Chester County, to me the choice is simple, but what do you all want to see? What do you want to live with? Study the two photos.
Monthly Archives: October 2012
fall in chester county
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when a farmhouse falls apart
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sigh…..more drama in the hinterlands
On the news today they announced that the FBI has a new toll-free government corruption hotline. The toll-free hotline number is 855-FBI-TIPS (855-324-8477). They did it for Philadelphia, but will accept tips for any municipalities and see where they lead. File under food for thought. Not saying anything, not accusing anyone of anything, it is public information released today and I found it interesting.
Now onto other curiosities du jour: quizzle me this: how does a property owner in Chester County not get notified at a potential zoning change they describe as “40 feet” from their front door?
Calling West Vincent, your slip is showing again.
The long and short of it is some chef wants to open a BYOB. Not only is there residential to be considered, but it is in a school zone too, apparently? Funny thing is people love quaint country BYOBs, but hey proper notification is key, correct?
Now I have a resident’s permission to post this drama in a country beat, but I am afraid they will be retaliated against for speaking up, let alone speaking to a blogger. And well this blogger hopes that West Vincent shows some style here and just tidies up their mess in a legitimate, above board, sunshine-friendly fashion, ok?
So this nice guy named Kevin Miller is a little upset. Mostly because he says he never received a written notice of this proposed use and how is that possible? Was it just an innocent oops that they skipped notifying this property owner? Wasn’t anything posted at the property in question for people to see? Are there innocent oopsie daisies in West Vincent? If only a couple of properties within this little stretch were being zoned commercial is that spot zoning? (I am not a planner or land use specialist or zoning guru, so I am just asking.)
Here is the e-mail this nice man sent to his supervisors:
————————-email to claire quinn and kenneth miller—–
I am the property owner next to Elaine’s flower shop ([HOUSE NUMBER REDACTED] Conestoga rd.). Last week a neighbor informed me that there was a planning commission meeting in which a proposed change to the zoning map was being considered that included my property. Apparently Elaine Horton is attempting to sell her barn to a person who wishes to open a BYOB restaurant 40 feet from my house.
I must say that when I attended this meeting to express deep concern over this, I was even more shocked that apparently, this was pretty much mapped out and set to be approved by the planning commission. Maybe I am naïve in not randomly checking the West Vincent website to see if someone’s trying to rezone my house, but I’m beyond shocked that no one from the township made any effort whatsoever to communicate this to me, in any form.
The concerns I expressed to the planning commission were as follows:
- You’re basically approving to open a BYOB restaurant in a school zone – directly across the street from an elementary school.
- I assume this restaurant will be open at night? Which mean I and my family with 3 small children will have to deals with parking lot lights, noise…etc at night now?
- The proposed map was basically spot zoning by skipping over the property at 2735 and its frontage
- Concern over the viability of a restaurant in a less-than-optimal retail location given the amount of construction work it would take to get the building up to code.
Fortunately, it appears the planning commission at least paused on approving this until November. I and a number of neighbors in the immediate area think the idea of a restaurant at this location is bad in many ways. I’ve communicated my concern over a BYOB restaurant, which will be open during school hours, to the West Vincent PTA and the initial reaction from them was what I would classify as quit negative.
I did not email you today to complain about a proposed restaurant next to my house because frankly, the notion of changing that bat-ridden barn in a place where is food is served is laughable. What I am taking issue with is the simple fact that the township knowingly made zero effort to communicate with me that you were you going to re-zone my house.
Thankfully, and unlike elected officials, my neighbors cared enough to bring this to my attention.
I would like an explanation as to why the township made no effort to communicate with me on this. I received multiple communications about the proposed sidewalk from Jim Wendleglass and that’s not even close to happening from what I understand. My house was basically mapped out with Elaine’s to be spot zoned commercial! The fact that I didn’t know about this is nuts.
Here is the e-mail that Kevin Miller sent to me that his wife got from the real estate agent when she inquired about the property:
Hi – Unfortunately, there was no attachment indicating which listing you are referring to but it might be the florist business located on RT. 401 called “Elaine’s Flowers”. It has a commercial variance for a gift shop relating to the floral business. There are many uses under the current zoning. Currently, an offer is on the table regarding an organic restaurant. West Vincent is discussing change a “block” of parcels into a commercial district. We are currently involved in those meetings. Please call me at (610) 952-3600.
Barb Kondrath
So this involves Elaine’s Flowers. Now interestingly enough I found a Prudential Page about this address.
Seems to me that West Vincent has done everyone a disservice here and put backs up all the way around, yes? These things are ALWAYS 100% worse when municipalities don’t take the little steps to ensure comfort, yes?
See PDFs of WVT documents: 001, 2, 3 (incidentally these were NOT sent to me by the potentially affected resident.) I guess they are applicable here?
It is indeed a shame that it appears that West Vincent has screwed a lot of stuff up for a lot of people? I mean don’t you also feel sorry for this woman trying to sell her florist shop?
barn moments
So yesterday I was out at the Smithfield Barn poking around (they are open this weekend including today), and I put my purse down to look at a small gate leg table. (I love gate leg tables). As I put my bag down, I noticed the other people milling about.
There was this amusing pair of babes from South Jersey with matching blonde hair and “country-style” attire who cracked me up. I am guessing this was a big outing in the “country” for them. They were obviously wearing their “picking” clothes and matching boots. Kind of the types of women I would jack the prices by 30% on if I had to deal with them. (No I am not a curmudgeon, just somewhat intolerant of phonies.)
Anyway, I had put my bag down next to me as I examined the table(did not want it to swing off my shoulder and break something) and one woman says to the other woman “look she even has a Coach bag here for sale” and picks it up! She seriously started to walk away with my purse in her hand. So I said to her “Excuse me? That’s my pocketbook” The woman just sort of looked at me. Blankly.
I guess I missed the memo where a pickers’ barn also contains designer handbags of the twenty-first century…
Other things of note about yesterday’s barn experience? The people who bring children who behave like wild indians inside and outside.
I mean, wow, really? If I had acted like that when I was a kid, my parents would have locked me up for decades. The barn is loaded with all sorts of things, including toys, yes, but it doesn’t mean they are running a baby-sitting or child entertainment service. This barn is full of someone else’s property that is for sale, and the prices are good because for the most part people try to respect the barn.
But I will tell you what, if people with kids don’t try to respect the barn a little more and control their kids from just tearing through stuff more things are going to get broken or damaged and then the prices won’t be so picker friendly.
Maybe it isn’t my place to comment on the children of other people, but sometimes you just have to shake your head in wonderment at the little savages of it all.
So yes, the people watching and picking is fine indeed this weekend at the Smithfield Barn.
thinking blogging thoughts….
A word about blogging. I have noticed some people take themselves waaaay too seriously about it. A member of a group I am part of asked how many times a day people posted. The answers went back and forth and back and forth. One person kind of put me off with a comment that they “have a business to run” so they only post in “x” manner.
Wow? Really? Does that mean my time is not valuable or I am a lousy blogger because I post when the spirit moves me? Usually I post here or the breast cancer blog. Sometimes I still blog over at Save Ardmore Coalition. But only when I feel I have something to say or add.
I think that is the best way to blog. If you are a true writer and student of life, you will always find things to write about. I think that keeps the content more real and readable too. Blogs are ultimately the discretion of the writer/creator and if you are going to blog, in part you have to listen to your inner voice.
What moves you?
What inspires you?
What do you want to talk about?
Mind you I say this as someone who has been at this for years. Maybe my way doesn’t work for others. But it works for me, and I have the readership and followers to prove it.
However, my last word is this: I blog first and foremost for myself. I do not ever blog to merely please an audience. I appreciate my audience, do not misunderstand me, but writing is something I do indeed do for myself first, because much like photography it brings me pleasure and personal satisfaction.
Blogging is pretty mainstream now and quite individualistic I think. I do not think there is a right way or a wrong way as long as you are being responsible. Of course, depending upon the topic responsible is somewhat subjective, isn’t it? But that is a broader topic for another day.
another random act of fall
….how could I ignore this sight?
fall
a wee bit of a rant….
Pardon the bit of a rant here, but I HATE, yes as in intensely *dislike* solicitation calls and door to door salesman. I am on all of the do not call lists yet every day is riddled with unwanted calls. I have taken to blocking them one call at a time, but I am so over it already.
Lately, I have felt I was in telemarketer hell.
Forget about being inundated with robo-calls of all imaginings, especially politics, there are also the people calling about energy choice, alarm systems, phone service, internet service, healthcare, bogus breast cancer charities, insurance, finance, dog poo, you name it. (And even more irritating the majority are incapable of speaking standard English and it is like they are speaking with a mouth full of mashed potatoes.)
For the faux non-profits, I know they are scam boogers who operate outside the confines of “Do Not Call” laws and you have to ASK them to put you on the do not call list. Today that generally means you have to then call these people back because when you ask if it is a live person and not a robo-call, that often prompts an ignorant response on the telemarketer’s part, not “I am so sorry we bothered you, let me remove your number from our lists.” Or they just hang up on you. If it is an annoying robo-call (which also records on your voice mail), they most often do not give you an option to remove your number and stop the calls. Of course let us not forget the calls where it is the famous “unknown” or some made up stream of nonsensical numbers you can’t call back to be removed or call block.
Recently I have been inundated. The political survey takers are absolutely priceless from both parties and don’t shut up. They seem incapable of shutting up, truthfully. You tell them you are sick of the election season and don’t care if Mickey Mouse is running and instead of saying “thank you, so sorry to disturb you and we’ll remove your number from our lists” they keep talking and often try to guilt you into taking their survey.
Recently I keep getting calls from 609-225-5485. Internet reverse look up says this number and others in the range which have called belongs to a company called PAETEC (owned now by a company called Windstream Business). When you call the number back sometimes they say they are a company called Informed Marketing Services Inc. 800notes.com has a page on them full of complaints on this number. Ok so maybe the Easter Bunny actually owns the number?
All I want to know from Washington, DC to Harrisburg, PA is why do we register on Do Not Call lists when no one honors them? And this isn’t my first rodeo, so I get how “non profits” are exempt, but when you get one of them on the line you shouldn’t have to ask twice. Should you? And how come the telemarketers never remove your number? Why bother reporting them if no one holds them accountable? Do they all need public shamings or something?
Now additionally in the realm of unwanted contact come the door to door darlings. Clean Water Action and Jehovah’s Witnesses I am used to, but this past Sunday I had a new one.
Yes, on a SUNDAY, up my driveway rolls a door to door salesman. He parked on our lawn next to the road, and comes Mr. Anderson Windows. In his Renewal by Anderson Windows logo shirt with his Anderson Windows clip board, pen, paperwork. I had no appointment scheduled with Mr. Anderson Windows.
He says “you look busy”. I responded that I was, and found a door to door solicitation on a Sunday somewhat intrusive. He then proceeds to tell me not to insult him by calling him a door to door salesman and do I treat trick or treaters like this?
Ok, how does one respond? By pointing out the obvious that he was standing in my driveway (trespassing) trying to salesman shmooze me uninvited without an appointment? Or does one point out he was a little old for trick or treating and a couple of weeks off? (Ok so no, please friends, don’t all show up on October 31st with your children dressed as Anderson Window salesmen!)
I asked him if he had a permit to solicit and he did not show me one and finally walked out of my driveway.
I decided when I was writing this post that I would take the time to call Anderson Windows Corporate Office at 651-264-5150. This very nice lady referred me to their subsidiary Renewal by Anderson. The nice lady there was not pleased at my experience and told me that the authorized dealer in our area is an independent out of King of Prussia (866-933-0253 761 5th Avenue #3 King of Prussia, PA 19406
(610) 228-2178 ). The nice lady is also going to call them – I get the feeling that this is not the protocol Renewal by Anderson wants, let alone door to door salesmen on what is known to so many as the Lord’s day.
My little rant is over and I thank you for your time. And I really want a copy of the sign in the photo! (So I am posting it again!)
the haunted estate of goshen road?
Before Goshen Road becomes a Chester County Road it is in Newtown Township when you cross 252. On the corner of 252 and Goshen Road is the estate once home to the now deceased John Du Pont who killed Olympic wrestler David Schultz in 1996 at his Newtown Square estate.
Foxcatcher Farm is the name of the property and it has been rotting for years. You can see quite clearly the deterioration of the houses and barns when the leaves are down. Today I decided to stop on the road and snap a couple of photos – I had my camera and a zoom lens.
The gatehouse is empty although someone has planted fresh mums in honor of the season.
It is sort of creepy. What is going on with the estate as in the land? I know there was an auction a while back and the estate as in all his assets was being challenged in court as recently as this past April.
I know in Pittsburgh they have begun filming a movie about John DuPont – also see “Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, and Sienna Miller to Grapple With Du Pont Wrestling Murder Drama”
I wonder who owns the estate now? Is it still the Rouse Group? What are the plans 
for Foxcatcher renamed Ashford? Will there be many mini manses dotting a once pristine landscape and killing traffic there and everything else? Between that and the plans for the old Ellis School/Arco Chemical known as Ellis Preserve, wow…just wow….
Well no one ever said Newtown Township got it. Sigh. It would be really cool to photograph the estate before whatever happens happens.