Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 158, No. 39
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
$1.50
New Garden shares ‘future character zone’ map at public outreach meeting By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer As part of its 18-month process to determine what the future of New Garden Township will look like, the township hosted its second public outreach meeting on Sept. 25 that invited residents, business leaders and property owners to provide input on a proposed zoning map that will reflect where mixed-use, low- and medium-density, business districts, parks
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and open space areas and unified development along Route 41 will eventually be located. The meeting featured a presentation by consultants Samantha McLean and Seth Koons, consultants with Pittsburgh-based Michael Baker International, a provider of engineering and consulting services on upgrading its zoning districts, whom the township is partnering with to better align its updated zoning map with its 2018 compre-
Oxford Borough has been awarded an $854,356 grant through the Multimodal Transportation Fund Program, ensuring the completion of strategic improvements to Niblock Alley to support rebuilding the site in the aftermath of the devastating fire that ripped through several buildings in Oxford’s downtown in September of 2023. On Sept. 14, 2023 Oxford experienced a devastating fire that affected an entire downtown block between South Third St. and Niblock Fall Education Guide...1C Alley. The historic Oxford Artists of Landenberg Studio Tour returns this weekend...1B
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dential areas of one acre or larger • Medium-density residential – primarily single-use residential areas of smaller lots found in subdivided communities • Hamlet – areas that are suitable for residential development that prioritize the preservation of environmentally sensitive areas and open space • Landenberg Village – a zone that recognizes • Low-density residential the unique and historical Continued on Page 2A – primarily single-use resi-
Oxford Borough receives funding to transform Niblock Alley By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer
Theatre building, apartments, offices, a warehouse, and several businesses were completely lost in the fouralarm blaze. Prior to the fire, and working with its many stakeholders, the borough developed its first Comprehensive Plan, which included the reimagining of Niblock Alley to address safety issues, improve multimodal circulation, bring the roadway into municipal ownership, and turn what has been a dilapidated back alley into a safe, pedestrianfriendly destination. Now, the redevelopment of Niblock Alley will also support rebuilding of the fire site, including the return of the much-anticipated community theater. The
grant also provides funds to rehabilitate the Broad Street Bridge. With the PennDOT award, there is now $2,154,356 in grant funding secured for the Niblock Alley project, including $1,000,000 from the Chester County Community Revitalization Program and $300,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Multimodal Transportation Fund Program. “As important as this project is to the revitalization of our downtown, the borough is not in the financial position to fund this project,” said Kathryn Cloyd, Oxford Borough Council President.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Michael Basciani of Basciani Foods examines the proposed New Garden Township zoning map at a public outreach meeting that was held at the Township Building on Sept. 25.
FROM OUR LENS History, in the spoken word
Continued on Page 2A
Oxford Area Chamber holds legislative breakfast with political leaders By Gabbie Burton Contributing Writer The Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce held their annual Legislative Breakfast at Lincoln University on Sept. 26, a gathering that provided area elected officials with the opportunity to share updates about recent policy and projects they are working on and issues that will be facing federal, state and county governments over the next year. Those attending the event
included Sen. Carolyn Comitta, Rep. John Lawrence and Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell and Eric Roe, as well as students from Oxford Area High School and Avon Grove Charter School. Opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Douglas Fasick, the chamber’s government relations committee chair. “We like to have an event where we have all of our political elected officials
attend,” Fasick said, “but what really makes our legislative breakfast special is the fact that we have so many students come from Oxford and Avon Grove Charter Schools.” Leading off, Sen. Comitta provided the audience with updates regarding Pennsylvania’s new Main Street Matters Program, which secures $20 million in grants for communities to develop and support their downtown areas; her recent involvement with Oxford
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Local historian and author Gene Pisasale delivered his final lecture presentation – “Heritage of the Brandywine Valley” – on Sept. 24 before a large audience at the Kennett Library. For an appreciation of Pisasale’s distinguished career as an author and orator of local history, see Page 5A.
SILO; and addressed concerns about Big Elk Creek State Park. Comitta also presented the Oxford Library Board
with a citation from the Pennsylvania Senate to celebrate the library’s 240-year anniversary. Continued on Page 3A
The stage is set: Penn Township to construct amphitheater in park By Chris Barber Contributing Writer
© 2007 The Chester County Press
hensive plan, its official map and its 2020 Village of Toughkenamon Streetscape and Transportation Improvement Plan, as well as keep it compliant with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. Koons introduced the township’s future “character zones” that are identified on the new zoning map according to the following designations:
The residents of Penn Township, as well as those in the greater southern Chester County area, can look forward to some elegant outdoor theater-going beginning next summer. The township is engaged in a project to construct an amphitheater in its sprawling, 11-acre township park.
Located next to the municipal building and bounded on the south by the former Jennersville Hospital, the Penn Township Park is meticulously maintained and contains space for passive recreation, paths and a pavilion for social and other celebratory activities. Karen Versuk, the township’s director of operations, said a survey was conducted to determine what the
residents would like to see coming in the future. In addition to the sports park now in the process of being developed, an amphitheater was suggested. Versuk said that, up until now, when special events were held, they have been in the flat, covered pavilion, which was never really built for theatrical and concert entertainment. The building of a theater
would be a significant step up, they decided. Plans include dressing rooms, lighting and adequate acoustics for plays and concerts. Armed with a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources, the township proceeded with plans. The township is already soliciting bids for the electrical installations. “An amphitheater also
provides a unique entertainment or gathering spot for all of Southern Chester County,” Versuk said. “Penn Township Park certainly has a perfect space for it, and the rest is history. We hope the amphitheater will be available for use by Summer 2025.” At the Sept. 3 township meeting, there was discussion of traffic problems that Continued on Page 4A