Pennsylvania First Suburbs Project was formed approximately four years ago to address major challenges facing inner-ring suburbs such as housing, infrastructure and education finance reform in Delaware, Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties. The regional coalition consists of municipal, education, faith and civic leaders.  The coalition recently presented the Jonathan T. Schmidt Visionary Leadership Award to Coatesville Assistant City Manager Kirby Hudson. Hudson said he believes the coalition has helped his city improve housing issues. The Most Powerful Federal Legislator Ally of the Year award went to U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R), and the Most Powerful State Legislator Ally of the Year award went to state Sen. Ted Erickson (R), of Newtown.

Source: Daily Local; 12/12/2011

Chester County residents to see tax increase in U-CF

Residents in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District will see an increase in next year’s tax bills in Chester County, while Delaware County residents will see a slight decrease. The administration presented a preliminary budget for the 2012-13 tax year which will set spending at $71.6 million. That figure means an increase in millage rates of 3.87 for Chester County residents and an 0.60 percent decrease for Delaware county residents. A mill is a tax of $1 for every $1,000 of assessed real estate value. In Chester County, the millage rate goes up from 24.68 mills to 25.48, a 3.87 percent increase over 2011-12 rates. In Delaware County, the millage rate drops from 21.82 mills to 21.69 mills. The preliminary budget is scheduled for adoption at the Jan. 23 school board business meeting.

Source: Daily Times; 12/14/2011

Anti-eminent domain language eyed for regional land plan

In light of a recent plan to take by condemnation the Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show grounds, a Chester County commissioner has recommended that a proposed regional open space plan include language that specifically opposes using eminent domain to acquire park land. Commissioner Ryan Costello attended an East Vincent Township Board of Supervisors meeting Wednesday to make that recommendation. East Vincent is the lead municipality for the parks, recreation and open space plan being developed by the Federation of Northern Chester County Communities. The plan, two years in the making, is nearing completion and is expected to be approved in February, according to Township Supervisor Christine McNeil, who also serves as vice president of the federation. When complete, it will define a vision for parks, open space and recreation for nine Northern Chester County townships: East Coventry, East Pikeland, East Nantmeal, East Vincent, North Coventry, South Coventry, Warwick, West Pikeland, and West Vincent.

Source: Daily Local; 12/9/2011

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Chester County to gain state House seat

Chester County’s growing population has led to the creation of a new state House district under the proposed legislative redistricting plan. The new district in Chester County will be carved out along the Route 30 corridor and center around Downingtown and Coatesville. The county will continue to have nine state House districts, because the addition of the new district and subsequent rearranging of others will crowd out Rep. Thomas Killion (R-168), who represents one township in Chester County and has the majority of his district in Delaware County. Chester County will be divided among four — not six — state Senate districts after two of them were adjusted to keep them outside the county.

Source: Daily Local; 11/1/11

In Franklin, open space EIT back on the ballot

When Franklin Township voters cast their ballots in May, they voted to defeat a referendum that would permit the supervisors to impose a half percent income tax dedicated to preserving open space. Unwilling to drop the idea, township supervisors have voted to include the question on the ballot for the general election on Nov. 8. Supervisors’ Chairman Nan Latimer explained that the current board had voted to place the referendum on the ballot again because they believe people did not understand it entirely. She said people need to know that the current real estate tax of half a mill will disappear if the earned income tax is enacted. A mill is a tax of $1 for every $1,000 worth of assessed property value. Additionally, she said now is a good time to buy easements and land at a relatively low price. Opponents of the earned income tax have argued that the earned income tax would land the township further in debt, because of plans to “leverage” loans to buy more open space.

Source: Daily Local; 10/31/2011

A village of the future in London Grove

A fascination with green technology is helping generate interest in a new form of housing in London Grove. The Three Groves Ecovillage promises to be an opportunity for people interested in being part of a net-zero-energy neighborhood. More and more area homes are being constructed or retrofitted with solar panels to decrease energy bills, but Three Groves goes much further, aiming to be the first net-zero-energy neighborhood in the country. Using geothermal and solar technology in a community system, coupled with high-efficiency appliances, the clusters of attached homes are designed to produce all the energy they need on site. Planned are 36 homes in three “groves” of about 12 homes each. The price would be in the $200,000 range for a one-bedroom and the low $400,000s for a four-bedroom. For more information on line, visit www.ThreeGrovesEcovillage.org.

Source: Daily Local; 11/1/2011

New section of Schuylkill River Trail opens

Helping complete one of the many priority gaps on the Schuylkill River Trail in Chester County, officials unveiled a 5.6 mile section in Spring City that will eventually connect the multi-use trail with the rest of the region. The opening of the Spring City portion of the trail was hailed as a significant accomplishment because it will spur economic growth for the borough.

Source:  Times Herald; 10/27/2011

Spring-Ford school district to repay $6.5 million to GlaxoSmithKline

The Spring-Ford Area school board voted to approve a $6.5 million settlement with GlaxoSmithKline PLC to end a multi-year property tax assessment appeal. Under the terms of the settlement, the new property value for Glaxo’s Upper Providence campus will be $47.5 million, a reduction from the original assessment of $114.1 million but higher than the $24 million assessment the company believed was in order. The district must pay the company $3 million and then credit the remaining $3.5 million over the course of three years. The new assessed value of the GlaxoSmithKline property will remain in effect for five years and is estimated to cost the Spring-Ford Area School District $1.612 million in annual revenue.

Source: Times Herald; 10/25/2011

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