I swear. If they don’t get off their asses in Harrisburg and update the Municipalities Planning Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, all we are going to have Groundhog Day every damn year no matter where we live in the state.
In East Whiteland Township, it’s only January yet it feels like Groundhog Day:
FYI
This Wednesday at 7pm, the East Whiteland Township Planning Commission will review a request for a developer to change the zoning for 52 Swedesford Road (across from Microsoft and next to the 202 off ramp) to construct 225 – 250 apartment buildings in place of the current office space. Whether you think this is a good idea or not, be sure to get out to the meeting or send a message to the Planning Commission ASAP or you won’t be heard! Emails can be sent to slambert@eastwhiteland.org , zbarner@eastwhiteland.org , and bcarosello@eastwhiteland.org.
The problem here as I see it is well there was overdevelopment in office space. Then overdevelopment in residential shoehorn development. But now the overdevelopment in office space has commercial property owners sweating some, maybe? So now they want to change the zoning so they can further exploit an area with more of a type of residential development existing resident do NOT want more of, they want LESS in the way of cram plans, fewer apartment buildings.
This is the shittiest development idea in a while in East Whiteland, and there always seems to be a parade of bad plans here as well as in neighboring municipalities, don’t there? This is a super problematic location already. It’s next to a rather accident prone area having to do with 202 doesn’t it?
It’s another big chunk of apartment buildings. East Whiteland is NOT King of Prussia but it sure looks like it, doesn’t it?  What is wrong with stand alone single family housing not in McMansion price ranges? Not that housing of ANY kind is good here. As a matter of fact it’s a greedy dumb ass idea. There I said it out loud. According to Loop Net, it says the property is for sale as is commercial. DON’T CONVERT IT TO RESIDENTIAL!
Among other things allow me to point out that East Whiteland Township has no as in zero rental ordinances. Properties might get inspected if they change hands in a sale, but unless there is a known life safety issue, buildings aren’t routinely inspected. Or if it’s so decrepit on the outside it can’t be ignored, it might be inspected. There are SO many apartments now and renters as much as anyone else deserve safe places to live and a rental inspection ordinance would help with that. 
https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/52-E-Swedesford-Rd-Malvern-PA/27868468/
The agenda item says “Presentation and Discussion for 52 Swedesford Road (Tri-Point Properties).”
That name. Tri Point Properties. I knew I had heard it before, so I researched. They are in Downingtown and around 2015 they wanted to develop a Borough of Downingtown parking lot into an Eastside Flats kind of monstrosity, didn’t they? It created quite a stink back then. Josh Maxwell would have been mayor then.
Here are PDFs of two articles back then:
I think in the end it must have failed because the address still comes up as a Downingtown Borough Parking Lot and the borough still owns the land:
Here is the information on the parcel at 52 E. Swedesford Road (and oddly enough an SEC link🙂
Developers come in and out of these townships. They take their profits, give a short term one time high of ratables and then they are onto their next project, leaving municipalities holding the bag. More apartments means more stresses on aching infrastructure which includes human beings as in first responders, not just roads, etc. 
And what about the schools? How long before it’s Great Valley East and Great Valley West? Just look to neighboring districts, it is something that might need to happen if development is not moderated.
However what do I think? I think East Whiteland’s Planning Commission will say yes to this, because I just do not think they get that when they can say no, they should once in a while and not entertain nonsense.
Here are the names of the Planning Commission members. Feel free to reach out to them if you are against this if you do know any of them:
Members
- Deborah Abel, Chair
- Todd Asousa, Vice Chair
- Jeff Broadbelt
- Dante Bradley
- John Laumer
- Tim Kelly
- Bill Wrabley
- EMAIL: bbulger@eastwhiteland.org
My final bone of contention is the planning commission has made Zoom disappear. That is a mistake and not very sunshine friendly. If they don’t wish to do Zoom, at a minimum the meetings should be recorded and put on East Whiteland’s website and You Tube. It’s more sunshine friendly.
I would suggest as many turn out in person as possible for this meeting. But it’s East Whiteland so you just don’t know if anyone will attend.
Carpe Diem, East Whiteland residents. If you don’t want to live in King of Prussia it’s time to start attending meetings and speaking up in general. Don’t be complacent. Say no to further becoming a King of Prussia cloneship.
Have a good evening.
