By John Chambless
Staff Writer

A vacant home in the heart of Kemblesville should be secured soon by the township after a lengthy legal process. The brick home, at 3327 Appleton Rd., had been left open to vandals, but “the township is working toward making the property safe by boarding access points, and has a carpenter with material ready to work,” said John Auerbach, the chairman of the township Board of Supervisors. “The township attorney and the owners’ attorney are working on an agreement to resolve this interim safety issue.”

There will be a hearing regarding the property on Aug. 30 at 11 a.m., at the offices of Albert Iacocca (916 W. Cypress St., Kennett Square).

At the Aug. 15 meeting of the Franklin Board of Supervisors, the board also heard that a complaint about a paving business at 1651 New London Road is in the process of being resolved. The complaint stated that the business was being operated without permits. A letter was sent to the property owner on April 23, requesting compliance. The owner did not make application for the change of use as of Aug. 8, but is in the process of completing the application.

A property at 3300 Appleton Road has been the subject of numerous complaints regarding the storage of boats, trailers, parts and debris. The property owner was notified by mail on Jan. 2 and 19 that the vehicles had to be registered to the owner or disposed of. The owner contacted the township to discuss what was expected for compliance and given a compliance date of Feb. 28. The compliance date passed with no activity seen on the property. A Notice of Violation was issued March 12, 2018 and the property was posted March 15, 2018, requesting compliance by March 30. At a June 16 hearing in District Court, the property owner was found guilty of violating the township ordinance. Another letter has been sent to the owner to have the standing water and debris removed. Some of the vehicles, trailers, and boats have been removed, but the property is still non-compliant.

The owner of 117 Peacedale Road has been in contact with the township about buying the 2.2-acre parcel for open space because the Chester County Health Department couldn’t find a suitable spot for a septic system on the property. The owner has held the property since the late 1970s and recently tried to sell it after being widowed. Her son and daughter were at the Aug. 15 meeting. The board feels that the property would not be a good open space investment, but members explained several septic system options and offered an idea of how to move forward with selling the property.

The issue of regulating bamboo in the township was discussed. The board reviewed a revised draft ordinance and authorized the township solicitor to advertise it for enactment at a future meeting. This ordinance restricts the planting and growing of bamboo and enforces its maintenance within 40 feet of the road’s edge and 10 feet from the property line. The motion was approved by a vote of four to one, with board chairman John Auerbach voting against it. He explained that he was in favor of the 40-foot setback from the road’s edge, but felt that enforcing a 10-foot setback from the property line was over-regulating the issue.

Updated information on township issues is posted on www.franklintownship.us.

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email [email protected].