By John Chambless
Staff Writer

Franklin Township supervisors discussed the vacant home at 3327 Appleton Road at their Sept. 26 meeting, but there was no resolution of the ongoing issues at the property, which sits in the historic district of Kemblesville.

Township manager Joan McVaugh told the supervisors that solicitor Mark Thompson was working to schedule an inspection of the inside of the building prior to an Oct. 3 court hearing. A letter was issued by the township on Aug. 1, asking that the structure be secured against trespassers and vandals. The owner has appealed the violation. Paul Lagasse of the township Historic Architectural Review Board said that at the court hearing, the judge said the owner would have to work through the HARB to address the issue of a porch roof that has collapsed at the property.

The vacant former Basics gas station has been cleaned up by the owner, who removed a discarded mattress from the property and mowed the grass.

Jim German of the Franklin Sportsmans Association said there are 34 registered members of the group, and that 10 need to perform proficiency testing before hunting. All hunting zones in the township's preserves are clearly marked, he said. The group has completed numerous service projects, including road cleanup, mowing, and clearing trails in Crossan Park. Board chairman John Auerbach thanked the FSA for saving the township money by doing the work.

The owners of a 19.3-acre property with a single-family home at 476 Chesterville Road were granted approval to build a second home on the property, along with a detached garage and stormwater basin. The supervisors unanimously approved the application.

During public comment, Eric Brindle, a former supervisor, Planning Commission member and township resident, suggested that the township contact State Rep. John Lawrence about purchasing the former Insinga house and property, and using that land to put in a road to bypass traffic from the historic section of Appleton Road.

Paul Lagasse asked the supervisors to consider inviting Karen Marshall of the Chester County Planning Commission to a board meeting to discuss applying for grant money to perform a feasibility study of the historic district to see if it can be made a more walkable destination. The township would be responsible for about 10 percent of the cost. Lagasse said he would like the study to be performed soon, before the district falls into greater disrepair.

Township information is available at www.franklintownship.us.

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