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Tredyffrin-Easttown budget plan includes property tax hike

Tredyffrin/Easttown School District property owners may soon see a property tax increase of up to 3.77 percent. For homeowners, this would mean an average increase of $171 in property taxes, generating $3.2 million in revenue for the district. The proposed final budget was adopted by the school board on May 9, but the board is still evaluating other cost-saving options. The final budget presentation is slated to be voted on by the board at 7:30 p.m. on June 6 at Conestoga High School. The proposed final budget can be publicly viewed on the district’s website here.

Source: Daily Local; 5/31/2011

No tax hike for Oxford Area

Property owners in the Oxford Area School District will avoid a school property tax hike this year and keep their school buses. The real estate tax rate will remain at 29.5479 mills. During the budget adoption process, one of the biggest objections from the public arose over a proposal to eliminate busing for students living in Oxford Borough, but school officials found the necessary $135,000 to avoid that possibility. One policy change adopted by the school board adjusts the fees for sports participation to $75 at the high school and $50 at Penn’s Grove School. Parking permits for high school students are now $50.

Source: Daily Local; 5/29/2011

Penn Township making progress on Comprehensive Plan

Penn Township’s Comprehensive Plan task force presented an update to the public. Penn is the fastest growing township in the county. In 2010 there were 5,400 residents in the Township; that number is projected to be 7,100 by 2030. The task force is seeking public involvement throughout the process, and updates and future meetings will be placed on the Township’s website here.

Source: Chester County Press; 5/25/2011

Tredyffrin Easttown seeks tax study group volunteers

The Tredyffrin/Easttown School Board is seeking interested residents of Tredyffrin and Easttown townships to join a citizen Tax Study Group. The citizens group will study the effects that an Earned Income Tax (EIT) would have on the School District and its residents. Following its study, Tax Study Group members will present the pros and cons of an EIT to the school board and community. Tax Study Group members must be willing to present information at one or two televised meetings. The Tax Study Group will meet up to eight times in September and October 2011. Click here to access the application.

West Chester council approves creation of Ad-Hoc committee

West Chester Borough Council voted to approve an ordinance that would create the West Chester Citizens Financial Advisory Ad-hoc Committee. The borough is currently accepting applications from borough residents for the seven-member committee, which was created in an attempt to give the borough’s financial issues a fresh set of eyes. The committee’s term is set to expire Dec. 31, but could be extended to March 31 of next year. Council members said the committee will be modeled on East Goshen’s Township Advisory Group, which helped the township turn a budget deficit into a budget surplus. Borough Council is set to interview candidates for the new committee on June 14 and 15. Residents interested in applying for a committee position should contact Borough Manager Ernie McNeely or Council President Holly Brown.

Source: Daily Local; 5/27/2011

Nominations for the WC Historic Preservation Awards
Nominations for the West Chester Historic Preservation Awards are being accepted through July 1, 2011. There will be three award categories: Bricks and Mortar for construction projects; Preservation Service for educational and advocacy projects; and West Chester Preservationist for long-term or far-reaching contributions to the preservation of West Chester. Help recognize the individuals and projects that have enhanced West Chester’s historic integrity by submitting a nomination! Click here for a copy of the Nomination Form.

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Tredyffrin passes two student housing ordinances

Two ordinances addressing student housing were discussed, tweaked and approved at the Tredyffrin Township Board of Supervisors meeting. The Registration Ordinance and the Zoning Ordinance, while separate entities, will help to regulate and enforce student housing throughout Tredyffrin. Both current and future homeowners will be responsible for complying with the Registration Ordinance, but the Zoning Ordinance will only apply to future homeowners. Current homeowners renting to students will be grandfathered in. The ordinances were approved unanimously by the board and will go into effect on September 16. The registration ordinance requires both current and future homeowners who rent to students to register with the township. Homeowners will be required to provide their own contact information and that of their renters. Also, information must be provided about the college/university/trade school the renter will be attending. The township plans to be in contact with Realtors and local schools to document which students live where. The hope is that by documenting who owns and rents each home, contacting the individuals if necessary will be easier and more time-efficient. Separately, the Zoning Ordinance, states that all future homeowners wishing to rent to students in the R-1/2, 1, 2, 3 and 4 residential districts would need special-exception approval from the Zoning Hearing Board before occupancy. To qualify, the owner will need to show that the property meets the requirements of the ordinance. Those requirements include a buffer of at least 10 feet around the home, no more than three student tenants, and a specified minimum distance from other student homes.

Source: Main Line Media News; 8/18/2010

Study lauds Coatesville’s potential

Following three days of interactive workshops as part of a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation study considering funding redevelopment of Coatesville’s train station, project officials offered some surprising information. “We found you could support, today, 68,000 square feet of new restaurants and stores. They would generate $17.6 million in sales,” said Robert J. Gibbs, a market economist, of Gibbs Consulting Group. “I think our study was conservative, too conservative. I think you could generate $30 million in sales.” The market study was just one part of an overall project that will result in recommendations to PennDOT regarding what it would take to redevelop the station. As part of an initiative called Plan the Keystone, PennDOT wants to improve 12 targeted stations along the Keystone Corridor from Harrisburg to Philadelphia. According to Batson, the corridor is important not just regionally but nationally.

Source: Daily Local; 8/26/2010

West Whiteland municipal building’s contractor sues township

The general contractor for the new West Whiteland Township municipal building is suing the township for $1.5 million, claiming the township withheld funds that it and subcontractors were owed. The township says the building leaks and that is why they withheld payments.  In a lawsuit filed Aug. 11, attorneys for Magnum, Inc., a Warminster-based company, said the $1.5 million represented contractual obligations that the township failed to pay, additional costs due to township-caused delays, and costs associated with change orders that the township initiated among other things. Magnum is also trying to recoup expenses incurred as a result of trying to correct the leak problem. While the township claims that Magnum performed faulty or defective work, the contractor claims the alleged deficiencies were caused by the township’s project design.

Source: Daily Local; 8/23/2010

Customers: Rate hike ‘horrendous’

Protesting a rate increase that would more than triple the average customer’s bill, residents turned out in force Tuesday at two hearings regarding wastewater rates for Pennsylvania American Water Company. Speakers described the requested rate, which according to a news release from the company would raise the average customer’s monthly bill from $27.43 to $90.26, as “unconscionable,” “horrendous,” “unthinkable,” and “outrageous” and criticized the company on a range of charges, from unfairness to poor service. But the primary challenges to the rate increase were the arguments that the company was unduly shifting an investment burden to the customers. Company representatives said the primary reason for the rate increase, which would increase revenues to the company by $8.2 million, was the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility in which the company had invested $55 million. The facility in South Coatesville serves Coatesville, East Fallowfield, Caln, West Caln, Valley, Sadsbury, West Sadsbury, Highland and West Brandywine. More than 600 people turned out for the two meetings.

Source: Daily Local; 8/25/2010

Penn Township embarks on Comprehensive Plan project

The Penn Township Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission will be revising the township’s comprehensive plan. The township will be working closely with the Chester County Planning Commission to hold 14 work sessions and two public meetings in the coming months. The task force will begin in earnest on Wednesday, September 15 at 7 p.m.

Source: Chester County Press, 8/25/2010

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West Chester University asked to stop buying real estate

West Chester Borough Council passed a non-binding resolution Wednesday night asking West Chester University to stop buying real estate in the borough. The resolution also requests that the university reimburse the borough for tax revenues lost as the result of a recent land purchase. The university is tax-exempt, which means it does not pay real estate taxes on the properties it owns. Earlier this year, it purchased two privately owned buildings on South High Street: the College Arms student housing complex and a house at 624 S. High St. Borough officials calculate that the university’s purchase of College Arms will reduce real estate tax revenue by more than $7,400 per year. This money, officials said, will have to be made up by the borough’s residential and commercial taxpayers. Borough officials said the university did not consult with them before purchasing these properties. Officials added that the purchase violates an agreement the university struck with West Chester a decade ago not to buy more land in the borough. Borough officials have long been worried about the high percentage of tax-exempt properties in the municipality. Properties owned by Chester County, Chester County Hospital, the West Chester Area School District, the university, churches and nonprofits cannot be taxed.  Such properties make up nearly 36 percent of borough land.

Source: Daily Local; 8/20/2010

Penn supervisors ponder fate of ordinance records

Anyone seeking an up-to-date copy of ordinances passed by Penn Township is apparently out of luck. The ordinance book is so outdated, no complete books are available. Supervisor William Finnen urged his colleagues to accept a $14,735 proposal from McCormick Taylor engineers to prepare the ordinance book for codification. Board Chairman Curtis Mason opposed the contract due to its limits. The board agreed to contact Chester County officials for help.

Source: Daily Local; 8/18/2010

Coatesville RDA refocuses on future

The Flats, the Pulver Hotel, the Chetty project, and the Fleetwood Street homes are just a few of the redevelopment projects that currently fall under the purview of the Coatesville Redevelopment Authority (RDA). The RDA board recently discussed creating a business plan and a strategic plan to organize the assets for which it is responsible. The board is also considering seeking help from the Chester County Economic Development Committee, and voted to create a two-member committee to work with city staff and the CCEDC in creating these plans.  As changes in leadership and economic challenges have stalled planned improvements in the city, the 10-year-old organization has become an increasingly important partner in the effort to move forward toward completing city goals. The nonprofit organization offers a wide range of services, including financing services, a business retention and expansion program, work force development and industry partnerships, and land and building site selection.

Source: Daily Local; 8/18/2010

East Bradford neighbors complain sun glare is blinding from solar panels

While few people may be able to afford large solar panel arrays, one enthusiastic homeowner on Muirfield Drive in East Bradford covered his roof with the panels and by doing so created a glare problem for his neighbors. Township officials say they are aware of the complaint and are working with the solar company that installed the panels. Brenden Beaumont, the township’s zoning officer, said he was working with the solar company to come up with a solution. The township is now requiring that a glare study be done as part of the permit process for any solar application whether it is roof-mounted or ground-mounted.  The study will examine the angle of the sun at the location of the photovoltaic system throughout the year on an hour by hour basis as well as the angles of the panels. The Board of Supervisors recently adopted rules governing ground-mounted systems requiring that they be no larger than 500 square feet and not be placed in a front yard. In the last three years, the township has issued permits for about 10 residential solar systems and one solar farm.

Source: Daily Local; 8/18/2010

Plans forthcoming for NVF site in Kennett Square

The NVF industrial site’s future awaits a plan to address its various environmental issues. Abandoned for years, the former industrial site was recently bought by the Delaware Valley Development Corp.  Borough Manager Brant Kucera said owner George Beer’s plans for the site will likely arrive before borough officials soon. Kucera said earlier plans for the site included a traditional neighborhood layout of age-restricted housing with townhomes and single-family dwellings. He said officials also discussed a commercial or municipal component, including a community center and shops.

Source: Daily Local; 8/16/2010

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Coatesville seeks accountability for vacant homes

After a year’s moratorium on registration charges for vacant properties, Coatesville City officials plan to discuss reinstating the registration fee during council’s regular meeting Monday. Two years ago, the city passed an ordinance requiring the owners of a vacant property to register it with the city. The cost for registration is $250, but last year, the city voted to waive the fee. In addition, according to Karl Marking, city council vice president, some concerns arose regarding how fairly the statute was administered. A vacant property is defined as one in which no one resides for more than 60 days, but city officials have acknowledged that legitimate reasons may exist for a property to be empty. The ordinance may be amended after council discusses it. Damalier Molina, urban planning and codes director, is hoping that the fee will be reinstated, partly to help pay for a new codes enforcement officer. Molina estimated 125 to 200 properties are vacant in the city. The primary purpose of the registration is to make it easier for the city to hold property owners accountable, officials said. Suburban REALTORS Alliance staff is meeting with the Coatesville codes department early next week; please submit any comments to esmist@suburbanrealtorsalliance.com.

Source: Daily Local; 8/8/2010

Residents ask Phoenixville to maintain street trees

The Phoenixville Shade Tree Commission heard from nearly 20 residents regarding trimming issues and the possibility of the borough turning tree trimming back over to homeowners. Commission member Paul Kusko told the audience that the borough is dealing with budget issues. Currently, by ordinance, the Borough of Phoenixville is responsible for the care and maintenance of regulated street trees, including the removal of those that are dead, dying, and/or hazardous. Amid tough budget conditions this is one borough service that is being considered for termination for the upcoming fiscal year. This would shift the responsibility of the maintenance and removal of regulated street trees back to the homeowners of properties abutting the right-of-way where the trees are located. Over the past four years the borough has been spending $40,000 to $80,000 per year on regulated street tree maintenance and removals.

Source: Daily Local; 8/11/2010

Hearings scheduled on Coatesville water rate hike

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission said Friday it has scheduled two hearings to receive public comment on the proposed rate increase by Pennsylvania American Water Co. Coatesville Wastewater Operations. The meetings will be held at 1 p.m. on August 24 in Council Chambers of Coatesville’s City Hall and at 7 p.m. on August 24 at Rainbow Elementary School (1113 W. Lincoln Highway).  More information on the ratemaking process is available on the Commission’s Web site at www.puc.state.pa.us. Coatesville’s Wastewater Operations provides service to about 6,035 customers in the city of Coatesville, Parkesburg Borough and West Sadsbury, East Fallowfield, Caln, West Caln, West Brandywine, Valley, Sadsbury and Highland townships. Members of the public are invited to attend the hearings and provide comments. Customer testimony will become part of the record on which the utility commission will issue its final decision.

Source: Daily Local; 8/6/2010

Tredyffrin to consider regulating student rental housing

The Tredyffrin Board of Supervisors will consider two ordinances that would regulate student rental housing in the township at their August 16 public meeting. A proposed property registration ordinance for student rental housing would require the registration of student contact information with the township. The ordinance places a limitation on the number of student tenants living in a home to three. It also provides for minimum distances between student homes. The Suburban REALTORS Alliance has been closely monitoring the progress of this ordinance. Click here to read the summary for each ordinance.  Please contact esmist@suburbanrealtorsalliance.com with any questions or comments.

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New home sales up in June

June saw a 23.6 percent increase in the sale of new homes, but that followed a record low in May and is still 16.7 percent below the figures for the sale of new homes in June 2009. At the peak of the housing boom in 2005, 1.28 million new homes were sold in a year. At the current rate, it is expected that 330,000 new homes will be sold by the end of 2010.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 7/27/10

State grants municipalities stormwater rules extension

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has granted municipalities a nine-month extension for stormwater management plans. The plans were originally to be submitted by September 10 and were to detail how each municipality would deal with stormwater runoff and the resulting pollution and erosion. Local municipalities were concerned over the expense of the mandates and, led by Montgomery Township, formed the Southeastern Pennsylvania Stormwater Coalition. The coalition hopes to make the stormwater standards more affordable for municipalities.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 7/28/10 & Times Herald; 7/20/10

Kennett debates adding 2 supervisors

Kennett Township supervisors are considering increasing the number of elected municipal officials from three to five. During the public comment period at Monday’s meeting, Supervisor Tom Nale reported that a petition is circulating to assess residents’ interest in a referendum to increase the number of supervisors from three to five. A petition is necessary to determine whether this is an issue that Kennett residents believe is worthy of turning into a referendum on which the township electorate would vote.
Source: Daily Local; 7/26/2010

New Garden begins gearing up for Baltimore Pike Corridor Study

The New Garden Township Board of Supervisors recently appointed Vice Chairman Bob Perrotti to serve as their representative on the Baltimore Pike Corridor Study Steering Committee. They also appointed Township Manager Dan Fox and Director of Planning and Projects Spence Andress to serve on the committee that will begin meeting in September. The goal of the group will be to study Baltimore Pike from East Marlborough to Avondale and determine long-term plans. The other municipalities will also name representatives.

Source: Chester County Press; 7/21/2010

East Goshen Township cuts its meeting schedule

East Goshen Township supervisors decided Tuesday to eliminate workshops that normally precede their regular meetings. The workshops are generally held in a small conference room next to the large meeting room at 7 p.m. Then at 8 p.m. the board adjourns the workshop and moves into the meeting room for its regular meeting. Supervisors Chairman Senya Isayeff recommended the board eliminate workshops and just have the regular meeting because much of the discussion on various issues takes place in the workshops.

Source: Daily Local; 7/25/2010

Sewer rates expected to rise in Penn Township

Penn Township supervisors recently discussed an increase in sewage rates. The increase is a necessary response to new sewer regulations that will require improvements to the existing system, as well as increased repair costs due to unwanted materials entering the sewer system. Items such as grease and disposable diapers being flushed into the system are being blamed for ruining sewer pumps. Supervisors have determined that the increase will be based upon usage, which will encourage people to conserve water. Rates are expected to increase by next quarter.

Source: Avon Grove Sun; 7/28/10

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Developer, bank square off over stymied project in Chester County

Judge Albert W. Sheppard Jr. was unable to settle a dispute between Citizens Bank and J. Brian O’Neill. In January, O’Neill sued the bank for $8 billion, alleging broken financial promises by Citizens that he says have “destroyed” his much-anticipated – and largely incomplete – Uptown Worthington mixed-use development in Malvern. In documents filed last month, Citizens Bank contends that O’Neill’s suit is retaliation for the bank’s trying to collect more than $60 million O’Neill owes for loans connected to the Uptown Worthington project. As proposed in 2002, the 106-acre project at the former Worthington Steel plant along Routes 202 and 29 was to include 1.6 million square feet of housing, shops, entertainment venues, a hotel, and high-value office space. More than $100 million in federal, state, and local government funding was committed for phased-in distribution as the effort advanced from land acquisition and site development to construction, with $150 million more in the works.  So far, less than 300,000 square feet has been built – the Wegmans and Target stores. On Wednesday, white PVC solid-panel fence was being installed just past the Target parking lot to block shoppers’ views of the acres of still-undeveloped ground.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 6/22/10

Easttown hires assistant manager

Easttown Township’s Board of Supervisors hired Michael Brown, manager of Honey Brook Township, as its assistant manager. Brown will become manager upon the scheduled retirement of manager Gene Williams at the end of year. Easttown is governed by a five member board of supervisors and in 2000 had a reported population of 10,270 people.

Source: Main Line Suburban Life; 6/23/2010

Paoli rail yard to receive $1 million in state funding

The Paoli rail yard will get $1 million in state funding from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for the construction of the Paoli Intermodel Transportation Facility. State Representative Paul Drucker noted, “The release of this funding facilitates the initial phase of the most significant public-private multi-modal transit project in the entire Delaware Valley region.” The funds will enable a solar-power generation project to be developed on the site to supply power to the Amtrak/SEPTA operations. The new Paoli Intermodal Transportation Facility is planned to include a new station, passenger amenities, office buildings, and an onsite parking garage.

Source: Main Line Suburban Life; 6/23/10

Unionville-Chadds Ford district adopts budget

The 2010-11 budget was adopted in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District which includes a 2.88 percent increase in the property tax rate. The tax rate in Chester County will increase to 24.26 mills, which amounts to a school property tax bill of $7,278 for the average home assessed at $300,000. The Delaware County tax is set at 20.83 mills for a school property tax bill of $6,249. Budget reductions included the elimination of 11 teaching positions and several support positions. This is the first budget since Act 1 was enacted that the district did not raise taxes to the maximum allowed by law. Click here to visit the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District website.

Source: The Daily Local; 6/27/10

Spring-Ford Area school taxes up

Taxes in the Spring-Ford Area School District will increase by two percent for the 2010-11 school year. The school property tax rate will increase to 23.53 mills, up $46 per $100,000 in assessed property value. The school board also voted to furlough five district employees, a move meant to reduce budget expenditures. One board member stated that the district faced revenue losses due, in part, to property reassessments. Click here to review the final budget posted on the Spring-Ford Area School District website.

Source: Springford Reporter/Valley Item; 6/23/10

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