After hours of testimony from water experts, consultants, and many Wallace Township residents the Board of Supervisors adopted the Ordinance allowing creation of a 600 acre spa/golf course/hotel resort as previously expected.
Compelling information against adoption of the Ordinance was offered by Mr. Henry Rowan, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Land Use Coalition and Supervisor of Buckingham Township for 15 years, as well as Anne Misak of Clean Water Action, Philadelphia/Harrisburg, and Mr. Ott, Land Use Planner of West Chester PA ACLP. Numerous residents also presented testimony as well as signed petitions against #1323.
As required by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), Section 609e, the amendment to the zoning ordinance was submitted to the Chester County Planning Commission for review on July 21, 2008. The County responded with a 6 page assessment of the Plan on August 18, 2008. The review cites gross inadequacies, and plainly states that as presently written, a PCCC (Planned Country Club Community) is inconsistent with both the Township's own Comprehensive Plan as well as the 1996 Chester County Comprehensive Plan, Landscapes. It states that "The Chester County Planning Commission does not endorse this amendment as it is currently written..." and recommends "that the Township defer action on this particular amendment..." and suggests that the Township find a more suitable location for a PCCC, one in a less sensitive environmental area.
In a stunning display of contempt for the Chester County Planning Commission's findings, the Wallace Township Solicitor indicated (not a direct quote) that the CC Planning Commission did not know what they were doing, and that the review was based on a gross lack of understanding. Wallace Planning Commission member Skip McGrew agrees, stating: "...The one new item was the letter from the County Planning Commission. Those of us who have read many such letters were shocked at the tone of the letter and the complete disregard for the existing zoning and subdivision ordinances. It appeared that the author had not read those ordinances and had no understanding of the land planning process. Most surprising was the unprecedented notion that the Township Comprehensive Plan should be revised to provide for a destination resort. Even the most casual reader of the Comprehensive Plan should see that it provides broad, overall direction and doesn't address specific development plans. One can only suspect that some savvy political lobbying was in play here."
At the Hearing it was disclosed that the developer, Mr. Greenfield, has an old application for the resort "pending", meaning that he can decide to attempt development regardless of whether Ordinance 1323 is passed or not!
It is clear that the decision to allow the resort to move forward and adopt this Ordinance was made prior to the Public Hearing. This decision has been made regardless of the overall impact to residents' quality of life, environmental concerns, safety, traffic and water quality - not of just Wallace Townships, but of neighboring townships as well.
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