Category Archives: not our pipeline

political nasty season has completely bloomed in east whiteland….

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Yeah so I guess we know what the big “rally” was for in Burke Park last evening was for, right? To vomit their uniparty lawn signs right? Is this the work of good old Jerry and Bill or others? Not that the East Whiteland Republicans are showing any additional intelligence on this issue compared to the Great Valley Democrats who are out burning shoe leather more than kids playing ding dong ditch.

These people are even depositing signs on church lawns which of course could but a church’s non-profit status in jeopardy.

They are also putting them in right of ways blocking sight lines. But what do I expect? Not much.

Now, if you were not convinced that voting for two more supervisors was the right thing already, look no further than these screenshots below to know that you ARE doing the right thing. And why does she care that people care enough about their community to try and enact POSITIVE change?

As we have seen recently, both political parties in East Whiteland are seeming to be aligned against representative democracy, and then you have this woman saying that if you’re against a data center or you want two more supervisors, you’re just NIMBY? I mean for real? The Huddler is a wee bit obvious isn’t she?


At least one particular Supervisor from East Whiteland Township is a top contributors in her group, correct? So what’s that phrase in the Bible about Beware the false prophets?

Oh wait here it is:


Matthew 7:15: Jesus warns, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”

Anyway, she’s always going to do her and I’m always going to do me. If people don’t vote next week to choose yes on the ballot referendum for two more supervisors then guess what? This township gets the representation residents deserve. It is that simple.

And don’t believe both political parties when they tell you that people aren’t interested in being supervisors because they are.

The fact that both political parties are kicking up such a fuss tells you that it’s time to do this. It doesn’t get any more simplistic than that.

And if some woman who’s not that much further away from where the data center will be wants to say that people who don’t want the data center are NIMBY and people who want five supervisors are NIMBY should simply make you wonder what does she get out of it for saying so? I mean besides atta girls for sucking up to the township? Is she bucking for public information officer?

This woman certainly does not get the admiration of her neighbors does she? Someone should drive one of those trucks that play data center sounds up and down her street. She would change her tune quickly in my humble opinion.

Now in case the screen shots show fuzzy wherever you read this blog here is the verbiage verbatim:

OCTOBER 23, 2026:

A different point of view on the people behind the data center activism and why our township now needs to spend money to combat the barrage of attacks and misleading information.

Our current BOS mostly ran uncontested and were elected. They are not politicians. They are our neighbors.
Our neighbors!
Who raised their hand to help.
Did you? Did your raise your hand to help?
Think about that before you sh*t post about the very few people who actually cared enough to do this ”.job” on top of their real job and in addition to all of the other responsibilities in their life. They chose to represent and help our township for no other reason than service to our community.
Can you say the same? Have you helped our township? How? Have you run for a BOS position?
The data says no. Yet, when a NIMBY issue comes up, people suddenly care.

Now the August post:

AUGUST 3rd, 2026:

The discussion around increasing the BOS from 3 to 5 people has come up from time to time in the past. To date, most of the elected positions have run unopposed. The township could barely get 3 people to run out of almost 15,000 residents.

The recent scramble to try to increase to 5 people, simply because of the data center issue, gives me pause. It’s a NIMBY excuse to get involved. Would the people suddenly interested in running care about everything else in the township? I’m skeptical.
The interest now is too little too late in my opinion. The contaminated sites in our township are not new issues. Neither are the discussions about what to build on them or next to them. And if everyone cares about open space they should have gotten involved a decade or more ago.
There are brand new townhomes in Anfield next to an old landfill selling for nearly $1 M. Atwater was built next to a dangerous quarry lake. The new development on Flat Rd was placed on risky sinkhole land next to an active quarry. Many homes are across from ugly commercial properties in
EW. And the prices don’t go down. The development in the county was purposefully planned to be in EW to save open space in other townships.
It would be nice to have five BOS seats filled with people who truly care about the entire township.
But knowing the constant harassment that comes with occupying elected roles here, who in their right mind would run? And why? Ask why!
Thank you to the three brave people on the BOS, out of 15,000, who raised their hand to help. You cared before you had to and I appreciate your service. If you get two more to join you, I hope they are joining for the right reasons.

Shall we also say with SHE (The Huddler) gives a lot of us pause? The way she is so trivial about contaminated land in East Whiteland Township and someone told me she is a breast cancer survivor? As a breast cancer survivor personally, I can’t quite fathom that.

The interest now is too little too late in my opinion. The contaminated sites in our township are not new issues. ~ The Huddler August 2026

She calls people who don’t want a data center NIMBY? She calls people who wish to expand the board of supervisors NIMBY?

She does a lot of talking, mostly out of her backside. (And what does she not get that supervisors ARE politicians?)

She talks about uncontested supervisor races. Actually not all were, but the last time the East Whiteland Republicans ran a winning candidate was Rich Orlow. Rich was then beaten by quite a lot by Scott Lambert (838 to 560) who did the work and went door knocking. I do not even remember him being extra supported by Great Valley Democrats back then but to his credit, he did the work.

Interesting political history is when Bill Holmes initially ran, he ran against Rich Orlow. He only won 911 to 903. (When he ran in 2013 Holmes only defeated Maureen Martinez by ten votes – 892 to her 882. She would have made a terrific supervisor by the way.)

So anyway, Bill Holmes stepped off of the board of East Whiteland Township Supervisors around the same time Brian McGinnis did (now we won’t get into his other issues and feud with Bill Holmes’ pal Michele Vaughn) – they both worked for Vanguard back then. But then Rich Orlow, formerly a Republican, switched political parties from Republican to Democrat to complete Bill Holmes’ term and then stayed in office until 2025 I guess it was when he retired…as a Democrat and Clinton Smith became the third supervisor.

Sorry don’t mean to meander, but context is important when looking at the big picture of nasty East Whiteland politics this year, right? Also interesting to note that Bill Holmes never did prevail by sweeping margins did he? Again…The Huddler talks about people running unopposed and that has not quite been true, just in a lot of cases the East Whiteland Republicans literally ran any body they could prop up like whatever the guy’s name was who ran against Clinton Smith last year. Oh wait, I looked it up – George Sabo who lost to Clinton Smith – Smith votes were 2991 and Sabo votes were 1232. Sabo was a nothing burger so he tanked and truthfully the Republicans didn’t go out of their way for him did they?

So The Huddler wants to paint the boogie man picture of it’s so bad to add two more seats? On what planet? To quote the little website (https://www.eastwhitelandseats.com/) the resident spearheading this initiative put up:

Increasing from a 3-member to a 5-member board of supervisors provides broader geographic representation, prevents power concentrations, changes how majority votes work, and distributes workload.

Then there is the reality: East Whiteland has just shy of 15,000 residents. Easttown has a little over 11,000 residents and 5 supervisors. East Brandywine has a little over 10,000 residents and 5 supervisors. Schuylkill has just shy of 9,000 residents and 5 supervisors. Charlestown (another municipal neighbor) has just over 6,000 residents and 5 supervisors. And this has not been a recent occurrence.

So can we be honest and say that residents waking up to the data center was a motivator to add two more supervisors which is allowed under the 2nd class township code? I mean D’OH of course it was but it is not the only reason or motivator. Elected officials shape how a municipality moves forward, correct? East Whiteland residents have felt let down over more than just a data center. Look at other things like Bishop Tube for example and other developments and even billboards where they felt helpless and powerless, right?

This vote has not and never will be about either major political party. It is about residents NOT feeling heard and wanting more representation given how East Whiteland has grown over the years. I even heard that former supervisor Rich Orlow signed the petition to get this referendum on the ballot? This ballot is about how we are governed in the future. That is not up to the political parties, it is up to us.

But the political parties in East Whiteland, the uniparty uniquely similar to Pat the former Saturday Night Live character, is objecting to this. So here we live in a purported democracy with our two pillar political parties literally objecting to representative democracy?

They want to tell you it’s money and being able to find qualified candidates. Well if they were truly concerned about money would they be popping up with lawn signs against the referendum? The answer is no.

Can it be hard to find candidates? Sure but in my opinion in East Whiteland that mostly has to do with the parties themselves. East Whiteland Republicans seem to still love their MAGA events with their not so cute hats and cheap purses, but they have not really put a lot of effort into candidates for YEARS have they? Great Valley Democrats run their party like a little social club meets the middle school lunch table and either you are in or you are out and heaven forbid you don’t do what you are told every minute of the day, correct? In order to break their cycles of bad, there needs to be change pure and simple.

The chair of the East Whiteland Republicans at present has told people they are against 2 more supervisors because they are going to take the board back over in it’s entirety and what planet does she live on? All of the supervisors are not even on the same cycle.

But hey they love their memes:

So yeah that’s who the Great Valley Democrats are in bed with in East Whiteland to defeat this referendum which makes me 1000% question them.

Interestingly enough, both the East Whiteland Republicans and Great Valley Democrats are both working hard on their socials to NOT show they both have sample ballots and signs that are AGAINST the referendum.

The Great Valley Democrats view the referendum as a threat to their power structure and control don’t they? After all look at one of the loudest voices that unctuous old turd former vice chair of the Chester County Democrats Jerry Pyne who was also assistant zone leader, zone leader in the Great Valley Democrat of it all? (He can still be found on the Chesco Dems website as Vice Chair although he is not https://chescodems.org/teams/jerry-pyne/)

Pyne is also the Vacancy Board Chair at present in East Whiteland. The Vacancy Board Chair acts as an independent or neutral tie-breaker if the Board of Supervisors fails to fill a vacant seat on the board within the statutory timeframe mandated by Pennsylvania second-class township code. Yeah that potential power trip gets VASTLY diminished if there are 5 supervisors, doesn’t it? And whom do I think he would appoint if something were to happen on the 3 member board? In my opinion, former supervisor Bill Holmes, the other ardent data center admirer and hate of representative democracy…and I can have that opinion and it’s not so far fetched considering, is it?

The Huddler loves to stir the pot. Full disclosure? She will insert herself when it suits her to raise her own profile and I can also have that opinion because it is not the first time is it? I mean seriously, what will she get out of being cheerleader for these issues? Certainly not community respect right? I mean what did she actually do on parks and rec?

I will note that I used to help out the Great Valley School District Education Foundation for a while as a volunteer on some of their things they were putting out, but I just did it quietly and without fanfare as a favor to someone involved there at the time. I help out with lots of things here and there quietly, that is paying it forward and being a true part of a community and extended community. The Huddler doesn’t get that IMHO, does she?

Criticizing residents for wanting better for their communities and calling them NIMBY is as old as politics in general. It’s neither new nor original. It’s not NIMBY to care, but it is being a righteous bitch for saying that about the people where you live. And she thinks all of the development is ok?

There are people interested in running for supervisor. And I believe if people are smart and vote YES on the referendum in East Whiteland more will follow.

As https://www.eastwhitelandseats.com/ website says, board size alone does not guarantee better decisions. Preparation, transparency, responsiveness, and resident participation matter with three supervisors or five. But the reality is we can’t continue as we have been so why not try something different that works well in municipalities both larger and smaller than East Whiteland?

Today is the last Friday before election day. If you care in East Whiteland you will tune out the narcissistic and opportunistic mosquitoes and vote YES on the ballot referendum to add two more supervisors. Just my opinion of course, but it is what I did proudly when I cast my vote (which is already in and counted.)

In order to make an omlette, sometimes you have to break some eggs. This is no different. Change is not always easy but it is derived from common sense isn’t it? Be peaceful and vote YES on Tuesday.

east whiteland, land of betrayal and bad plans.

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Sign of the times taken by someone NOT trespassing. Not my photo, saw it on social media. Corporate welfare bought to you by Governor Josh Shapiro. Residents are always optional in his equations.

East Whiteland Township, Chester County is just a place where most honestly feel government pays lip service for every shitty thing that happens. Well not everyone. Some just ignore us altogether like State Representative Kristine Howard. She literally does nothing and says nothing. Never shows up for anything in her district. But she is BFFs now with neighboring State Representative Danielle Friel Otten whom people elected as a pipeline activist and that didn’t last long as she just wanted to sit at the popular kids table in Harrisburg and is a sell out.

Governor Josh Shapiro is everywhere as he is up for re-election. But he is busy having his literal neighbors dislike him and handing out corporate welfare as that sign in East Whiteland indicates. Yes I can have that opinion while I say I told you so. Shapiro has always been exactly who he is.

If anyone had been paying attention except for some of us, they would have seen it back when he was former Congressman Joe Hoeffel’s Chief of Staff (1999-2003). We certainly saw it when we were starting to fight eminent domain for private gain in Ardmore, PA. It was literally his job to help and/or at least listen to Hoeffel’s constituents. He didn’t and I can distinctly remember him avoiding residents in Ardmore at a town hall meeting in early eminent domain days. The meeting was at a senior center in Ardmore.

Now we don’t really have a viable choice on the other side of the aisle, just Marge Simpson, err Stacy Garrity. That woman was pro-data center until a lightbulb went off and she thought she could maybe get two extra votes and she flip flopped to being sort of against them.

There is one person whom we know cares 100%: State Senator Katie Muth. She is a fierce mama bear for all of us. She cares. She shows up.

I guess I just don’t understand how anyone thinks this data center or any data centers are OK. I also don’t understand one of the East Whiteland Supervisors after finding this video:

Now he is only one of three supervisors. But like with many other municipalities, you have at least one who thinks data centers are wonderful and the hypocrite tree hugger in that video from NBC 10 above that’s on YouTube is the one in East Whiteland. According to this media report and subsequent research, he apparently works for Morris Arboretum owned by the University of Pennsylvania so does that mean Morris Arboretum and Penn are pro data centers?

https://www.morrisarboretum.org/blog/penn-today-qa-chief-arborist-peter-fixler

But the rest of the East Whiteland board? It’s like they are doing fear based governance. They are so afraid of what might happen to them that they’re not thinking about what will happen to the all of us and aren’t I allowed to have that opinion? Shouldn’t the courage of your convictions mean something when you’re an elected official? I mean, if you can’t stand up for the people who elected you why are you in office? What are you getting out of it?

Today, as I was standing outside in my garden, looking into my woods, I was pondering all of this. I will share my thoughts next in a little video, and then I will share some video snippets from the most recent East Whiteland meeting and some other stuff.

I’m sad. I am sad that we don’t matter. I’m sad that our local environment doesn’t matter. And I am fearful we will run out of water and not be able to afford our power. No one has been able to allay these fears and I don’t think they really can and I’m allowed to have that opinion too.

What happens if we actually become Logan’s Run?

https://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2026/07/pjm-interconnection-issues-maximum.html?m=1

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/HTM/1937/0/0394..HTM

https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/east-whiteland-data-center-proposed-changes-20260709.html

https://www.inquirer.com/business/peco-new-office-chester-malvern-20260709.html

buckle up east whiteland. a tsunami is arriving over data centers.

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I saw this on social media and felt I should share it here

So a few days ago, a letter was discovered:

That got a very big WTF response out of me. I don’t know maybe they don’t see dead people in this township but they see dead plans don’t they? I was actually seriously disappointed to discover this letter existed. It’s kind of like it makes you wonder if everyone knows what’s going on in East Whiteland Township again and that’s horrible to feel. Makes me sad because they have come so far.

From the beginning, even though I really like two of the supervisors (not Peter Fixler) and the township manager and most of the staff, I felt everything involving this data center was somewhat odd and off.

And I will note in the arena of people I like at East Whiteland Township, people I wish that weren’t here that I do not know and do not care to know is the Assistant Township Manager Catherine Ricardo. Essentially my opinion is they made a mistake when they hired East Vincent’s former mistake of a manager…and yes, she was the manager when the zoning change went in at Pennhurst wasn’t she? As in where they are fighting a giant data center, so how can residents in East Whiteland even begin to trust her? Also isn’t it a bit strange that somebody would go for being a manager to an underling/assistant manager?

But I digress.

This letter that was discovered lends itself to everything that Ginny Kerslake has said.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Ark7GzwnR/?mibextid=wwXIfr

It’s been an education dealing with data centers. It is even worse in a lot of ways than when people were fighting the pipelines a few years ago.

(State Rep Danielle Otten, I will take this opportunity to politely remind you that that’s why you were elected, remember? To fight for the people, not to capitulate to things like data centers? I won’t bother to remind State Rep Kristine Howard of anything because she does nothing. They apparently share office space and a data center disease or something?)

Anyway, next comes this letter from the special counsel solicitor dude:

What I have to say to that is, predictable. Communities upstate dealing with this guy as a special counsel weren’t enamored of him before East Whiteland rolled up and hired him. It’s like every time something happens to show this township why they are wrong and people tell them how they can correct it, they double down on the wrong part, don’t they? (Yes, I can have that opinion and it took me a long time to verbalize it because I just didn’t want to believe it was happening.)

Now the funny thing is what’s happening now is what I said would happen in East Whiteland when they started this process around 2018.

East Whiteland never should’ve approved this in any way shape or form. They should have sent the stock picker packing back to Willistown. Let him put a data center on his property, not in a neighboring township. (Green Fig’s Charlie Lyddane is from Willistown correct?)

East Whiteland is digging in their heels over their Waterloo. Maybe I should specify their latest Waterloo because things like Bishop Tube aretube are still alive in this township aren’t they how many years later?

I also have to wonder if there were five supervisors on this board if everyone would still be dealing with this? Under the Second Class Township code they can have up to five supervisors so why don’t they? I will note I suggested that years ago and was told it wasn’t necessary. I don’t know the process, but it is possible to get this on a ballot as a referendum item and if the majority of the people vote in a main election like in the fall, they could get five supervisors.

Again, I said East Whiteland would face a people tsunami over data centers as an issue. And it’s lapping at their proverbial shores. And that is in spite of people feeling like they’re being intimidated at meetings by certain guests of the developers panel, etc. and isn’t that true?

I will note I am pretty much an observer here. I am not driving the people tsunami bus. But I knew it would come. This is too bad and big an issue and it’s a nationwide issue as well.

East Whiteland still can do the right thing and say no. They actually can but will they? Or does more of a tsunami have to lap at the shores?

Allow me to share something from the residents fighting:

Meanwhile, in places like Limerick, residents, planning friendraisers to fight their data center are finding local businesses like MaGerk’s in Royersford I guess it is canceling their events.

https://patch.com/pennsylvania/limerick/fundraiser-stop-data-centers-limerick-canceled-over-significant-safety

This data center flight is getting supremely ugly and I don’t know if places like East Whiteland just don’t get it, but people aren’t backing down.

I leave you with Andrew Schneider‘s presentation from the recent East Whiteland meeting once again. I hope the media keeps following this.

We don’t want data centers around here. And at its most basic that is not a NIMBY statement, it’s practical. We can’t afford it from an energy bill and basic supply perspective. We can’t afford it from a water perspective, and that is separate from the rest of the environmental impacts. Data centers are just about the profits of other people outside our communities. It’s not about residents. I mean, maybe East Whiteland Supervisor Peter Fixler would like a data center in his backyard since he thinks data centers are silent, but who am I but a mere mortal and female to ask that question?

But I have been thinking about this, and many years ago, they told all of us at the Save Ardmore Coalition that we would never stop eminent domain for private gain. As a matter of fact, I had a commissioner at the time (who was also a lawyer/lobbyist in Harrisburg once upon a time) wag a finger in my face for a couple of minutes literally spitting mad in front of a congressman saying they were getting the eminent domain through. That was after a public meeting on eminent domain held at a local college.

Eminent Domain didn’t happen and half of the board of commissioners was replaced as a result.

Fortitudo.

#NODATACENTERS (pass it on.)

there’s a pipeline plan chester county? or another pipeline fairy tale?

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I have to ask, and I’m allowed to ask this question, but did Chester County get pipeline propaganda money for some reason?

So when did they get a plan? And is it still run for your life for half of a mile uphill or downhill?

Am I being sarcastic? Why yes I am because in my opinion this is some kind of bulltwaddle. Here’s what Ginny Kerslake has to say (and I quote) :

“hosting three (3) pipeline preparedness workshops to support Chester County’s comprehensive plan to ensure readiness for, response to, and recovery from pipeline incidents.”

How are they going to ensure readiness when they’ve barely advertised these workshops and have not notified residents living in the blast zone at the very least? So how are you going to ensure readiness given the very nature of the product flowing through Mariner East and a densely populated area?

It will be interesting to see what 700,000+ tax dollars bought in this planning

And it’s very interesting that the link at the bottom of their notice is for the pipeline safety advisory board, which had almost no input on this emergency planning aside from vague updates at their quarterly meetings. Speaking of the pipeline safety advisory board, there are no minutes posted since 2023 because they have not had a quorum since 2023. Most members don’t show up for the quarterly meetings. On top of that most of the seats allotted to members of the public are kept vacant.

I mean seriously, Chester County, how long are we going to keep having this fake conversation?

Let’s review.

I like many, many others live in a blast zone. Thank you Ginny for commenting.

Many years ago now (July, 2018) when she and I had recently met, we had that meeting with a PR person from a particular pipeline company (not the usual suspects) in my living room. I remember when we asked safety questions then. I seem to recall the answer then she would have to ask and get back to us? Did we ever get an answer? I seem to recall polite crickets after that point.

And I also seem to recall a more recent thing with a plan in West Whiteland to essentially put assisted living on top of pipelines where this very safety issue came up, yes? And if I recall incorrectly, please correct me if incorrect, but wasn’t it in fact the truth that the county didn’t really have a plan? And a certain man who can’t seem to retire from things there who seems to be on this board didn’t really have a plan? And he was at those meetings over this plan, right?

So remember, West Whiteland denied this plan because of the lack of safety plan having to do with the pipelines correct?

It’s still in court it seems.

What I remember most from those meetings is nobody really had a safety plan including the county, so how can the county magically say they now have a plan? Because how are they going to work a notification system? How many first responders would it take to respond to a pipeline disaster in this area? How many first responders are we willing to lose along with everyday people if there’s a pipeline disaster in this area?

I mean, can we just get real about pipelines? If one of those goes kerpluey it’s game over isn’t it? This crap can literally kill us and is poisoning our water sources, wells, etc. And so why does no one talk anymore about how much of what these companies rape our land for goes literally to other countries?

Chester County has been playing the ultimate like shell game in my opinion in all the years I’ve been following the pipeline stories.

I’m just not expecting a credible plan. I think this is a whole lot of bulltwaddle and yeah, I am saying that out loud.

Allow me to share an old NBC 10 report :

That reality hasn’t changed in that video has it? Nothing has changed except for more sinkholes on occasion, right?

Chester County owes us more than lip service and so does the state. These upcoming meetings which nobody really knew about until this random post showed up from the county is lip service in my opinion.

It may be time for the pipeline activists in this region to dust off their protest signs once again. I mean, how many battles affecting our literal existence are we supposed to fight on a daily basis out here? If it’s not wanton unwelcome development, it’s a data center, or the threat of a data center, the threat of a hydrogen hub, or monster warehouses, or pipelines.

Chester County in my opinion is woefully lacking in truly supporting her residents in any of these areas. My last word is who comprises the board of this county pipeline whojamabobby. It’s hard to tell who’s on and who’s off below here are the names.

Sign me shaking my head once again over “pipeline safety preparedness.“

death of a neighborhood: r.i.p. lisa drive in west whiteland.

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All that is left are the memories. Once a vibrant and beloved neighborhood, now all that is left are the echoes of memories and photographs. R.I.P Lisa Drive in West Whiteland.

SuNOco / Energy Transfer / Mariner East are the architects of this tragedy. And the PA DEP gave a stamp of approval.

Given the age of the homes, one nearby resident aptly noted did the DEP take precautions for lead paint and potential asbestos or are those particles just going to be left to float in the air, lay in the soil, get into water? But do we think they all care? I do not.

This neighborhood was sacrificed for the god almighty profit of what we now know as Energy Transfer. In 2019, beleaguered residents 2 weeks to agree to the offer and move out back . And they had to sign NDA’s. These people would never have just compensation because all of what they lost was not monetary which would never matter to this company and too many elected officials. They lost their neighbors, their homes where they raised their families, etc. Those things cannot ever have a dollar amount placed on them.

I have written about this many times in the past and today I take a minute to remember a neighborhood. We should not be losing our neighborhoods and environment to this crap. Period.

R.I.P. Lisa Drive in West Whiteland Township, Chester County.

what’s a little sinkhole between friends in west whiteland?
on hired muscle and sinkholes

about old phoenixville pike and the development plan

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Today 4/3/24

Last night there was a meeting of the West Whiteland Planning Commission. It was the first go round for the proposed development plan.

First of all who would’ve thought that the West Chester University Foundation would be practicing to be a bad neighbor, now that they have been given the Schiffer Farm? It’s very disappointing. Truthfully, also a little surprised the Schiffer family didn’t put more conservation restrictions on the gift. I mean, I get that probably the foundation doesn’t want to be responsible for this entire property, but this one section is so constricted by where it is and problematic before you think about adding houses to it that I just don’t get it.

Before I get to sharing some things, I think people will find interesting or helpful, I’m going to share a video from this afternoon showing rising storm water on Old Phoenixville Pike. Next is a photo with a ruler sticking out of it, indicating 8 inches of flood water on this narrow street this afternoon.

This plan has two parcels in two municipalities. 15 of the acres of this potential development are in West Whiteland. 5 acres are in East Goshen and East Goshen heard the plan recently.

Last night the whole thing got an airing in West Whiteland. [CLICK HERE FOR MEETING PACKET.]

I found it most interesting that the Chester County Planning Commission isn’t in love with this plan. and why I find that interesting is they are so pro development, so that speaks volumes about this plan already.

So here are some of their concerns:

Notes from County Planning Commission:

In #1 “enhancements in affordability” . It doesn’t sound like this development will do that.

In #2 highest priority, land-use objectives listed for this watershed.

In #3 pipeline concerns during construction listed

In #4 access concerns, because only one way in and out

In #7 limit tree removal from woodlands

In #8 stricter DEP or municipal limitations on wastewater and stormwater discharge because protected watershed  

So last evening, the neighbors were tremendous. They spoke so well, and from the heart and intelligent questions, and stated their case. One of the things that kept questioning is this easement where developer wants to build, and it shows up on the West Whiteland as naturally constrained land, The thing about that is, it’s not supposed to be developed. And it floods back there as you can see, so imagine, increasing impervious surface coverage, taking away trees, etc? Do we really think some stormwater management plan that are developer floats in front of the municipality is going to take care of all of it? I don’t think so and maybe that’s just my opinion, but I’m entitled to it.

When is the last time FEMA updated maps around there? Or the vicinity?

I am just here expressing support for these neighbors in West Whiteland on Old Phoenixville Pike and elsewhere around this proposed plan being carved out of now old Schiffer farm land.

This is not a needed plan, it’s just a plan for a developer to make a buck and move on, isn’t it?

Small neighborhoods should not be taken for granted anywhere, ever. These neighbors have been taken for granted already by what has happened so far.

Look at the geology of the area with the schist and karst of it all in our area – affects pipelines, wells, water lines so what will happen with what they want to do if they get this development approved?

Stormwater is already an issue here. Neighbors were saying at the meeting how water also pours off of Route 202. How will filling up 20 acres with McMansions improve that?

Economically viable uses might be the law BUT it doesn’t mean development here will actually be viable. Why do residents in a small, lovely, established neighborhood have to suffer like this? Are they not valuable and in a lot of cases very long term residents?

West Whiteland can be proactive here and could have a sign up for directly affected residents to be notified of every little thing happening because it happened where I came from which is Lower Merion Township.

And because this plan is in two municipalities residents need to watch everything going on in BOTH West Whiteland and East Goshen.

This is not a good plan and the developer also has warehouses planned for the Johnson Matthey parcel that he purchased at West King Road and Phoenixville Pike. And the Weston Property on West King Road may be quiet right now but it is only a question of when the next bad development plan for that property pops up, right?

West Whiteland and her residents and residents in neighboring municipalities of East Whiteland, East Goshen, and West Goshen need to remain vigilant and on alert.

Last night no plan was approved in West Whiteland and nothing has been approved in East Goshen. This is but the beginning, and people need to stay on top of it.

Thanks for stopping by.

male chauvinist planning in west whiteland? or mansplaining at it’s finest… or both?

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The first Planning Commission meeting for West Whiteland Township was January 9th, but I missed it. The topic was that old folks development planned for Boot Road kind of on top of the Mariner East/SuNOco/Energy Transfer. Literally. Just put the address into the county pipeline interactive map.

PC-Packet-Jan.-9Download

I was concerned about this before as were many, many people. Which is why I was glad West Whiteland Supervisors didn’t just green light the plan 100% before. Among other things, there is no safety plan in the event of a pipeline emergency. We are talking elderly people, with any range of issues and that includes memory as in Alzheimer’s. It’s bad enough the pipeline runs super close to seniors in those places in East Goshen because the places were already built before Mariner East/SuNOco/Energy Transfer came through in recent years.

Yes, we’ve all lived mostly ok with petroleum pipelines. This is different. It’s more can go boom and will do so rather quickly and has the ability to cause incredible amounts of damage to life and property. Many of us, myself included live in blast zones for one pipeline or the other, so why built for at risk humans on top of a pipeline essentially?

Anyway since I missed the meeting I asked West Whiteland if I could have the zoom link. It’s a public meeting and publicly recorded so if you cannot go in person or attend the zoom portion, you CAN request to view it. (CLICK HERE) I will note again, that I requested the meeting like anyone else can. I have to point this out since people seem to think I actually run various townships with my blogging superpowers or get extra special treatment which makes me howl with laughter at the sheer absurdity of it. The truth is regular people have rights, and you can ask questions and ask to view public meeting recordings. The other truth is I am one opinion, one woman, why so fixated?

At first the meeting seemed pleasant enough and they welcomed a new member, Ginny Kerslake. If you click on below, turn up volume or watch entire meeting.

Now I make no secret that Ginny is one of my favorite people. I am very happy to see her on the Planning Commission in West Whiteland. There used to be another lady on it, but that committee runs itself like a boys’ club and often their attitude in general leaves a lot to be desired, so I have to wonder if that is why she is no longer there? I think some of them prefer those of us in the female species to be seen and not heard. I am sure I am on that list for expressing my opinion on things before them. 

This plan IMHO is still a fool’s errand. I don’t object to senior living facilities, but plans that are kind of bad….are just kind of bad. What makes THIS plan bad? Location and proximity to pipelines. That would be Item 9 being referred to a lot in the recording. I also think it’s too close to the road etc. It’s an awkward location all the way around, if most of us are honest, and no matter what happens, we can indeed think that.

That is kind of a BIG item (emergency plan) to NOT be addressed when submitting plan again or whatever, isn’t it? And Ginny Kerslake expressed the SAME concerns she expressed as an ordinary resident the LAST time this plan came up. And wow the rush of Male Chauvinist Planning in the room was something else. And mansplaining. Oy the mansplaining.

One of the chief voices on the recording I think was West Whiteland Planning Commission Vice Chair Mark Gordon. Why do I say that? The East Goshen and pipeline references. You see, Mr. Gordon was an employee of East Goshen Zoning Officer /Director of Codes until some point in in 2022. I guess he retired? Do they miss his sparkling know it all personality? He might not like that I said this, but it’s not illegal and I am just a silly woman, right?

Anywhoooo, a couple of those voices on the recording who were NOT anyone representing the applicant were horrible IMHO. So the other blue meanie I think was a guy named Jeff on the Planning Commission? Why are he and the Vice Chair so full of themselves anyway? Did I miss something? I have known quite a few men and women on planning commissions in various municipalities throughout the years and a lot of them have quite frankly amazing resumes and they didn’t behave so poorly even if they didn’t agree with the public, so what gives? 

The representatives of the applicant was quite pleasant throughout, I thought….and this can’t have been fun for them since they still don’t have a safety plan, right?

Here’s the 411 mansplaining Planning Commission members: you don’t know everything, no one has to kiss your rings. Yes, I am saying once again I am not fond of West Whiteland’s Planning Commission boys’ club. I have encountered it with other meetings and their obvious disdain for residents and neighbors and non residents and neighbors kind of just goes on. And it should NOT. If they don’t want to play nicely with residents etc., why are they there? That was Ginny Kerslake’s first meeting, so what is the objective? To beat her to a pulp verbally and will this continue every meeting moving forward? And point of fact, the Planning Commission has a liaison from the Board of Supervisors and why didn’t he calm the tone? He could have, it would have been most appropriate.

It’s funny, this coming week Willistown Township deals with the decorum of residents speaking at meetings. It seems West Whiteland needs to do the same with some of the Planning Commission members towards residents and seemingly women on their own board? I think it’s pretty pathetic but who am I but a mere mortal and female?

The biggest problem with certain West Whiteland Planning Commission members after mansplaining and dismissive atty-tudes is that they seem to think that if they make a recommendation it should be Gospel. They are an advisory board only. And I am glad Ginny Kerslake is there now because she will shake things up in a POSITIVE manner. I may or may not agree with her decisions while serving, but I will rest assured as will all West Whiteland residents that she LISTENS and does her HOMEWORK.

So yeah, boys’ club, I will get out the popcorn. And while I am waiting for the next mansplain be rude to female commission members occasion, I will take a moment to upload other agendas and some related screen shots where this Columbia Cottage thing has been discussed or other pipelines + elderly dwelling areas. It goes back to 2020 and I don’t even think I found them all. But seriously boys, what are you recommending for approval when all that time there hasn’t yet been a safety plan? How will you be when the plans for Church Farm Lane which will be Hershey’s Mill- like comes up? Maybe man babies, it is time to check your egos at the door and remember WHY you are SUPPOSED to be there?

You won’t like my opinions here, but am I completely wrong? I don’t think so.

Knock it off.

2022-05-25-Meeting-Packet-2022Download
PC-Packet-210907-2021Download
PC-Packet-200818-2020Download
PC-Packet-230228-2023Download

it’s only a little “anomaly” in the pipeline, so don’t worry your little heads about it west whiteland residents…and west whiteland supervisor brian dunn did a brave thing for residents today. (yeah now you want to click on this post, don’t you?)

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West Whiteland Residents for Pipeline Saftey drone image over Ship Road/Exton Station area
unexpected work posted today 11/1/23

So we all found out that Energy Transfer AKA Sunoco AKA Sunoco Logistics was BACK on Ship Road around Exton Station. I mean the grass was barely grown back, right?

You whooo Harrisburg, over here, okay? (Well we all know you read this blog in Pennsyltucky, so whatevs…..)

Sorry readers, I will continue….sometimes I have to see if those political bears are awake and paying attention to residents….

A little over 5 hours ago, our friends at West Whiteland Residents for Pipeline Safety posted the following:

Repair work continues on Mariner East 2x on Ship Rd at Exton Station. Drone photo taken yesterday shows the pipe has been excavated very close to where the HDD exit pit was ( The drill for this section was at the Hankin apartments on Ship near Boot. After the borehole was complete pipes were pulled from the exit pit here south the the drill site).

As previously reported here, “an anomaly” was detected during recent inspection of the pipeline with a smart pig. The work is expected to last 2-3 weeks which is long compared to recent repairs done on the same pipe in Delaware County.

❓ why is this pipe already in need of repairs?

❓ what happens when an anomaly is detected on a section of pipe that is inaccessible because it was installed tens or even over 100 feet underground or through rock as is the case on many lengths of mariner East through Chester County and Delaware County?

And remember, there is no credible emergency plan to warn protect public when there is a leak of these high volatile liquids in transport through Mariner East.

This has actually been going on for a couple of days. Some hypothesize that Joe Massaro the current talking head (Public Affairs Specialist at Energy Transfer, @JospehMassaro on the platform formerly known as Twitter was tidying up for another residential massage job, perhaps?

Too mean?

Sorry not sorry but I mean you know us residents: some have had properties and wells ruined by Sunoco/Energy Transfer, and then there are the thousands of us who live in blast zones, right? We know we don’t matter to them, and are rather inconvenient to them and politicians including Democrats who love love love the myth of pipelines, fracking, and Hydrogen hubs, right?

So next thing you know, Chair of the West Whiteland Supervisors Brian Dunn is on site this morning over on Ship Road and guess what? Sunoco/Energy Transfer was NOT putting him off. He had the township manager with him as well. Supervisor Brian Dunn went DOWN into that big hole to see the pipeline and dent for himself. That pipeline is live because you do not expect them to stop running highly explosive ethane while they make a repair, do you? Actually, fool that I am and a former oil company brat from decades ago, I actually thought they would do just that, but I am but a mere mortal and a female, right?

Anyway, Supervisor Brian Dunn had West Whiteland put it all on their social media channels and website. So for once there is real time updates on a pipeline issue.

This issue is being described as “pipeline maintenance.” I daresay it’s not regular everyday sweeping up is it?

Allow me to let West Whiteland Residents for Pipeline Safety to explain further:

We now know what problem with the Mariner East 2X pipeline on Ship Rd at Exton Station needing repair, thanks to West Whiteland Township conducting a site visit this morning.

There is a dent in the pipe which was detected as “an anomaly” during a recent smart pigging inspection of the pipeline. It safe to assume this dent was caused during construction so its unclear how it went undetected before.

The green coating has been sandblasted away fir the repair and the pipe will be wrapped in clockspring, a composite repair sleeve and reinforcement system uniquely designed for high-pressure transmission pipelines. Work is expected to last until Wednesday, November 8.

The pipeline is actively transporting highly explosive ethane while this work and the excavation using a backhoe is being conducted. The last photo, with the site marked with an red X shows the densely populated area immediately surrounding.

Questions remain:

❓ why was this dent, an area of weakness, not detected in previous inspections?

❓ what happens when an anomaly is detected on a section of pipe that is inaccessible because it was installed tens or even over 100 feet underground or through rock as is the case on many lengths of Mariner East through Chester County and Delaware County?

And remember, there is no credible emergency plan to warn protect public when there is a leak of these high volatile liquids in transport through Mariner East.

Thank you to West Whiteland Township for conducting this site visit and providing transparency on this to residents – transparency we do not get from Energy Transfer nor our regulatory agencies.

https://www.westwhiteland.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=744

Here is West Whiteland’s information release this afternoon and it includes a video showing how repair will happen which is pretty cool:

Posted on: November 1, 2023

Pipeline Maintenance

Energy Transfer regularly conducts routine preventative maintenance on the Mariner East pipeline in the Township to detect anomalies before they become safety issues, One such anomaly was discovered and work is in progress to remediate it.

In order to ensure the integrity of the pipeline is not affected, the pipe will be wrapped in clockspring, a composite repair sleeve and reinforcement system uniquely designed for high-pressure transmission pipelines. Work is expected to last until Wednesday, November 8.

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PA PUC) has been on site and verified that the activity is within normal pipeline maintenance and operations. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administrations (PHMSA) has also been notified. Township Supervisor Brian Dunn and Township Manager Pam Gural-Bear visited the site and met with ET’s Integrity Team.

The anomaly was identified as one that could be addressed within 180 days.

For more information, please email pipeline@westwhiteland.org.

But can we talk about Supervisor Brian Dunn again? Sorry not sorry but what he did today took guts He did what MORE elected officials should do: he represented his residents and went to the mat for them. That is also brave because dude was down in a freaking pipeline hole and as much as I love my readers, I can tell you I would not have gone down an 18 foot hole into the ground or whatever. (If I had been the township manager, I would have been above ground saying my rosary while he was down there, but I digress.)

This video is from 6 years ago so the public is reminded what West Whiteland
residents have gone through.
This video is from 4 years ago so the public is reminded what West Whiteland
residents have gone through.
This video is from 4 years ago so the public is reminded what West Whiteland
residents have gone through. The criminal investigation that kinda went nowhere, remember?
This video is from 4 years ago so the public is reminded what West Whiteland
residents have gone through.

It should be pointed out to she who will soon be thankfully out of office in West Whiteland is WHY people love and respect Brian Dunn, and will never wax poetically about you. I mean I know you love to slam him and misquote me, so here’s hoping you understand THIS is what being a public servant and working for the people who elected him actually means. Brian Dunn goes the extra mile for West Whiteland AND Chester County residents. He walks the walk whereas you have only ever spewed the talk occasionally.

It’s a mystery how a brand new pipeline has a dent. Perhaps it was damaged in their rush to get everything in the ground before? WHO KNOWS and we may never know because well, it’s Energy Transfer/Sunoco/Sunoco Logistics and everything has to be massaged and polished and spin doctored before the public gets information if they answer at all, doesn’t it?

Bravo, Brian Dunn but for the love of all that is holy, please don’t do that again. And please note that Brian was on site WITH Sunoco and West Whiteland Township in a planned meet up. DO NOT TRESPASS HERE. That is breaking the law and you will be arrested. Today’s on site photos provided generously by West Whiteland Township.

Happy November. Everything old is new again, including pipeline issues.

hey east whiteland residents are you aware the weston development on w. king road in west whiteland is marching forward?

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Hi it’s me, the development critic. Weston is selling on West King Road across from Johnson Matthey. This is in West Whiteland, JUST over the East Whiteland border quite literally. I have written about this before:

oh west whiteland, what is up with weston property on west king road?
oh no…. in west whiteland along w. king road

So there was a meeting last night in West Whiteland. Planning. The Weston Development came up again. If it wasn’t for a West Whiteland resident looking at the agenda because they were at another meeting last night, I would not have known Weston was up again and with a zoning change going to zoning with I presume planning approval.

weston-overdevelopmentDownload

Now I have not seen the property change hands as of yet, but there is the possibility the sale is through since Chester County seems behind in what they record almost always.

I am kind of pissy about this. Right or wrong.

One reason WHY I am pissed is I have been on zoom calls of other meetings involving this property in the past. I even contacted them in writing as did many others from EAST WHITELAND. As a COURTESY, you all should have let East Whiteland residents know. I know full well they know how to reach me, and if not me the peo in East Whiteland Township.

This plan will drastically impact residents of East Whiteland who live on roads off of W. King or who are in the many houses that pepper W. King Road in East and West Whiteland.

It would be common courtesy to let your neighbors know when ANYTHING happens with this property because ANYTHING that happens with this property or the acreage across the road being sold by Johnson Matthey WILL AFFECT MORE THAN WEST WHITELAND, correct?

There is quite the eco system on that property. Has a property search been done as to any special special like bog turtles which might reside there? How many and what trees will be removed and how large will the trees be? And any tree planting should NOT be developer specials lined up like for a firing squad (what Toll brothers does) and left to die.

Also, the neighbors want a traffic signal as in yes a light right there at the mouth of that development at King and Weston Way. Otherwise, NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO GET OUT. And speaking of not getting out, has West Whiteland been monitoring the intersection of Ship and King lately? They should. And the guy who zips around on W. King in the motorized wheelchair in the lanes of traffic with nothing reflective? They should pay attention to him as well, and get him like those big reflective triangles Amish buggies have. It’s terrifying to be on W. King with traffic with him zipping around like he is driving a car.

West Whiteland approving a development of this size is going to affect the neighbors in more than one municipality. I saw a reference in old materials about a neighbors’ meeting in 2022. I don’t recall hearing about that. Thankfully this development will only overload West Chester Area School District.

I feel East Whiteland is completely out of the loop on projects that they border with West Whiteland and other municipalities and this has to stop. Soon we will not be able to navigate around the area with the development approved in West Whiteland on Route 30 from the Laborers past but including Ship Road and east on Lancaster to the municipal border with East Whiteland. Oh and this latest developer seeking big bucks at the expense of Chester County residents has a very similar plan to this brewing in Willistown. They are from Blue Bell which I sadly remember the farms and open space there before the developers moved in.

I am pretty tuned in to what happens around here, and I was a little distressed to see this all moving forward without us lowly East Whiteland folks being clued in.

Also has West Whiteland forgotten the pipelines that run through this property? Still want people running uphill or whatever?

I go out of my way to try to get East and West Whiteland to communicate. It’s only COMMON SENSE. Yet here we are.

Like I said, I can’t stop this development but I will talk about it. West Whiteland will have conditions of approval on this project and respectfully, one of those needs to include A TRAFFIC SIGNAL as well as answers to environmental questions.

It’s nice they are saving the historic structures, but as is the case with a lot of these things, seeing will be believing.

When I lived in Lower Merion they would create resident email lists for development projects. Someone in planning and/or zoning would notify residents of actions on a particular plan. A lot of your projects don’t just affect residents of just ONE municipality, they also affect residents of bordering municipalities.

It drives me CRAZY that no one in Harrisburg wants to get off of their asses and do a comprehensive non-Band-Aid update to the Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), since hello the MPC drives our zoning. The last comprehensive update circa 1969 is what cause the first monster project to tear apart Chester County and blow up a school district: Chesterbrook.

It drives me CRAZY that municipalities that border each other and often have similar issues act like independent island nations. When there is collaboration there is often greater success. And West Whiteland and East Whiteland had success, great success years ago over what Rouse had planned for Church Farm. More recently, residents banned together to stop a hydrogen plant.

Development rant over. For now.

meet meadowbrook manor in west west whiteland

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I have friends who live in Meadowbrook Manor in West Whiteland. It’s a wonderful little cluster neighborhood of adorable little houses. Many of the residents have lived there for decades.

These residents have seen a lot of change. They have literally seen development gobble up big parts of Exton, and West Whiteland in general. They are also pipeline victims and part of hell on earth ground zero of those blasted pipelines.

Some folks from Meadowbrook Manor in West Whiteland have asked me to share the photos you see in this post and the videos. And they sent me a little statement as well which I am sharing with my readers verbatim:

Meadowbrook Manor built in the 1950s before anyone ever thought about floodplains or storm water management. We are one of (if not the) lowest point in the Whiteland valley. There are two streams that wind through our development; Valley Creek and an unnamed stream. As big, new developments have popped up along Valley Creek, one has to wonder how all the building and impervious ground cover impacts those of us downstream.

Yes, every new development must submit stormwater management plans to the township, but do those plans only protect the new construction from flooding? It is my understanding that new developments are not required to make things better for those of us downstream, but they certainly are not supposed to make it worse. Who is measuring and how is that determined, because things have definitely gotten worse. I have lived here for 26 years. The house next door didn’t flood even with hurricane Floyd, but in the last three years, it has had up to 10” of water inside. The poor young couple who bought it, has been displaced three times in three years. The house next to that has suffered the same fate. Some may blame climate change, and the intensity of recent storms, and I’m sure that is part of it.


The township has expressed sympathy, but we need action.


We need township engineers to follow the path of these streams and find places where more retention basins can be added to slow the tsunami of water that is engulfing homes with each heavy storm.

So won’t you be their neighbor, West Whiteland? When you look at this you realize exactly why Chester County needs to do better. And yes Chester County Planning Department this is why you all need to do better and get an executive director who is from Chester County and lives here. And then there are our state representatives and state senators who need to step up and get the damn Municipalities Planning Code updated and to protect our communities better.

I see all of you in Meadowbrook Manor. I just wish I had a magic wand.