FALL 2004/WINTER 2005 NEWSLETTER
TOWNSHIP HOLDS THE TAXES LINE FOR 33RD YEAR
The Board of Supervisors will be adopting the Township’s 2005 budget in December. In keeping with the Board’s philosophy of prudent fiscal spending, the budget requires no tax increase to achieve its objectives. This marks the Township’s 33rd year without a tax increase! Township residents will continue to pay no property taxes to the Township.
The major goals of the Board for 2005 include continuing to maintain our road system by resurfacing and reconstructing portions of 8 roads representing 3.5 miles, the improvement of our park system by developing Shadyside Park and expanding the Broad Run and Brandywine Meadows Preserves, the connection of the Strasburg Corridor Wastewater Treatment Facility to Marshallton to alleviate the sewage problems of residents, and the updating of our Subdivision/Land Development Ordinance.
Please see the budget for more details. A summary of the budget has been posted on the Township’s web site at www.westbradford.org and it is also available in the lobby of the Township Building.
SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION A POSSIBILITY
The Pennsylvania Legislature enacted the Homeowner Property Relief Act in July. Expected gambling revenues from slot machines may allow property tax relief, if designated state and local revenues reach specific amounts set by the law and if a school district “opts in” to the tax relief act through imposition of a an increased income tax. This property tax relief is not expected to occur until the 2006/2007 school year.
While it is uncertain when the Commonwealth will accumulate enough slot machine revenue to fund this, you need to act now. This reduction will not automatically be awarded to property owners. In order to qualify to receive school district property tax relief, you must file a homestead / farmstead exclusion application with the county assessment office and your application must be approved. Property owners who previously filed for exemption under Act 50 will also need to enroll in this program.
All residential property owners in Chester County have been sent the Homestead/Farmstead application and instructions on October 18, 2004. Please mail your completed application to the Chester County Assessment-Homestead Office in the envelope provided. The deadline for filing is March 1, 2005.
Further information can be found on Chester County’s website (www.chesco.org) under the Assessment Department’s page or you can contact the Downingtown Area School District at 610 269-8460.
Portions of this article have been reprinted from the Chester County Assessment Department’s web page. Please direct any questions that you may have to the County and School District as West Bradford Township staff are not familiar enough with the program to answer questions on it.
WINTER IS COMING
You Can Help When the Snow Falls
Old Man Winter is just around the corner. If we are unfortunate enough to have a long, snowy winter our road crew will to do their best to have our roads in as good a condition as possible.
Our trucks salt, cinder, and plow over 124 lane miles of roads. We hire extra contractors and maintain stockpiles of over 400 tons of anti-skid material. We stock extra parts for plows, salt spreaders, and truck chains. Despite our best efforts, we do have equipment breakdowns during snowstorms; this may delay work on certain routes. Please be patient.
Each operator has a specific route that includes high priority roads and lesser priority roads. When a snowstorm begins, operators will cover their entire route with salt and anti-skid material. This helps to keep the snow and ice from freezing on the surface. After that they begin to plow their route. The intensity of the snowstorm determines how routes are completed. For minor storms the entire route may be completed at once. However, if the storm intensifies, only priority routes (usually through roads) will be plowed. Cul-de-sacs and secondary roads will not be done until the main routes can be kept open. As the storm lightens all roads will be opened. After all roads can be kept open and the snow stops, drivers complete their route by pushing snow back as far as possible on the cartway and clearing the intersections.
The success of our winter maintenance program depends on how much cooperation we receive from our citizens. By following these guidelines during a snowstorm you can assist us in keeping the roadways open:
Our road department and the contractors we hire spend long hours in tough conditions to make the roads as safe as possible. Please cooperate with them and appreciate the fact that they are doing their best to serve the community.
DO YOU KNOW....?
What year the West Chester Street Railway opened its Downingtown Branch between West Chester and Downingtown?
The branch opened in 1902. It was originally planned to go through Marshallton, but instead was constructed on the east side of the Brandywine in East Bradford Township.
'BETWEEN THE BRANDYWINES - A HISTORY OF WEST BRADFORD'
The Township Historical Committee has been working with Catherine Quillman on a book chronicling West Bradford Township’s history. The book is in production and will be unveiled at West Bradford Day 2005.
The following is an excerpt from Chapter 1 of the book entitled First Residents.
Among the townships in Chester County, West Bradford is one of the few with significant connections to the local Indians known as the Lenni Lenape. Partly because of its location between the two branches of the Brandywine, the township had an early history with a tribe of Lenapes that had grown numerous by the 1680s. An estimated thirty or forty different tribes of Lenape once lived along the creeks and tributaries of Chester County. The stream tribe known as the Brandywine Indians may have been the largest. They at least occupied the largest stream system in Chester County, the creek they called Wawassan.
The West Bradford region was their summer home, although they also had several large permanent villages along the Brandywine floodplains. Tribes also continually traveled through the area, sweeping the forest floor of firewood and brush and creating trails through a wilderness. One early and rare description of the landscape surrounding Northbrook suggests that the Indians’ subtle presence created a territory that was almost park-like in its openness, with thick canopies of leaves, but little underbrush. In 1748, a German naturalist who was visiting Abraham Marshall observed that “the greater part of the country is covered with several kinds of deciduous trees; for I scarcely saw a single tree of the fir kind…except for a few red cedars. The forest was high, but open below so that it left a free prospect to the eye.” (1)
The Township is now accepting reservations for book copies. Contact the Township Office at (610) 269-4174 and reserve your copy. The 300 page, hard cover book will contain over 250 photos, maps, and drawings. A special limited edition will also be available containing large-scale foldout maps. The retail price of the book will be $40 with the special edition at $50. Residents who reserve and pay for a book before March 2005 will receive a $5 discount off the retail price.
(1) Peter Kalm, Travels in North America, ed., Adolph B. Benson, 2 vols, (New York: Dover Publications, 1966, reprint of 1937 ed.)
The following is an update on the major developments occurring in the Township:
Plans under Construction
· Chestnut Ridge – 286 single family homes on 525 acres located around the intersection of Chestnut Lane and Romansville Road. The developer is Orleans Homebuilders and Toll Brothers.
· Bally Moore – A development of 15 single-family homes on 32 acres located adjacent to East Fallowfield Township on South Bailey Road north of Fawn Lane. The developer is T&H Development.
· Estates at Broad Run – A Iacobucci Homes development of 30 single-family residential homes on 102 acres is beginning construction at Shadyside Road and Broad Run Road.
· Tattersall by Toll Brothers – 37 single-family homes on the Hertig Tract of 72 acres.
· Oak Hollow – 15 single-family homes on 38 acres. McGill Builders is the builder.
Plans Approved, but not yet in Construction
· Datner Tract (a.k.a. Sycamore Ridge) – A development of 38 single-family homes on a 76-acre site. The site is located at the intersection of Romansville Road and West Chester Road. Toll Brothers is the developer.
· Bradford Pointe (a.k.a. Mt. Pleasant Farms/Stouff Farm) – A development of 45 single-family homes on 76 acres located at the intersection of Stouff Road and West Chester Road. The developer is Ruggiero Development Group.
· Sawmill Subdivision (a.k.a. Zappacosta Tract) – A development of 69 single-family homes on 189 acres. The development is located above the Brandywine Greene Subdivision. Access will be from Creagh Knoll Lane and a new connection to Crestmont Drive. Bentley Communities is the developer.
Plans under Review
· Southview – The current preliminary plan proposes 16 single family dwellings on 79 acres. It is located near the intersection of Shadyside Road and Marshallton-Thorndale Road. GenTerra is the developer.
· Bradley Property – The plan develops 102 acres located at the intersection of Chestnut Lane and Broad Run Road. It is located within the Broad Run Exceptional Value watershed and is half wooded. Harkin Property LLC is the developer.
· Cozzone Tract (a.k.a. Bright Glade Farm) – The plan proposes single-family dwellings on 115 acres. The property is located on Glenside Avenue near the intersection with Broadview. Heritage Building Group is the developer.
· Bradford/Stargazers Village – The Plan proposes a mixed-use development of 121 acres adjacent to Romansville. The development is divided into two tracts. The western tract is a proposed single-family development of 57 acres connecting to Romans Village. The eastern tract is a proposed village development of 63 acres. GenTerra is the developer.
Copies of all subdivision and land development plans are available for public review during business hours at the Township Administration Building. Interested residents are encouraged to attend the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission meetings when developments are being discussed. The Board of Supervisors meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month at 8:30 P.M. at the Township Administration Building. The Planning Commission meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month at 8:00 P.M. at the Township Administration Building. Meeting agendas are generally available the afternoon prior to the meeting. You may contact the Township Office at (610) 269-4174 to see if a particular development is scheduled for discussion or you may look at our web site for the agenda (www.westbradford.org).
…that my neighbor doesn’t have “standing” to appear in front of the Zoning Hearing Board to ask questions about a development.
(This article is a regular feature of our newsletter. It gives insights into how municipalities work and answers some common questions that residents have about dealing with local government.)
Developers or landowners frequently need special permission to build on their property. To get this permission they may have to appear before the Board of Supervisors and get a Conditional Use approval or the Zoning Hearing Board and get a Special Exception approval.
This process involves quasi-judicial hearings where testimony is taken. “Standing” is the ability to become a party to the hearing. To have standing you must have a legally protectable and tangible interest at stake in the matter.
The hearing applicant(s) - who may be represented by an attorney – presents testimony to support their case. Expert witnesses may be called to testify and witnesses may be cross-examined. Additional parties, besides the applicant and Township, may present testimony. This means that other persons or community groups affected by the decision may be recognized as having “standing” to appear before the Board provided that they meet certain criteria.
Any resident present at one of these hearings can ask reasonable questions of the experts or present their concerns on the matter. However, only those with “standing” can be an actual party to the matter and cross-examine witnesses, present their own witnesses, and/or appeal the final decision to the Commonwealth Court.
MARSHALLTON PUBLIC SEWER SYSTEM IS PROGRESSING
The installation of the public sewer system for Marshallton is continuing. The first part of this collection system, the sewer mains, will be installed by the end of December. The second part of this system, the treatment facility is expected to be essentially complete in January. When these first two parts have passed their final testing, the third part, the connection of individual homes and businesses in Marshallton, will commence. This final part is still scheduled to occur in the early part of 2005.
As we have promised, prior to that time, but not too far in advance, we will conduct meetings with the residents who will be served. These meetings will explain how the system works and provide a package of information regarding the actual connection requirements. Each property will have a grinder pump installed that will pump the sewage into the system. The Township will supply the grinder pump unit, with installation being done by a contractor for the homeowner.
Here are some of the common questions that have been asked regarding the use of grinder pumps in the system:
Each pump will be connected to the electric system of the home where the pump in installed. That may require some modifications of the existing electric system. A control box will be installed on the outside of the building for the grinder pump.
What happens when the electricity goes out because of a general power failure?
There is some storage capacity in the grinder pump unit. When a power failure occurs the use of the system should be minimized to avoid a back up into the home.
The Township will establish a system to maintain the pumps. The pumps are modular and can be replaced very quickly with reserve pumps that the Township will have in stock. This pump maintenance will be a part of the fee that is paid for use of the system.
Although the Township does not presently operate a sewer system, the sewer systems already in place in the Township have homes that use grinder pumps. Those systems have worked well. Additionally, the Township has consulted other municipalities that have used the system to ask about maintenance and failure issues. They have indicated that the grinder pump system is very reliable.
The Township does not encourage this. We strongly suggest that you use a competent contractor. The equipment requires both electrical connections and plumbing work. All installations will be inspected and must be installed as specified. In other municipalities, homeowner “do-it-yourselfers” have had problems meeting the installation specifications and have had to redo the work at their expense.
Family Fun Night – The first annual “Family Fun Night” on Saturday, October 23rd was a huge success! Over 400 residents and their families and friends took part in hayrides, pumpkin decorating, making scarecrows, and the storytelling around the campfire. Many thanks to all those people who helped to make the evening so much fun!
Winter Doldrums got you?? – Check out the Downingtown Area Recreation Consortium’s Winter Brochure for the approximately 200 programs for School District residents of all ages offered this winter. Brochures and registration forms are mailed to all residents and can also be found on their website at www.darcinfo.com. They also have discounted ski tickets available.
Spring Sports! - West Bradford Youth Association [WBYA] sign ups for spring sports will be held on the last two Saturdays in January [22nd & 29th]. Don’t miss the annual “Winter Fest” on February 4th. Monies raised benefit WBYA programs and help fund numerous scholarships for graduating seniors. For more information visit www.wbya.org. Contact WBYA by phone at 610-486-0525 or by e-mail at wbya@icdc.com.
Earth Day 2005 Observance – Join us on Saturday, April 23rd, 2005 as volunteers from all over WBT join together with thousands of other Pennsylvanians in the “ 2005 Great PA Cleanup”. Look for upcoming information on our website. Please contact us with any suggestions or questions.
West Bradford Day 2005 – Sunday, May 22nd - The WBT Recreation Commission has moved the date two weeks earlier this year, so mark your calendars now and check the next newsletter and the website for updates. Any residents and/or businesses that would like to take part in any way are encouraged to contact the Parks Director at 610-269-4174 or parks@westbradford.org.
Shadyside Park – Construction resumed this fall and is currently on schedule for completion by the end of May 2005. With one exception, all facilities should be available for use at that time. The baseball field will be given another year to establish a solid turf. Play should begin there in the spring of 2006.
Many Thanks to Our Summer Events Sponsors – The WBT Recreation Commission would like to thank the following sponsors of the Summer Events Series of 2004 for their support and generous contributions: Haverford Systems, Comcast, The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, PECO, VisionQuest, The Kurke Family, John Smith/REMAX Leaders, Mr. & Mrs. Jack M. Hines, Jr., and The Nappi Family. And to Joe Deutsch who, for the fourth consecutive year, donated his time and materials in preparing the soil and planting the beautiful low-growing flowers and ornamental grasses in the traffic island at Poorhouse & Marshallton-Thorndale Roads.
With our park facilities expanding, the Parks Department is looking for permanent, part-time park help. Duties include light maintenance, summer help supervision, and clean up tasks. The schedule is flexible and 10-20 hours per week are available. The job is perfect for retirees.
Contact Gary Schmidt, Parks Director at (610) 269-4174 or parks@westbradford.org for more information.
NEW VOLUNTEERS ON TOWNSHIP BOARDS
The Township would like to congratulate the following residents on their appointment to Township Boards and Commissions over the past year.
The Recreation Commission welcomes Mr. Michael Duffy, Mr. Rick Rohrbach, and Ms. Nancy Rolfe.
The Planning Commission welcomes Mr. Glen Morrell, Mr. Boyd Peart, and Mr. Thomas Ryan.
The Building Appeals Board welcomes Mr. Boyd Peart.
The Board of Supervisors has appointed Mr. Glenn Allison to be the Township’s new Emergency Management Coordinator. Our best wishes in retirement and our thanks go out to Mr. Rudy Sweisfurth for his many years of service in that position.
The West Bradford Township Administration Building is a collection point for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. Last year over 8,000 toys were collected in Chester County for underprivileged youth.
To participate in this year’s campaign, bring a new, unwrapped toy to the Township Building by December 9th and share the joy of the holiday season with needy children in our community .The Gundaker Foundation is a charitable organization of the local Rotary District. It solicits funds to enable local rotary clubs to promote community service within their areas. The award is made to a student of high academic achievement who is doing service work while going to school. The requirements are based upon the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.”
Applications for graduate and undergraduate grants and information on youth exchange programs are available at www.rotary7450.org/gundaker/index.htm or from Mr. Jack Hines, Jr. (610) 269-4174. The next round of applications are due in February, 2005.
SICK OF FINANCIAL JUNK MAIL, TOO?
Is your trash full of unsolicited credit card, mortgage refinance, and insurance advertisements? Did you know that the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act allows you to opt out of prescreened offer mailing lists?
You can verbally request to be excluded from the national credit reporting agency lists for a period of two years or you can fill out a written request to be permanently removed.
The three most prominent credit reporting bureaus are:
· Experian – www.experian.com or 888-397-3742
· Equifax – www.equifax.com or 800-685-1111
· Trans Union – www.tuc.com or 800-916-8800
Contact them to opt out – save some trees and your letter carrier’s back!
YOU CAN BE THE SOLUTION TO STORMWATER POLLUTION
Polluted stormwater run-off is the greatest threat to clean water. Practice these healthy household habits and you will be the Solution to Stormwater Pollution.
Healthy Household Habits