Great Valley Association (GVA)
Principal points from the GVA’s Meeting on February 23, 2009 at 7 p.m. in Keene Hall at the Tredyffrin Township Building.
Sound Wall Sizes…
The height of sound walls planned in Tredyffrin are 16 ft., 14 ft., and 12 ft. No plan has shown the elevations, yet. Four gaps in the wall are proposed. The GVA believes three of these gaps are excellent, but they are concerned about the fourth.
Mr. Dave Moskowitz, the GVA’s lawyer reports…
- A second sound study will be done in Tredyffrin to address the height of the walls, but it would only have value as a recommendation. The PTC would not be obligated to follow its recommendations.
- The properties slated for taking have not been taken, yet. He stressed that they must follow eminent domain rules, and serve papers to the owners.
- There are well-established statutes regarding storm water management, but there are none for sound barriers.
- There is a certain quantity of storm water to be controlled. So, obviously, removing a basin from one location would mean replacing a basin elsewhere.
What to do?
GVA recommends writing letters. Emails and faxes are not as useful. Letters carry more weight. (Duh!) One from each family is sufficient. Governors give letters extra consideration; one letter speaks for 100 families. GVA says please don’t object to the expansion itself. See Legislators’ Page for addresses. Please write to the following:
- Governor Ed Rendell with copies sent to Rep. Paul Drucker and Senators Dinniman.
- Mr. Mitch Rubin, Chairman of the PTC.
- Mr. Steve Norcini, Tredyffrin Township’s Director of Authority Operations at Tredyffrin Twp. Building. Tredyffrin wants to keep track of how many residents are concerned about this.
- GVA , just send them your email, so they can keep you informed.
-A Pen in the Woods
Chesterbrook Civic Assoc. Mtg
Salient points from the meeting between CCA and Tredyffrin Twp. Officials on February 17, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in Keene Hall at Tredyffrin Township Building.
Concerned citizens showed up for a meeting with Tredyffin Township officials. Officals attending included: Supervisors Judy DiFilippo and John DiBuonaventuro, Township Manager Mimi Gleason, and Township Engineer Steve Burgo. Mr. Burgo is very knowledgeable about storm water management, and fielded questions well. He suggests that an inline underground system should be considered, because it would take less area, and it could be built to accommodate the water flow. It was stressed that more of the water should be handled on the PTC’s property.
Sound barriers were also discussed. Some are planned at 12 feet high, and residents are concerned that this may not be high enough to contain noise at second story levels.
-A Pen
TT BoS and Chesterbrook’s Green Hills Condemn PTC Condemnations 2/1/09
Green Hills residents attended the BoS meeting en masse. Forty-three neighbors came to the meeting to register their disapproval of PTC taking two homes in the neighborhood. Many homeowners spoke to the Supervisors at the meeting expressing their concerns and asking questions.
Supervisor John DiBuonaventuro stated clearly that the PTC’s plan to take homes is unacceptable. He reminded all of a Green Hills homeowner’s question to the PTC last Tuesday evening, “Can you look me in the eye, and tell me that you’ve done everything you can to avoid the taking of my property?” This Supervisor agrees that the PTC has not exhausted other options.
Supervisor Judy DiFilippo reported of a meeting on Friday January 30 with John DiBuonaventuro, Deirdre Gibson and Michael Caldwell (both of VFNHP) to discuss solutions to the storm water issue. The park representatives indicated they will allow water to be dispensed onto park property, spray irrigation is acceptable, but they will not allow detention basins. Detention basins of the 1970′s are considered “passe” by current storm water managers. Another method of holding storm water before it could enter the park must be found – possibly underground storage tanks. Supervisor DiFilippo also contacted Congressman Gerlach, and reported that a study may be done regarding storm water and VFNHP. She urges neighbors to ”Keep your organizations together. We will work together as a total.”
Township Manager, Mimi Gleason responded to a suggestion to use VFNHP property saying that an act of U.S. Congress is the only way to gain permission to use National Park property. Such an act would likely not pass, since it would be precedent setting.
She also informed us that PTC’s storm water management plans must meet the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection regulations, as well as Tredyffrin’s regulations. Tredyffrin has had significant issues with PTC’s lacking storm water management. She indicated that there are “several years of work left” on the plan, and there will likely be many “iterations.” She encouraged residents to ask the PTC to improve their plans, and to “use less land more creatively to solve the problem.”
Supervisor DiFilippo encouraged neighbors to stay in close communication, keep organized, continue asking questions of the PTC, and keep contacting legislators. The TT Supervisors agree that the homes should not be taken, but they have limited powers. We are encouraged to contact Senator Dinniman and Representative Drucker. (For more information on how to contact these legislators and others, see “Pages” at upper right hand corner of blog, and click on “Legislators Addresses.” OR CLICK HERE)
-A Pen
