By Richard L. Gaw
Staff Writer

At its December 21, 2020 meeting, the New Garden Township Board of Supervisors approved an easement and agreement of sale for the purchase of the Penn Green Easement, a 7.8-acre wooded stretch along the White Clay Creek that had been owned for several years by the Hiles family on Penn Green Road.

Despite the many visions for the future use of the property over the past four years – an artist’s studio and nature trails were discussed – the property and the former Hiles family home have remained dormant, while the township has been accused of shuffling its collective feet in formulating a solid plan in response to the work that was done by the township’s Open Space Review Board, Natural Lands and former owner Cindy Hiles to secure the transaction.

Until now.

At the board’s May 19 meeting, the supervisors approved a proposal that will provide housing for an eight-member family in the home for a three-month period beginning this June and ending in August, in coordination with Kennett Area Community Service (KACS). The home is certified to accommodate no more than ten occupants.

The first initiative that led to the transaction began on April 21, when the supervisors spoke about the possibility of transitioning the former Hiles home to a rental property. Following the end of the family’s three-month stay, the township will seek a 12-month lease with a long-term tenant. 

In order to bring the home into compliance, the township is in the process of completing several punch-list projects that include the installation of stair handrails; replacing lights and light fixtures; installing a washer, dryer, stove/oven, refrigerator and dishwasher; installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and a fire extinguisher and providing HVAC service and repairs – at a cost estimate between $7,500 to $9,000.

Cheryl Miles, KACS’ community housing development director, praised the partnership between the agency and the township.

“I think this worked out very well for this family,” she said. “Housing is very difficult to find and is very expensive, so when a municipality or a company or a private landlord have property that they can make available, whether it is temporary or long-term, it is an awesome opportunity to work together to be able to provide housing for our families. We were struggling to find any type of housing for this family, who will be paying rent while we will supply support and resources.

“When I looked at the rents that were available in this area, I saw beautiful homes that would have accommodated families, but they were unaffordable. This type of opportunity allows us to serve our families.”

According to Miles, this arrangement at the Penn Green Road home will only apply to the incoming family but KACS will continue to seek permanent housing opportunities for the agency to obtain. For additional information about leasing or selling properties for permanent housing through the agency, contact Miles at [email protected].

In other township business

The board approved amendments recommended to its unified commercial/industrial district (UD) land use zoning ordinance, following a review by the Chester County Planning Commission (CCPC).

Amendments to Chapter 200 of the township’s code of ordinances include redefining a “stadium/arena” as a building or structure seating more than 1,000 spectators in tiered seating at sporting events, concerts, meetings and gatherings of other large groups; and that a stadium/arena may be open-air or covered by either a fixed or retractable roof.

Conditional use amendments recommended by the CCPC state that a stadium/arena require a minimum tract area of five acres; that the stadium/arena may not exceed a seating capacity of 5,000; and that a traffic study, lighting and screening plans, environmental and community impact studies and an historical resource impact analysis all be completed.  In addition, the CCPC calls for the stadium/arena to have multiple public entrances, be served by public water and sewer and have frontage along an arterial road.

The inclusion of a stadium/arena into the township’s zoning ordinances – first floated during a Feb. 24 public hearing – attempts to broaden what is qualified to be built in the municipality’s unified development districts. As stated during the February hearing, a stadium/arena would, if built, incentivize economic development along the Route 41 and Route 7 corridors, provide for more functional development and create a gateway attraction for the township.

The board also approved the construction of a new and improved pedestrian crossing median for the Smedley Preserve near the corner of McCue and Church roads, at a cost not to exceed $63,500.

Currently, there are inadequate traffic calming measures in place at the pedestrian crossing connecting the west and east portions of the Preserve that merit improvements. A recent proposal for the project from Bowman – the township’s engineer – called for the clearing of vegetation, road widening, raised concrete medians, signage and road painting along the stretch that will improve safety conditions along the entrance to the Preserve. 

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