Consuming New Hanover, One Parcel at a Time

Although Township Supervisers lauded the proposed reduction of the 

approved 54-townhouse project to 29 single-family homes on 13 acres off 

Dotterer Road, they balked at the idea that the developers should be granted 

preliminary approval with so many unanswered questions.

Monday night's New Hanover Supervisors' meeting, coverage of which was possible by the fact that it was a fifth Monday in a month, was interesting from the standpoint of development "creep."

President James Madison once said "I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations."

And so it seems to be with development in New Hanover Township.

While the impact of the 700-residential unit Town Center continues to draw the eye of those concerned about the loss of the township's rural character, smaller projects, whose impacts are cumulative, slip along toward approval.

At least that seemed to be the sentiments expressed by Supervisor Charles D. Garner Jr., who told the board and audience at the end of Mondaty night's meeting that the very thing that attracts residents to so many new developments -- the township's rural character -- is the very thing threatened by the township's counter-intuitive ordinances and developer-accommodating officials allowing for the approval of so many such projects.

In a meeting where the collapse of one developer -- and the bank which had guaranteed the financing

The final, 40-townhouse phase of the Renninger Tract project was 

unanimously approved by the township supervisors Monday.

to- fix the roads the developer could not longer build -- were referred for further legal action, the supervisors were asked to approve two new developments with a total increase of 69 housing units in the township.

Although the supervisors balked at granting premature preliminary approval to a project off Dotterer Road known as Trotter's Gait, a reduction of units from 54 townhomes to 29 single-family homes, they did approval the final phase of a project known as the "Renninger Tract. which will add 40 attached homes to the township's housing stock -- and to Boyertown School District's student rolls.

Located on 33 acres between Middle Creek and Dotterer roads, the Gambone project has been in the works since 2012. Recommended for final approval by the planning commission, the supervisors followed suit and unanimously gave final approval to the final phase.

But afterward, Garner questioned the township's vision -- or lack thereof.

"I question the township ordinances that allow these projects of such extraordinarily high density," Garner said at the end of the meeting. "They are going to have impacts on traffic and parking issues that I would think people are moving here to get away from."

"I'm not so sure what the board's vision is for New Hanover, which we seem to be allowing to be turned piece by piece into something other than the rural character I think we all want," he said. "I am worried it's beginning to look like the eastern part of the county."

The board also put off the task of replacing Garner's wife, Connie Garner, who has tendered her resignation as the parks and recreation director; as well as being briefed on the township's new web site, and plans for the planting of 60 new trees to help control stormwater pollution.

But you can find all that in the Tweets down below.

Council Hunts for a Quorum, Welcomes New Cop

Photo by Evan Brandt

Pottstown's newest police officer, Timothy Coffland and his wife Jessica, center, moments after being sworn in by Pottstown Mayor Sharon Thomas, right, and Police Chief Richard Drumheller, left.

Pottstown swore in its newest police officer, Timothy Coffland, just in time Monday night.

Just as the meeting broke up, there was a double shooting on Chestnut Street. You can read about it here.

Best of luck Officer Coffland.

But while we may have enough police officers to handle Pottstown's crime, we had trouble finding enough borough council members Wednesday to handle the borough's business.

When council convened, only Council President Dan Weand, Vice President Sheryl Miller, member Dennis Arms and Mayor Sharon Thomas were present.

The first of these meetings almost didn't happen,
due to lack of a quorum.

Since the mayor only votes in a tie, council was one vote short of the four voting members needed to form a quorum on the seven-member board.

But Twitter saved the day.

When I tagged Councilman Ryan Procsal in mentioning the inability to conduct business, he responded with "be right there."

It seems he just got back from vacation and had not thought he would be available for the council meeting, but when he saw the need, he came running.

Absent were council members Carol Kulp, Rita Pez and Joe Kirkland.

What with the shootings, I'm afraid I can't give you a terribly complete report on the meeting as I was otherwise engaged.

Suffice it to say that the major topics of discussion were stormwater control measures; changes to the proposed law governing murals on buildings; a request to mount a Latino-themed mural either on the Carousel building or the old borough garage on Beech Street; concern about allowing more backyard burning and praise for the July 4th Parade and GoFourth celebrations of the past several days.

The rest, I'm afraid, you will have to intuit from the Tweets below and whatever articles get written out of the meeting.