Chester Valley Knoll Residents Debate CVT Access Point

It was standing room only Wednesday night at an East Whiteland public meeting, where township residents voiced both opposition and support for a . The proposed path would link Deer Run Lane in East Whiteland to the county trail via the Malin pumping station and provide a safer access point to the trail than the traffic-heavy access points at Route 401 and Swedesford Road.

More than 70 residents attended the meeting, and more than 20 spoke up to share their support or voice concerns about the proposed path.

Safety, traffic concerns

Residents opposed to the trail, including neighboring property owner Kelly DiPrinzio, voiced a number of concerns, including parking issues, increased traffic, trash problems, lack of privacy and child safety issues.

DiPrinzio told the Board of Supervisors that she had circulated a petition opposing the trail access point at Deer Run Lane. She said approximately 48 homes in Chester Valley Knoll had signed the petition, a number that includes 24 of the 29 homes on Deer Run Lane. All the homes on the "right side of Deer Run Lane from the proposed path site" have signed, DiPrinzio said, presumably referring to the west side of Deer Run Lane.

"People have been questioning the reality of ... our concerns," DiPrinzio said.

She shared a letter from a property owner who lives up the road from where the crosses Mill Lane. Though the path isn't marked as a designated access point, DiPrinzio said, the property owner has cars in front of her house constantly.

"I can no longer allow my children to play on our own property without direct supervision," DiPrinzio read from the letter.

Benefits of the path

At least 10 residents spoke up in favor of the new access point during the meeting, listing benefits that included healthy living, the bridging of communities and increased home value.

"There are many neighbors in Chester Valley Knoll that support a safe,
all-weather access point to the Chester Valley Trail ... We view the
incorporation of this access path into the Chester Valley Trail as a
positive addition to our neighborhood," neighborhood resident Kevin Morrow said.

Several residents noted the safe location of the Deer Run Lane access point for the trail, as compared to the Swedesford Road and Route 401 access points. A 10-year-old and a 17-year-old both shared their enthusiasm for using the path to bike on to other neighborhoods or to the Wegmans in the Uptown Worthington shopping center, and another resident called attention to elderly or visiting parents who don't have access to a car but could utilize the trail.

Ideas for eliminating issues

Some residents called for compromise, and a number of ideas were suggested for eliminating certain problems for the new access point.

• A "private access" sign: Because the path would be built on township land with municipal funds, township manager Terry Woodman said the township would need to ask its solicitor if access at the Deer Run Lane point could legally be limited to Chester Valley Knoll residents. Limiting access to township residents, a much broader limitation, might be the only option. One resident suggested that instead, a sign be erected stating the trail is "intended for neighborhood use" while noting other access points, such as the .
• Parking enforcement, which could include resident stickers: Supervisor Virginia McMichael recalled a previous problem with high school students parking in residential neighborhoods and cutting through yards to get to school. "The 'No Parking' signs were put up and enforced ... Start ticketing and they don't park there anymore," she said.
• A narrower path, perhaps four feet instead of 8-10 feet: "That's the county's preference, but it's up for negotiation," Woodman said.
  McMichael added: "There are public paths and there are public paths. Some are going to be more inviting to people outside the neighborhood than others."
• 'Do Not Enter' neighborhood signs: "They were a big deterrent in our neighborhood," where they were used for traffic control, resident Angelina Connelly said.
• Making other access points more attractive: For example, advertising trail access at the township building, which includes other amenities like a drink machine and bathrooms.

Other Notes

• Of the $10,000 PECO grant that was also used to fund work at Battle of the Clouds, approximately $5,200 is left to use on the Deer Run Lane trail access point, Woodman said. She said after the meeting that if the township was planning to use the funds, but didn't within the grant's stipulated timeframe, "I'm sure the granting agencies would consider modifying the original grant."

For the next step, some questions will be taken to the township solicitor, Supervisor Bill Holmes said, to determine what are and are not legal possibilities, such as posting a "private access" sign. 

Residents on both sides of the issue expressed sadness about the tension and hostility between neighbors the proposed path has caused. Several urged the board to make a decision quickly, fearing that the hostility would grow the longer a decision takes.

The supervisors also encouraged residents to present their opinions with care. 

"You guys are going to be here long after the trail is built, or not built, one way or another," Holmes said.

[Edited 4/5/12 9pm to clarify that one of Terry Woodman's quotes referred to the width of the trail, not whether it will be paved.]
[Edited 4/8/12 9pm to clarify who had signed the anti-path petition.]