Who Knew?

Quite a while back when I was a kid I dreamed of living in a Rural Community. There were 6 of us living in a one bedroom basement apartment in the Bronx. I had plenty of friends, went to summer camp at PS 87, and played out on our crowded one-way street every day. I would see commercials on TV sometimes for the Clean Air Fund and watched the images of children who got to spend 2 weeks or so on a farm. That was my dream. My mother would gently scold me if I brought it up or asked her if I could go, too. There were lots of families with less than we had, she would say. My Uncle Jim would come over on the holidays with pictures and stories of the fish that he caught on trips offshore of Montauk, LI, or with salmon from Alaska. When I went to the beach for the first time at 13 I knew that my love and yearning for nature was justified.

I've always felt a sense of respect for people who know how to make money. It wasn't something that I ever had, so I could really appreciate that it must be some kind of talent. I don't begrudge anyone for that talent, or for any dreams they may have. Maybe when you've had something a while, you forget how special it really is.

I used to spend a lot of time playing in the one square of dirt at the street near my building where there was a tree. If I closed one eye and squinted I could imagine that it was just me and the tree, you couldn't see the other structures around. The front of my building was set back about 15 feet from the street, and to get to my 'front' door you had to go down a long alley about 10 feet wide. According to the Architect at the Conditional Use Hearing, that means we had Rural Character.

Who Knew?

1st Conditional Use Hearing Held! Next Hearing Date: October 7

PART ONE: THE FACTS
The first Conditional Use Hearing for Valhalla Brandywine was held last night at the Wallace Township Building. The evening began with a brief introduction by the Township solicitor and moved onto registration for Party Status. Individuals, Groups, and others affected by the proposed Resort may register at the beginning of each Hearing for Party Status, which allows them to cross-examine (or ask questions of) consultants presenting information on the project. (*This corrects the previous understanding that you had to register at the 1st Hearing for all of the Hearings, so if you were not able to attend last night's meeting and wish to register please come to the next!) It is important to note that you have to wait until the end of the entire presentation to make comments, and that questioning the individual consultants won't be allowed until the whole series of presentations is over. Last night's meeting included an introduction by the developer, Mr. Albert M. Greenfield III. This was followed by presentations by Chuck Dobson, Civil Engineer who touched upon some density and "greenway" allowances, and by Mr. Evans of LRK Architects who spoke about '6 principles' being used in the development plans. The room was more than filled to capacity and a great number of residents and others filed for Pary Status, including the Guardians of the Brandywine and Trout Unlimited.

PART TWO: THE OPINIONS
Hold on just a bit longer while I write them down-in the meantime, don't be shy and give us your own opinion!

YOU NEED TO ATTEND THE CONDITIONAL USE HEARING ON TUESDAY SEPT 23

Tuesday, Sept 23, 7:30 pm, Wallace Township Building, 1250 Creek Rd, Glenmoore. Hearings begin Tuesday on the Conditional Use Application for Brandywine Valhalla, a 600 acre PRIVATE DESTINATION RESORT (Spa/Hotels/Golf Course) in Wallace Township. All residents are encouraged to attend. If you wish to speak at this and subsequent hearings, you must register as a party. If you need more information, or would like help in registering, please email watchourwaters @gmail.com

WOODLAND PROTECTION IN WALLACE TOWNSHIP**PLEASE COMMENT**

As the Wallace Twp. Planning Commission works on revising the Woodlands Protection Ordinances that were previously contested and repealed, a new issue has come to the forefront: Timber Harvesting. Consideration is being given to revising present regulations. This area will be addressed at the next PC work session, Sept. 24, 7:30pm at the Township Bldg, 1250 Creek Road, Glenmoore. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC IS REQUESTED BY ADDING TO THE 'COMMENTS' BELOW THIS ARTICLE.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONDITIONAL USE HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 23, 7:30 PM

There will be a series of public hearings on the Conditional Use Application for the creation of the Spa/Golf Course/Hotel Resort proposed by developer Albert Greenfield III. The first hearing will take place on Tuesday Sept. 23, 2008 at 7:30pm, Wallace Township Building, 1250 Creek Rd., Glenmoore 19343. It is critical to attend this first hearing if you would like to speak or 'present testimony' on this issue because you will need to register in order to do so. The meetings are open to anyone who wants to learn the scope of this project. The plans for development will be presented. The impacts need to be exposed. Please come, and be sure to ask what the benefits are to you, your family and your community. Don't let other people and outside investors plan your community for you! Join with families, friends, and neighbors that share your values and care about you!

CONDITIONAL USE HEARINGS TO BEGIN SEPT 23

The developer of the Spa/Golf Course/Hotel Resort has submitted his application for Conditional Use. Hearings will begin Sept. 23rd. More information will be available shortly.

September - A New Month - A New Beginning

The beginning of each month is a good time to look forward and think about what you plan to accomplish in the 30 or so days ahead. It's also a good time to take a look back and see how you did with the goals you set for last month.

Well, last month was a tough one. The Guardians of the Brandywine, an active group of Chester County residents who work toward keeping the Brandywine Creek and River clean and protected for future generations, were shocked and saddened by the Wallace Township Board of Supervisors' decision to approve a zoning Ordinance that would allow a Spa/Golf/Hotel Resort in an environmentally sensitive area along the Brandywine against the recommendations of the Chester County Planning Commission. Mr. Henry Rowan, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Land Use Coalition and Supervisor of Buckingham Township for 15 years has stated " This is among the very worst ordinances that I have ever seen enacted. It is poorly conceived and technically incompetent. Quite frankly, for a community that has Wallace's history of protecting its land, this ordinance is an embarrassment and is nothing short gift to developers." Many stand to be affected by this decision, and it is quite sobering when you think about it. The waters stand to be polluted and uninhabitable by current fish populations, no longer the High Quality drinking source enjoyed by residents as far as Delaware. Townships near and far stand to experience the effects of thousands of cars a day trying to navigate roads unable to handle the volume. As the population from resort vacationers and workers swells, and the emphasis becomes pleasing people who don't even live in our Townships our Rural Character and Way of Life will be taken from us. This is the decision that the Board of Supervisors has made. Not For Us. Without Us. What Do We Get? This is the decision that the Board of Supervisors has made. Out of fear of being sued by a Developer who's goal is for investors and himself to make money. What Do We Get? This is the decision that the Board of Supervisors has made. Even Though an Appeal Means Fighting the Township's Own Residents. What Do We Get?

Yes, last month seems to have been a bad month, indeed.

Well, how about this month? What are our personal goals? Collective Goals? What do you hope to accomplish this September? -adrienne

Results for Final Tuesday Night Tournament of 2008

While the fishing hasn't been great overall, there were still some nice bass at the end of last night's final competition. Out of 13 boats, first place went to the team of Russell and Russell with 2 fish weighing in at 9.05 total lbs. Second place went to Newton and Newton for 3 fish totaling 7.58 lbs. Lunker (the heaviest fish) went to Searing and Searing for their bass weighing 4.32 lbs. The BIG BAG of the Year Prize of some really nice gear went to the team of Searing and Padden for their catch on the very first night of the Tournament (total weight 13.88lbs). Congratulations to all!