So I think this is Tredyffrin Township and this is Stormwater funkadelic. The pipe drains to the public sidewalk. As ONTO the sidewalk along Lancaster Avenue – talk about a winter hazard for pedestrians especially, right?
This is the strip shopping center at 41 E Lancaster Avenue in Paoli where Our Deli etc is.
And no, I was not driving when I took this picture. I was a passenger in a car.
So whichever municipality this is they need to deal with this. It’s a fall hazard for pedestrians and this is going right out onto the road which causes another potential hazard trying to keep the road clear during winter icing events.
We all know the roads aren’t going to be perfect in the winter but something like this dripping over time in freezing weather could just be big enough to cause an accident. I mean, let’s face it. It’s problematic enough getting out of this weird little strip mall.
Developer Eli Kahn at 12/1/25 Tredyffrin Supervisors Meeting
So this is an interesting one at the end of the supervisors’ meeting last evening, Tredyffrin Township’s bumbling and inefficient zoning officer (I am entitled to my opinion and I’m being understated because I don’t understand why she has a job, but I digress) pops up rather nervously to announce to the supervisors that are developer was there with essentially a problem.
What was the problem? Something to do with the sewer and how his workforce housing project was essentially being potentially charged too much if it goes forward the way it is for sewer capacity they’re not going to use, right?
Here is the recording of that portion of the meeting:
I don’t understand how it was just sort of popped on the agenda like this do you? I’m not saying he shouldn’t be heard because he should be heard, and this is a developer whose projects I am not generally speaking fond of, but when you listen to this meeting snippet, do you really think he’s wrong? I actually don’t. (Shocker, right?)
This project was introduced at the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025:
So this is a trend we’ve seen being proposed in other municipalities and not just by this developer. It’s all about redeveloping these old commercial properties and these office buildings that have become obsolete whales and making them into living units, and in some cases, schools?
So I have to ask are we potentially replacing one problem with another problem? To be clear l, I’m not saying I’m against workforce housing if it actually happens. But I also look at these plans for this housing and so many of the units are these little itty-bitty things so what about workforce housing for families?
But I’m not going off on that tangent today that’s just something I think about. We definitely need affordable housing for all stages of life, but do we really need more apartments? I keep asking that question.
So the reason Eli Kahn went to Tredyffrin has to do with sewer. And sewer capacity and what he is paying for. It’s an interesting conversation. Listen to the video. So he’s telling the supervisors that they have problems in their sewer fee structures I guess? Basically he’s saying it’s not a one-size-fits-all?
I find it interesting, just like I find it. Interesting how it all kind of got plopped at the end of this meeting.
What is it with sewer fees and sewer capacity and municipalities out here so you have the thing that West Goshen Sunshine uncovered that’s on her Facebook page about fees paying health insurance bills of supervisors?
And then, of course, we have West Whiteland Township, trying to do the right thing for residents being sued by the Exton Mall developer and why? If there isn’t really sewer capacity, how should they be able to build as much? I don’t understand. it’s not like that’s the only problem on that site is there? Not enough parking correct? Too many houses for the area because of the density already existing correct?
Yeah….so Villanova held a meeting with neighbors over at Cabrini. I actually am glad they did it, except listen to a snippet of the presentation and I have to ask if this Villanova official has ever visited Villa Blue Tarp in Mount Pleasant?
This neighborhood is mostly Chester County/Tredyffrin, but a part of it is also Upper Merion/Montgomery County. The Tredyfrin part of it has some seriously ridiculous off campus party pits. Forget about are the houses safe for the students to live in, will the neighbors ever have peace? The lady speaking at Cabrini I’m sure has the best of intentions, but she has zero clue or doesn’t want to have a clue of what actually goes on in off campus party pits in Mount Pleasant, which is close Cabrini.
Neighbors also reported the following who were at the meeting:
FYI Traffic is going to be awful when Villanova opens the Cabrini campus next year!!!
Villanova says they have purchased six large buses. Shuttle service will leave Cabrini campus every 5-10 minutes 6:30 AM to 10:30 PM.
400 on campus student vehicles. 600 staff and commuter vehicles. Who knows how many Ubers and Doordash type vehicles, right?
That’s a lot, isn’t it?
They are permitted on campus at any time. The King of Prussia and Eagle Road entrances will close at 10:30 PM and reopen at 6:30 AM.
All traffic during this time will enter and exit on Upper Gulph.
I am very glad I don’t live near there. And with Villanova going to Cabrini and Valley Forge Military failing, and who knows what’s happening to that land, how will Radnor and Tredyffrin be protecting their residents through this?
I am glad that Cabrini is not going to be a giant parcel for residential McMansion development, but all the same, Villanova doesn’t have a good track record with their off-campus students, so what’s it going to be like over there?
Also to be considered is the practicality of the traffic implications on a lot of these roads, which are overtaxed and overburdened already.
Buckle up residents, you can hope this will all go smoothly, but I predict a lot of bumps in the road.
And speaking of Villanova, what are they doing with their main campus area property (or properties?) that back up to Aldwyn Lane? And doesn’t the university own properties on Aldwyn Lane? Is Radnor protecting their residents over there or ignoring them?
This is going to be interesting for sure, right? It’s their own version of Happy Valley without the great ice cream right?
No it’s not Sullivan Hall on Villanova’s campus. It’s Mt. Pleasant in Tredyffrin. The neighbors as in the full time year round residents are in hell. Party season for off campus housing is back.
And the song remains the same as in the same year after year. Tonight there was a call regarding Mount Pleasant. The residents don’t call unless it’s really bad and what happened? As always not much.
Mount Pleasant deserves better. Tredyffrin Township needs to get it together. There are plenty of student rentals in the region where it’s not like animal house every single year.
But in Tredyffrin its animal house every single year. One would think with all the overpriced infill development going in around Mount Pleasant that Tredyfrrin would be a little more on top of the student houses.
Come on Tredyffrin, how many years? Why isn’t this township embarrassed?
I was wondering when the local TV media was going to pick up the pickle the YMCA of Greater Brandywine organization, Upper Main Line YMCA and Easttown Township have found themselves in. Boomchakalaka, today was the day and this was literally just on 6 ABC Action News Philadelphia a bit ago.
Yeah whatever, it took me by surprise and the beginning of the video is wobbly. The report was completely unexpected. I can’t believe someone other than myself and Savvy Main Line is actually covering this. I have no objection to pickleball per se, no matter what people want to say, but I did not like the way the neighbors have been treated to date.
Below are links from just 3 meetings where pickleball and the Upper Main Line YMCA (UMLY) were discussed:
As I reported on May 17th, the neighbors are taking UMLY etc to court. I do not feel the neighbors wanted to do this but they were not being heard were they? And they were not being heard for a long time, weren’t they? And now media is catching on.
Once again the peeved and pickleball aggrieved will say anyone supporting the neighbors and the affected neighbors are horrible, terrible people. Well maybe if UMLY which now says they want to be good neighbors had been good neighbors in the beginning, this would not be where people are now, correct? And the YMCA of Greater Brandywine has been heavy handed before in dealing with people, haven’t they?
And people will say what do neighbors think buying a house near a YMCA, but to them I say oh really? UMLY is located in a historic resource…in a residential district, so wouldn’t common sense dictate they should try harder?
Residents are entitled to a reasonable expectation of quiet enjoyment, and people might like playing pickleball at UMLY but the residents do indeed have to be considered. And they were not being considered. Neighbors have apparently been trying to deal with this for a couple of years? These neighbors are far nicer than UMLY deserves. Personally I would have given them six months.
Anyway, now the news is settling into covering this. UMLY and Easttown sadly, could have avoided this, couldn’t they have?
Part of the February 18, 2025 board of supervisors meeting in Tredyffrin contained members of Mount Pleasant community coming forward and asking for help from their township. Tredyffrin Township…again…
First of all, I would like to commend the residents of Mount Pleasant for coming forward again. They have come forward so many times over the years and I have been following this issue personally for about 20 years now.
Second of all, I would like to know what the zoning gal in Tredyffrin actually does? all I really heard out of her mouth is what she couldn’t do or excuses. A no-no queen. What does it take for this employee paid by the taxpayers to get off her ass? This woman talks about needing evidence how much evidence does she need? How about she goes and looks for herself? How about she does her job?
It’s everywhere. People post photos on social media. They call the police. They contact the township.
This has literally been going on for years.
Why is it that the public has to carry the burden of proving all of this? Where has the Township manager been all of these years? And as far as the parking issues on the street? Maybe it’s time for a South Philly lawn chairs movement?
Years ago, when this Township did not, and at that point was not putting in a student housing ordinance I had friends that were homeowners that moved out of this township to other municipalities because of that.
And for the supervisor Carlotta Johnston-Pugh who wanted to know about just calling up Villanova University and finding out if it was a student house, is she for real? Everyone knows that for years Villanova really doesn’t have a clue as to where their kids are living off campus. And if Ms. Johnston-Pugh went there, did she show bias last night ?
Let’s talk about the latest off campus student house. Residents remarked a car from NY, CT, and I forget where. You can watch the video I have embedded. You know it would be really nice if municipalities paid attention to off-campus student housing and rentals the way they are supposed to wouldn’t it? So for what it’s worth for this to have 927 Mt. Pleasant to have become a student house it should have possibly gone through zoning except for the holes in the freaking ordinance that Tredyffrin that Tredyffrin has known about since they created this ordinance reluctantly years ago, correct? Does this house even have a certificate of occupancy as a rental?
Mazie B. Hall’s home before it came down years ago. Now this where I have always been puzzled about Tredyffrin. They have bragging rights to Mazie Hall since she lived in Mt. Pleasant. I think they named a park after her. So why have they never honored her 103 years on this earth by trying to preserve the community she fought for and called home? Every time I hear anything about Mt. Pleasant I feel like they are trying to erase it.
Get off your asses, Tredyffrin Township supervisors and staff. Quit making excuses, saying what you can’t do, quit ignoring the people of Mt. Pleasant. Last night, Tredyffrin Township supervisors and staff, you were seen. Clearly. And get yourselves a new manager and zoning Chiquita. It’s well past time.
It was but a tiny blip on the news radar here, and it was another PA grifter thing. A guy from Paoli named James Keating.
We saw it as a mention in Patch this past summer: Astoundingly but not surprisingly no one else around here picked up the story, not even the Daily Local. This I seem to think was right before the news waves got busy with the Gladwyne grifter, Scott Mason, wasn’t it?
Max Bennett,Patch Staff / Posted Wed, Jul 31, 2024 at 11:51 am ET
PAOLI, PA — A Paoli man has admitted in federal court to fraud, authorities said.
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, said James Keating, 52, of Paoli, pleaded guilty Tuesday in New Haven federal court to an crime stemming from a fraud scheme against his former employer.
So a friend from Connecticut sent me a blip from the Fox news channel in CT a couple of days ago. They quipped something about Southeastern PA and these grifter types. Yeah…sigh…sad…
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAMES KEATING, 52, of Paoli, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 20 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for defrauding his former employer of more than $1.4 million.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Keating was an Assistant Vice President and surety bond claims handler at Allied World Insurance Company (“Allied World”). He later served in the same capacity at Crum and Forster subsidiary U.S. Fire Insurance Company, where he also handled claims on Allied World surety bonds. All surety bond claims were handled through Allied World’s offices in Farmington, Connecticut.
Between 2017 and 2021, Keating defrauded Allied World in two ways. First, he used a shell company, American Construction & Industrial LLC, to bill Allied World for unnecessary claims work that was not performed and took the proceeds for himself. Second, he solicited and received kickbacks from Allied World vendors through another Keating-owned company, Surety Risk Solutions (also known as “SRS” or “SR5”), without the knowledge of his employer. Keating also caused these vendors to use another company in which he had an undisclosed ownership interest, Kodiak Asset Recovery, for asset searches at vastly inflated prices. Keating profited nearly $1 million through American Construction & Industrial LLC, more than $350,000 in kickbacks through Surety Risk Solutions, and nearly $125,000 through Kodiak Asset Recovery.
Judge Bolden ordered Keating to pay restitution of $1,226,603.97, which represents the loss to Allied World of $1,446,491.95, less $219,887.98 that he previously repaid as part of a civil judgment.
On July 30, 2024, Keating pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Novick.
Next comes what I could find on the Federal Case. It was just out there for downloading. Just a couple of things is what I am sharing. The “GOVERNMENT’S MEMORANDUM IN AID OF SENTENCING” and “REPLY IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANT’S SENTENCING MEMORANDUM”
How sad if you read any of it. As is the case with the 19035 guy, the 19301 guy is also a case of want vs. need. Is it fair to say, greed motivated this? Think of the wasted years of education with this guy, and obvious intelligence. According to the PA Disciplinary Board, her was also once a lawyer.
I don’t understand this. I wish I did. How do you blow up your life like this?
Of course then there is the elephant in the room. Another familiar name who was in the initial insurance company court filings, who was dropped out of it at the end of the day. Keating’s wife.
So we are 100% clear: she was in the filings then dropped out. Claims against her were DISMISSED.
Life is a meandering path. We are given one life and at the end of the day, everyone wants to be loved and happy, right?
Then with some, the basics of life fall along the sidelines as some see what they think is an easy win where no one gets hurt. In this case it was an insurance company, right?
Face it, who can honestly say given the issues insurance companies cause insureds, you don’t wish insurance companies ill? How many have had medical claims denied? Homeowners claims played around with? Say take for another example tree damage. There is a house close to me that has had it’s roof covered in a blue tarp for well over a year an a half would be my guess at this point. Upscale neighborhood, nice properties, and there they are with a giant blue tarp on the roof. What about fires? Take the burned out shell of a historic house in Berwyn at 400 Leopard Road (Leopard and Sugartown.) We drove past there this past Saturday on our way to dinner. An eerie ruin surrounded by cyclone fencing. But that is an arson investigation, right? That has it’s own set of rules and many many players.
BUT we know the difference between right an wrong, right? So what happens when the moral compass falls to the wayside? Bad things. Like this. And yet another family blown up, right?
And I still can’t believe given all of the coverage in Connecticut and nothing really here. News deserts?
Well I know this has been brewing a while but wowza. I feel sorry for the neighbors. I don’t play pickleball, so it means nothing to me. I have friends who play and love it. However I do know that it is unusually noisy.
I did a little nosing around and found out this has been going on for a while (as in more than a year? Maybe two years almost?) AND if you listen to the entire meeting somewhere a neighbor says pickleball courts were built without permits? I did a screen record of the meeting because Easttown has their meeting on You Tube but unlisted so that makes me think they could disappear so….
I found the Upper Main Line Y response ineffective. I am told that the Brandywine Y (which I guess owns them now?) has or has had similar issues? I remember a big issue when they wanted to put pickleball in Lionville a year or so ago.
So things about the meeting that made me laugh out loud: kind of asking Eattown to pay for or pay towards noise mitigation with some special fencing? Umm I am still wondering HOW they built the courts without permits?
Back to the meeting. The residents were well spoken and polite. Many of the Upper Main Line YMCA (“UMLY”) supporters and patrons…less so.
One person, can’t recall her name, was as rude and dismissive as could be…and is the apparent chair of the Willistown Planning Commission? Well we all know how Willistown residents get so wonder how she would be feeling if it was next door to her ?
Some of the patrons of UMLY were pleasant-ish and polite, as I mentioned. But so many of the others? Asshats with a misplaced sense of entitlement. I did not hear any neighbor say take away the pickleball courts, only that the noise HAS to be dealt with. Some of the most immediate neighbors, like on Longcourse Lane (a great street, incidentally) are showing by my research as being in Tredyffrin. So accomplishing anything is harder because UMLY is in Easttown.
Here is where UMLY is on the zoning map. Notice the R-1 AKA Residential:
Here is the another attachment – a land use table- I found in e code 360 on zoning:
So again, not a zoning professional. Not an attorney. But I can read. And I have to ask if UMLY is playing a game they can win? And yes I suggested a land use lawyer to a friend to pass along to the residents. Ask the residents in Narberth and even Willistown who have used this man and they will tell you worth every penny.
I added the lighting component of the zoning code because that is also a consideration. Hypothetically, lights might be on later than needed in part to liability concerns. However, I also have to ask WHY those courts are not locked up at the close of every day and even seasonally when it’s too cold to play pickleball or tennis for example? I am asking because residents said at this meeting where pickleball was continuing AFTER operating hours at UMLY? And I will note at present in Radnor an elite private girls school is being rude to neighbors with super daylight bright lights at night shining into windows of neighbors. They lock their courts but say they have to keep lights on and they are not down shielded so I have been told you can wake up at 1 AM and it’s like noon. That is light pollution and that also has serious environmental impacts. It affects bird migration and other things.
Residents are entitled to a reasonable expectation of quiet enjoyment, and people might like playing pickleball at UMLY but the residents do indeed have to be considered. And they are not being considered. Neighbors have apparently been trying to deal with this for a couple of years? These neighbors are far nicer than UMLY deserves. Personally I would have given them six months.
UMLY needs to be told a cautionary tale: the tale of Dink City Pickleball that opened for a brief time at Valley Forge Military & College….and closed because the neighbors in Tredyffrin had enough of the noise rather quickly.
Dink City Pickleball was forced to close due to a violation of the township’s R1 (residential) zoning code. The business received a notice of violation in July 2023, giving them 30 days to appeal or cease operations. No appeal was filed, and the business announced that August 14, 2023 would be its last day.
Finding the holy grail – a place to play pickle – just got easier, Main Line.
Two enterprising locals just opened what they say is the largest pickleball facility in the northeast: Dink City Pickleball at Valley Forge Military Academy & College.
And unlike YMCAs, country clubs, and Malvern’s new Bounce Pickleball, you pay only for your reserved court time. No need for a membership….With the tagline “community at play,” Dink City is more than cushioned courts, painted lines and regulation nets.
“It’s all the social things around pickleball that we offer – that’s the differentiator,” Norton tells SAVVY.
Think food trucks, corn hole and music on weekends, plus lessons, clinics, leagues, tournaments, pro shop, private events and birthday parties….“I love getting out on the court and getting a good sweat on,” says Norton who’s played pickle for nine years. “But just as much as that, I like hanging out with friends and family afterwards, maybe having a beverage or a taco or something from a food truck. That enhances the experience for everybody.”
The courts have lights for evening play and will be available year-round. “There are some hard core pickle-ballers out there who will play in the cold,” Norton says. “It’s like paddle – once you get moving, you warm up a bit.”…The two decided to cash in on the craze but make it community-oriented rather than an exclusive club. A real estate broker connected them to Valley Forge Military, which has been seeking new revenue streams to offset falling enrollment. (Since 2010, VFMAC has sold 20 acres to Eastern College, five acres to Bentley Homes, and most recently, 23 acres to developer Rockwell Custom for a new senior living complex.)
“The quickest win,” the partners say, was repurposing the lightly-used tennis courts on Radnor Road in the Tredyffrin section of campus. They loved the “heart of Wayne” location – a stone’s throw from St. David’s Golf Club and close to multiple schools, campuses and country clubs.
And if all goes well, outdoor courts in Wayne could just be the beginning for Dink City. VFMAC is in early talks to turn its equestrian center into a sports complex that might include Dink’s first indoor courts. Craft and Norton are also looking at properties in and around Philly and Maryland – although they haven’t yet quit their day jobs.
Yeah and then a few weeks later, it was sayonara Dink City, again I refer to Savvy Main Line:
IN A PiCKLE IN RADNOR. Just two months after they cut the ribbon on a popular new 16-court pickleball facility at Valley Forge Military Academy, Dink City Pickleball is closing.
The trouble began with a “handful of complaints” about noise from neighbors, according to Tredyffrin Zoning Officer Erin McPherson. When she investigated, she found the commercial business was operating in violation of the township’s R1 (residential) zoning code. She sent a notice of violation on July 14, giving Dink City 30 days to appeal for zoning relief or cease operations. No appeal was filed, she says, and today Dink City announced that Monday Aug. 14 will be its last day.
“This is not the end,” wrote owners Bryson Craft and Robbie Norton in an email. “Dink City will be back better and stronger than ever.”
The partners – both young local fathers and pickleball enthusiasts – had leased four lightly used tennis courts from Valley Forge Military Academy and invested big $$ converting them into a state-of-the-art pickleball center with leagues, clinics, “Dink and Drinks” nights, summer camps and more. (See our story in the June SAVVY – link in profile and scroll down.)
“We tried to resolve the issue with the township but they wouldn’t accept our proposals,” co-owner Craft tells SAVVY.
Dink City will refund Open Play memberships and any account balances as of Aug. 15
Pickleball noise is a real problem. There is even a group on Facebook devoted to it – all areas of US and Canada:
IMPULSIVE/IMPACT SOUNDS: By definition, an impact sound is simply the solid collision between two objects, such as hammering, dropped objects, a door slamming shut, metal-to-metal impacts, etc. Impulse sound is defined as the product of a force and duration with which the force is applied. More specifically, impulse is the time integral of force from an initial time to the final time, the force being time dependent and equal to zero before the initial time and after the final time (ANSI S1.1–2013). – ……. The measurement of impulse noise is becoming increasingly common within the industrial hygiene field. Issues for measuring impulse noise issues include dynamic range, frequency range, anti-aliasing, microphone/preamplifier/power supply, sampling rates, etc.. Whether an SLM, dosimeter, or computer-based recording system is used, good impulse noise measurements are not trivial to make. The limits of the microphones may be reached. The influence of nonlinear acoustics can dramatically affect the measurements. – Taken from The Noise Manual, 6th Edition.
Like many pickleball players, when I hear (another) story about how noisy pickleball is, I simply roll my eyes and spew a few snarky remarks about how some people just can’t let others have any fun.
So, you can imagine my response when I discovered there was a Facebook Group called the “Pickleball Noise Relief Group.”
My eyes rolled back, my lips curled, and I prepared to write something blasting a bunch of Karens for wanting to shut down pickleball.However, after a few conversations with the group’s leader, Nalini Lasiewicz, and actually listening to what they had to say, I realized that automatically labeling them as a pickleball hate group that just wanted to ruin our sport was completely off base.
And my preconceived notions about people complaining about pickleball noise couldn’t have been further from the truth.
Basically, I was … I am wrong. And so are many of us who think that pickleball doesn’t actually have a noise problem.
Because for these people and many others who are too afraid to speak up, it’s a serious problem that’s causing them health and mental issues.
Pickleball players: it’s time we admit that there is a pickleball noise problem.
Meet Nalini Lasiewicz
Nalini Lasiewicz is a resident of a Los Angeles suburb who first got involved with pickleball noise issues during the COVID lockdown….Nalini says this exact scenario has played out countless times since she became an administrator of the Facebook Group created by Rob Mastroianni, a Cape Cod resident who had to sell his family home due to the noise becoming too much to deal with.
The group is dedicated to finding and supporting others across the country in similar situations. For many, it’s a platform that allows them to find ways to regain the peace they’ve lost in their neighborhoods.
Look, NO ONE IS SAYING NO PICKLEBALL. But UMLY needs to do right by the neighbors. And that doesn’t mean Easttown Township and taxpayers should be paying for noise mitigation. And If Tredyffrin shut it down at Valley Forge Military Academy and College, zoning is not so different from municipality to municipality given that the Municipalities Planning Code of the Commonwealth of PA guides it all, correct?
I have no horse in this race, but I have been watching pickleball issues out of curiosity for a while. So Easttown and Tredyffrin residents near UMLY, I hear you and I am not hearing anything other than wanting your environment back. You aren’t being unreasonable. But UMLY and Upper Main Line Y? They are. And still I ask…how did they build pickleball courts without permits if that is indeed true?
Easttown Township needs to deal with this and not play kick the can. Tredyffrin Township could step into help residents if the supervisors can stop contemplating their collective navels long enough, yes? Expectation of quiet enjoyment? It’s a real thing. So pickleballers? This is a real issue. It’s not the noise you all are hearing, it’s what the residents are hearing and that is NOT the same thing.
Pay attention to the Model Noise Ordinance video I embedded here. They talk about the expensive anti-noise fences/barriers. They are discussing how it doesn’t work….
Ok Christmas is not going to decorate itself around here. Have a good night.
Tredyffrin Township officials and quasi useless supervisors are your ears burning? First y’all are a hot topic for the better part of an hour on WCHE’s show “All Politics Are Local with Barry Dee”. I’m sure they will want to blame me, but I actually wasn’t a guest this week but it was interesting because one of the things that was layered in the topic of right to know requests and how to file them with the recent swath of development again in Tredyffrin.
People are tired of it and one of the things people are tired of includes were losing not only open space, but our heritage trees. That’s a hot topic in East Whiteland as well because there are two very old sycamores near the old “Importer Barn” or Hibbard Barn. On that property, these trees are crazy old and crazy huge. Giant diameter trunks. One at least dates to close to American Revolutionary era. Will they stay or will they go now? I think in the end they will go because it’s like developers today HATE trees. Trees mean work. I love trees. We spend enough to preserve and care for our old growth heritage trees personally. We don’t have to, we do it because it’s the right thing to do. As humans, we should be better caretakers of nature.
So anyway, sorry small tangent on trees…I love them…and not enough municipalities give a damn. So when I saw a post pop up on social media the other day it was an “a ha” moment because it corresponds to a giant right to know I was sent at some point recently and filed away until I had time to look at it. Truthfully, I had forgotten about it but then it all made sense. I still have not waded through it enough. Here was the moment of clarity:
OMFG. This is what neighbors are becoming increasingly upset about on Vincent Road. And it’s not easy to find anything other than shifting sands on Tredyffrin’s website.
In 2008 residents were upset about stormwater on Vincent and frankly, the then Township Manager was rude enough IMHO that it was reflected in the meeting minutes, which I found:
As a matter of fact there are a LOT of historical documents about stormwater for that area….but nothing about the development plan. And if I am investigating properly, the issue of this parcel has been bandied about like a badminton shuttlecock for a few years already, right? So how is it not really discussed publicly? Did I blink and miss some minutia? I went to the county to see what was filed. A stormwater plan document from 2024 (where’s the flood hazard of it all?), new deed, and a development plan that looks like it came out of a time machine:
But I still wasn’t finding much else. Now don’t forget, Tredyffrin’s current manager is Bill Martin. He was from Radnor Township via Bridgeport…he was in Radnor during the Bashore era. I wrote about it in 2012:
Anyway, Tredyffrin has always had an issue with cloudy days. 105 Vincent being a HUGE surprise to a lot of fairly local residents is but the most recent example. And oy the butchering of the trees. And the loss of open space for what? A super dated subdivision plan which you know will sprout McMansions never intended for the original ideas? So here is what residents who have just realized what was going on are saying, and I am providing a mash-up:
…So sad to see this development taking place at 252 and Central Ave. This area was home to different species of trees, wild raspberries and blackberries, hawks, deer, chipmunks, various species of songbirds not to mention that run off from the top of the hill goes down the road and floods this area. I took pictures before and after the area started being cleared. Yes I get that the township voted on it. Funny I knew nothing about it and live just a few blocks away. If you are running for office and are an advocate for keeping what little greenspace we have left preserved pls let me know so I can vote for you……The township has a new woodland conservation ordinance. Here is a summary of that ordinance: https://static1.squarespace.com/…/Tredyffrin+Woodland… This looks like more than 5 large trees are being removed, in which case the developer would’ve needed to get a permit and to do this and would be required to plant compensatory trees. Please submit a complaint to to code enforcement (with photos) here: https://www.tredyffrin.org/…/df0fde129f454c0d8cc36a…/163 Code enforcement will let you know if it’s legit, or investigate if it’s unlawful……Oh no… More traffic at that horrible bottleneck leading to rt 30….Townships seem to have few boundaries when it comes to approving new building on open land. I have seen this over and over. When our township notifies area homeowners of a proposal and asks for feedback, the decision has often already been made. They don’t represent us in my opinion. Their prime interest is the tax base….I was so upset to see this the other day!
So. The lightbulb. All of a sudden I realized that giant right to know I had not really looked at and filed away was about THIS. The county is super slow updating things so current ownership not showing yet but here’s the now dated ownership info:
According to the new deed I found the land sold for $900,000.
Anyway, Tredyffrin Supervisors need to do better. Waterloo has arrived again, ladies and gentleman. No other way to dance about it.
Here’s the giant right to know. I have not had time to disseminate it, but Tredyffrin residents may find it of value and use:
August 19 featured a hearing at the Tredyffrin Supervisors meeting on 83 Chestnut Rd in Paoli. George Broseman is attorney for the applicant. This is an office building being planned to convert to multi family dwelling units which is apparently a permitted use in the township codes and the building is in the TC “Town Center” district. They would need a zoning variance to add two additional living units, seemingly 1 bedroom apartments.
You have to click on video link because Tredyffrin is a control freakish township and doesn’t allow embedding.
Office building are kind of having problems. So converting to mixed use or residential isn’t unheard of. They mention (the applicant) attainable housing AKA affordable housing. Chester County is lacking that. Either 9 units it sounds like by right or 11 with a zoning variance. Property has sufficient parking supposedly.
So why did this interest me? This thing floating around social media:
The comments along with the post was insane. I think it started on NextDoor but also appeared on Facebook. Enjoy some of the comments. I covered up the names, but maybe I shouldn’t have. So ignorant. What planet are the on? Never mind, we already know (sadly.)
Tredyffrin actually clapped back on social media:
The applicant stated moderate pricing to them if 9 units no more units, something like $1500- $1800 1 BR and $1500- $ 2000 2 BR. They will follow ADA guidelines, sounds like 1 unit would be handicap unit? Their units would be priced (they say) 25% – 30% less than other apartments that are class A. They are considered class B.
The cross examination during the hearing was interesting and somewhat contentious. We’ll see how that all plays out but I will say if an easement affects a neighbor it should be considered, right? You can’t just develop away someone’s rights or can you?
BUT AGAIN….IT’s THE WHOLE CRAZY CONSPIRACY THEORY THING. HOW DO PEOPLE IMAGINE THIS STUFF?
So apparently this issue is being continued until a September meeting? What I keep coming back to is the social media ugliness I captured about this property. You do not have to like an application but WHERE ANYWHERE DOES IT SAY THIS BUILDING WILL BE USED FOR ILLEGAL MIGRANTS?
This is the crap that we need to exterminate from our communities. You don’t have to like an application, but it doesn’t mean you get to poof like magic turn into a bunch of freaks and make things up!
I am not a big fan of Tredyffrin, too many weird things happen there, but to spread misinformation like this is wrong and somewhat disgusting. A few affordable apartments. In an area with seemingly endless townhouse? Seriously?. And the guy who said he was worried about crime because NINE to ELEVEN apartment might go in? Go install a panic room. You can hear all this when people were looking for party status.
I have no horse in this race as to whether or not this get built out and retrofitted as apartments. I don’t really care, truthfully I think it’s pretty unattractive back there. What i care about is finding some totally screwy essentially racist and fear-mongering thing on social media.
