Letter to the Board of Supervisors
12-02-04
Dear Sirs and Madam:
I wish to correct the mistaken impression that I gave a 45 minute
presentation at the November meeting. I rehearse all of my public speaking
and the actual time was 10-12 minutes. The remainder of the time was taken by questions and commentary by other concerned residents: Dave Jones, Colleen Sack, Ron Halenda, Harvey Kliman, Keith Klaver, Geoff Jarvis among others.
I should also point out that none of the concerns we raised, except for the
notification issue, is being addressed in a TIMELY manner. If Ms. Reardon
feels overworked, under appreciated and underpaid (an unprofessional
outburst that had no relevance to anything that had been said or was under consideration), then the Open Space Committee should be enlarged and appointments to this and the other committees and Boards advertised prior to filling. Then a variety of people more representative of the Township could be appointed. I know personally of residents who have volunteered, with well documented credentials, that have been excluded from working as volunteers. Someone made the comment that the Township is run by a clique.
There were cries of horror from some committee members present and
accusations that no one volunteers. Immediately following that we were
informed of the need for a new committee and, low and behold, the positions were all filled along with the announcement. The position on the Open Space committee was filled in a similar fashion. How else can this be done other than by existing committee people tapping friends and acquaintances. If that is not a clique, then I do not know how one is defined.
I keep a record of all posted meetings of the Township on my calendar. The
meeting that lead to the various inappropriate outbursts by committee
members was a continuation and was not posted so all of the comments about people not showing up or not reading postings were spurious.
I object to the statement of one committee head that "they (people on
Atwater Road) are mudslinging". The only mud that is being slung is in the
destruction of Atwater Road itself. There are four of these spec
sub-divisions that have now been approved even though the first of them has yet to be completed and has already proved to be an environmental and VISUAL disaster. Apart from the pollution of the wet lands (which I believe is grounds for terminating activity on the site until it is demonstrably remedied) the clear cutting of 169 mature trees on this sub-division is a wanton act of savagery simply designed to maximize profit by reducing building costs (The approval of this by the Supervisors appears to have taken no account of the Ordinance Article reproduced below.).
It seems revealing that two of the Supervisors spent a great deal of time
outlining and preparing to enforce restrictions on citizen participation
while, at the same time, making essentially no comment about the disaster
they have caused on Atwater Road. As I stated above the major issues
relating to this street are not being tackled in a TIMELY or sympathetic
fashion.
I would like the name of the person appointed to work on the "ordinances",
that Mr. Thorpe mentioned last night, so that we may have input to the
process.
I would also like information on the redrafting of the township's
Comprehensive Plan which was alluded to in the last Planning Committee
meeting. Perhaps the Supervisors could consider a halt to sub-division
approval on Atwater Road until the new plan is in place. The following
Article would seem to provide adequate grounds:
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Chadds Ford Twp. Ordinance 65, Section 707, Article 8.
An identification of the visual resources associated with the tract such as
areas which have a particular amenity value and areas which offer interest
in viewing the tract. The identification of visual resources shall include a
narrative description of the above. In addition, a map drawn at a scale of
1"=50’ depicting visual resources shall be incorporated into the EIA report
or submitted as an attachment to the report.
Definition Section of the Ordinance:
VISUAL RESOURCES - Characteristics of the natural and/or cultural
environment which are visible. The visual resources of a particular area are
typically expressed in terms of their visibility, character and/or
attractiveness relative to their amenity value and/or quality, or lack of
it.
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What is a Visual Resources assessment for, if it is not for the proper
preservation of Visual Resources? Have the Supervisors actually looked at
the first of the strip developments on Atwater? Are there any of you who are prepared to say that this is not a VISUAL disaster.
Respectfully submitted,
Lana Sheer
www.bailywick.net