At the meeting on Jan. 22, Kennett Square Borough Council gave approval to two motions that could set the stage for amendments to the borough's zoning regulations as two different projects move through the planning process.

StanAb, LP., a West Chester-based real estate development company, first approached Kennett Square Borough officials in 2015 about a project to build luxury apartments in the 600 block of West State Street in 2015. Now, the developer has petitioned to have the borough amend its zoning regulations. There is a possibility that the amendments will include an overlay to the C-2 District.

Borough council also discussed a petition to amend zoning ordinances as a private alternative school looks to open at 620 South Union Street. In this case, the zoning ordinance would need to be amended to add a specific definition of a private, alternative school. The proposed White Clay School would provide educational programming for children with special needs. Enrollment would be limited to no more than 50 students.

Borough officials seemed to be receptive to the idea of such a school at 620 South Union Street―the proposed location is across the street from Kennett High School. If the ordinances were amended, the private, alternative school would be permitted by right in that part of the C-2 District.

Borough manager Joseph Scalise noted that both projects are still very early in the land-planning process, and would still have to follow all the normal steps to reach the final land-development stage. Borough council approved both motions unanimously.

In his Public Safety report, Mayor Matt Fetick informed borough council and residents that the new pedestrian crosswalk that was set up on State Street near the Friends Home in Kennett is not meeting the expectations for traffic-calming that had been hoped for. Officials are now looking at other alternatives, Fetick said.

The mayor also talked about the Kennett Regional Fire and EMS Commission's work studying fire and EMS services in the region. The mayor noted that the effort to consolidate fire and EMS services is currently on hold, and local officials are working on scheduling a town hall meeting so that residents could ask questions and share their opinions about fire and EMS services in the region.

“We're hoping to do that in early February,” Fetick explained.

Borough council approved the Special Event Application for Winterfest, which is coming up on Saturday, Feb. 23. This is the 7th annual Winterfest, and the event ranks as the second-largest fundraiser for Historic Kennett Square. Winterfest features more than 60 unique craft breweries, food trucks, merchandise vendors, live bands, and more. It runs from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Borough council held an executive session before the start of the meeting to discuss the borough's collective-bargaining agreement with the police department.