By Richard L. Gaw

Staff Writer

Representatives from JP Morgan Chase will host a presentation at the New Garden Township Building on Dec. 16 that will inform the public about the company’s plans to develop the 187-acre tract known as White Clay Point along Gap-Newport Pike in the township. The announcement was made at the township's Board of Supervisors meeting on Nov. 19.

The property had previously been owned by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT).  When it was originally pitched by PREIT representatives to the township more than 15 years ago, White Clay Point was designed to be a 187-acre mixed-use project that would provide for 84 acres of retail space, 52 acres devoted to a town center, and 51 acres dedicated to the construction of 83 single detached units that were planned to be built adjacent to the Hartefeld development and golf course, near Sharp Road. Potential tenants that were mentioned throughout its many hearings before the township were Kohls, Walmart and Sam’s Club; in addition, a convenience store and gas station were planned for the other side of Route 41. The project also called for road improvements to Sunny Dell Road, Sharp Road, Sheehan Road and the widening of Route 41, as well as some improvements on Route 7. 

In April 2019, PREIT sold the undeveloped land parcel to JP Morgan Chase for $11 million – $8.25 million cash and $2.75 million in preferred stock. JP Morgan Chase is a global financial services firm that has assets of $2.6 trillion and global operations.

JP Morgan Chase representatives met recently with township supervisor Pat Little and board chairman Steve Allaband to discuss their plans to unveil their proposal to build a mixed-use development that will feature approximately 250,000 square feet of retail space and between 300 to 350 homes – a combination of age-qualified single-family and semi-detached homes.

The development is proposing to be constructed on the north and south sides of Route 41 in the township.

“The PREIT Plan had roughly one million square feet of commercial use and less than 100 residential units,” Allaband said. “This plan has about one-third the size planned for commercial use and three times what PREIT proposed for its residential plans.”

Some of the benefits to the settlement plan, Allaband said, would include traffic improvements on Route 41, preservation of a historic home on Sunny Dell Road, and repair to a barn on Route 41 that is near the property.

In other township business, the board approved a conditional use application to LGB Properties related to the company’s plans to renovate the area of Toughkenamon Village known as the Brown Derby property at 1470 Baltimore Pike.

The approval served as a follow-up to the presentation given at the board’s Oct. 21 meeting by Geoff and Larry Bosley of LGB Properties that gave the supervisors a walk-through of their proposed plans for the renovations to the property. Plans will include the development of retail and office space that may include one or two restaurants and a wholesale food production business, as well as residential space for a second-floor apartment.

The applicants agreed to several township compliances and conditions related to their planned renovations.

The board agreed to release a payment in the amount of $161,122.33 for Phase II of the expansion plan for New Garden Township Park. It will pay for earth work, lawn and meadow seeding, and the installation of benches, asphalt paving and split rail fencing. Included in the expansion concept is an amphitheater, multipurpose athletic field, basketball courts, a sledding hill, playground, pavilion, passive recreation area and extended walking and running trails.  

Township Manager Tony Scheivert said that 95 percent of the Phase II expansion project will be completed very soon, and that additional landscaping will be completed next spring, which will include the installation of rain gardens.

Southern Chester County Regional Police Department Chief Gerald Simpson delivered the department’s quarterly report to the supervisors, which he said is also available on the department’s website and social media. He said the department is currently developing its list of goals for 2020, which are included in the quarterly report.

Township Solicitor Vince Pompo gave an update to the supervisors about the progress being made on the sale of the township’s wastewater system to Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater, Inc. for $29.5 million.  Pompo said that he attended a pre-hearing conference in Harrisburg last week before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), where it was concluded that the sale would proceed through a settlement proceeding, as opposed to another hearing.

“We are very, very close to finalizing the settlement,” Pompo said. “There is really just one issue that we’re still trying to hammer out the details on. Our hope is that we will have a settlement soon that can be processed by the PUC for final approval.”

The township will present its preliminary 2020 budget for the board’s approval on Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Township Building.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].