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Chester County Press

Township reaches compromise with builder on payments for planned development

11/27/2013 12:04PM ● By Acl

By Richard L. Gaw

Staff Writer


On Nov. 19, Kennett Township reached a compromise agreement with TI Kennett, LP on impact fees and sewer tapping payments for the developer's  Richardson's Run subdivision on McFarlan Road in the township, a 36-acre subdivision planned for 35 homes and the refurbishing of an existing farm house.

Under the terms of the agreement, TI Kennett, LP will pay an impact fee of $5,000 for each of the first 24 lots and the farm house during the first phase of development – totaling $120,000) -- and the same $5,000 per lot impact fee for the 12 additional homes to be built during the project's second phase, for a total of $60,000. These fees are to be paid to the township prior to the issuance of the first building permit for any lot.   

TI Kennett, LP has also agreed to pay a sewer tapping fee of $7,316 for each of the first 24 lots, totaling $175,584, prior to the issuance of the first building permit. In addition, the developer will pay the same $7,316 sewer tapping fee for each of the remaining 12 units during the second phase, totaling an additional $87,792.

The supervisors and TI Kennett, LP also agreed to meet and resolve the issue of whether or not the traffic study contribution of $12,500 that the township requested the developer to pay will be included in, or will be in addition to the impact fee.  

The agreement was finalized one day after a 45-minute discussion between the township's three supervisors; Township Manager Lisa Moore; John Lynch of TI Kennett, LP; and John C. Snyder, of Saul Ewing, attorney for the developer. At the meeting, Lynch and Snyder objected to the final plans for the subdivision – recommended for approval at the township's Planning Commission on Nov. 12 – which called for the developer to pay a lump sum impact fee of $180,000 ($5,000 X 36 units = $180,000), as well as a lump sum sewer tapping fee of $263,376 ($7,316 X 36 units =  $263,376).