Crebilly Farm Update 7/12/20

Please forgive my tardy update from last Wednesday’s final PC meeting.  I have a lot of information to share.  Here is what you need to know, first:

My profuse thanks to the fifty or so people who bravely attended last week’s final PC meeting regarding the ‘Alternate Conceptual Plan’ (ACP) in person.  And thank you to almost 30 more people who attended via zoom, at least before the technical difficulties became too much to bear.  Over a dozen people spoke during public comment with much deserved applause from the audience.  Unfortunately, sound was a real issue at this meeting, for those present and those via zoom, and has been at meetings past.  There was a tremendous amount of mic feedback and many times people speaking forget to use the mic which makes it very difficult to hear what is being said.  I cringe at the frustration of those who make the effort to attend these important meetings, whether in person or on-line and then cannot hear.

It pleases me to report at the conclusion of the evening, the PC unanimously voted to recommend the Board of Supervisors deny Conditional Use to Toll Brothers, regarding the ACP.  The denial is based upon three main points:

The ACP and Crebilly II application have been rather confusing.  The ACP falls under the umbrella of Crebilly II but is not an official application.  Here is a brief explanation I was given last week by a township solicitor:

Here is the link to the video of the entire final PC meeting including public comment:

Latest Daily Local News article, special thanks to news reporter Bill Rettew:

For those concerned about the public venue with regards to Covid, I would like to report Cheyney University’s Marion Anderson Music Center was so clean and sanitized, thanks to its kind and devoted staff, I am convinced Covid does not stand a chance in that facility!  The evening was thoughtfully planned with sanitizing and social distance efforts at every turn.  Personally, I felt very safe.  The evening began with a heart-felt welcome by the President of Cheyney University himself, Mr. Aaron Walton, a real class act, dressed in a dashing suit and bow tie.  I only hope next time someone remembers to turn on the AC.  As I sat there steaming in my face mask, hopefully losing water weight, I imagined the township garage, quaffed in the scent of diesel fumes and decided this was definitely still the better option. Thank you, Cheyney University for hosting when no one else would.

A NEW CALL TO ACTION:  PennDOT needs to hear from the public.  Friends, please take the time to reach out to PennDOT and your local legislators with your concerns about the proposed development of Crebilly Farm.  Last October, I had an opportunity to address State Senator Killion, PA State Representative Carolyn Comitta and members of PennDOT in a meeting, thanks to the gracious help of Ms. Comitta, whose attention and concern over the pending sale and development of Crebilly Farm has been undaunted.  My main goal was to start a dialogue with PennDOT and the public through my letter of concern and a list of questions.  Though I was scared to death and shook the whole time, I was met with nothing less than undivided attention and respect by all.  If I can do it, so can anyone.  Please continue to politely remind each of the contacts below how important this issue is.  Tell them how this will negatively impact you and the surrounding area:  the dangerous increased traffic, over-crowded school districts, emergency services, increased taxes, etc.  The size of the proposed development is too large for the already over-saturated area and our American History is a national issue that deserves to be preserved and protected.

Here is my own letter I read addressing the group at the beginning of the October meeting; in case it helps, you are welcome to use any of my words for your own writing:  https://crebillyfarmfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/senator-killion-letter-october-31-2019.pdf

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/  

In closing, I will share what I thought was one of the most impressive and memorable parts of the evening, at least for me.  Public comment always makes the biggest impact on me personally, because so many of those speaking are living literally on the front lines and my heart goes out to them.  For the record, it takes a lot of guts for anyone to get up, walk down a long row to the front of an auditorium and speak into a microphone in front of a room full of strangers.  A spunky woman got up and spoke about traffic.  She had done her own study at intersections near her home.  She counted the cars.  She timed the lights.  She met Toll Brothers with real numbers and real facts.  I was wowed by her.  I can only hope all of us continue to follow in her spunky footsteps.  We must keep going.

If not you, then who?

Sincerely,

Mindy Rhodes