Chester County Press 06-07-17 Edition

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Chester CountyPRESS

www.chestercounty.com

Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas

Volume 151, No. 23

INSIDE

60 Cents

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Small step forward for big project in Kennett Square Kennett Square Borough Council approves a memorandum of understanding with the library that will allow for architectural design work on a combined municipal building By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

Cecil County Life magazine

Kennett Square Borough Council discussed a formal memorandum of understanding with the Kennett Library on Monday night, ultimately voting to approve it by a margin of 7 to 0, despite the fact that the proposed project was not

warmly received by some residents in attendance. The memorandum of understanding pertains to a proposal to construct a new municipal building, in collaboration with the Kennett Library, that would serve as the home to a new library, a new borough administration building, and a new police station on the bor-

ough-owned Weinstein lot at the intersection of State Street and Willow Street. There would also be flexible space in the building that would be utilized for meeting spaces for community groups, as well as a metered parking structure that would accommodate more than 40 vehicles. While the approval of the

Graduation day Graduation day for Oxford High School...1B

memorandum of understanding represents a new milestone in the effort to get a new library in Kennett Square—this is the first time that borough council has formally voted on this project—the facility itself is still a long way from being authorized by either borough council or the library’s board of directors. Borough council’s approval of the memorandum of understanding establishes how the two entities will work with each other on the project, and allows the project to advance to the next phase, which includes architectural design work that would provide more realistic costs for the facility. Both the borough and and the library will need

to work out the financial details for their share of the project, which currently has a projected cost of more than $16 million. In the coming weeks, the library board will also consider approving the memorandum of understanding. Some language in this agreement still needs to be refined, including the portion of the memorandum of understanding that would provide both the borough and the library with the opportunity to abandon the project, and what costs each party would be responsible for as a result. According to borough officials, the architectural design work could be completed as early as October, which would allow the Continued on Page 2A

New sculpture installed by local artist in Kennett Square

Benefit planned for Camp Dreamcatcher...4A Photo by Steven Hoffman

Oxford Area High School students Raudel Franco, Jose Pentoja, and Cody Preston are pictured just before the school’s 137th commencement on June 2. Coverage of the graduation ceremony begins on Page 1B. A list of the members of Oxford’s Class of 2017 can be found on Page 10A.

Protecting the ‘Jewel in a Crown’ Students in the spotlight at Arts Alliance...4B

Community members form group to oppose planned cell tower in Landenberg By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

They have made a sign, and posted it throughout the community. They have joined together They have created a Opinion........................7A for a cause. website. Calendar of Events......2B They have formed a group They have gathered over Obituaries..................3B and given it a name. 100 petitions.

INDEX

During the late afternoon of June 5, nine members of the newly-formed Concerned Citizens of Landenberg sat around the dining room table in Continued on Page 8A

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Classifieds..................8B

© 2007 The Chester County Press

Photos by Adrian Gibbs

The new sculpture was installed last week on the Genesis Walkway.

By John Chambless Staff Writer The first piece of public art in Kennett Square was installed on the morning of May 30 and formally dedicated on June 2. “Kennett Squared,” by Photo by Richard L. Gaw local sculptor Rob Sigafoos, Members of Concerned Citizens of Landenberg have launched a website and gathnow stands on the Genesis ered signatures in opposition to the proposed construction of a cell tower on the Walkway downtown, where property known as Little Stenning Farm.

New Garden invites residents to help spell out township’s future By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer More than 50 residents of New Garden Township were guided to a giant blank canvas on May 31, given giant brushes and lots of paint and asked to apply the broad strokes of their vision for the township’s future-figuratively, of course. The open house, hosted by the township, Thomas Comitta Associates, the Brandywine Conservancy

an McMahon Transportation Engineers & Planners, was part of the township’s effort to include public input in the update of its comprehensive plan which, when completed, will serve as a blueprint for policy and improvements for the next decade. The comprehensive plan is made up of a 14-member task force of township supervisors, and members of the Planning Commission, Open Space

Review Board, Historic Commission and the community. Recommended by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) to be updated every ten years, the plan spells out objectives and resource allocations priorities for land use, transportation, recreation, open space and housing. It is expected to be finalized in 2018. The township last updated its comprehensive plan in

2005. The open house meeting called for residents’ ideas on several of the township’s top priorities – and some would say, headaches – that are on the front burner of its objectives, such as residential and commercial growth; the preservation of open space, natural resources and historic landmarks; the revitalization of Toughkenamon; and continuing to improve and Continued on Page 5A

many visitors walk from the parking garage to the stores and restaurants on State Street. The artist’s work has already been seen downtown, although most people don’t know it’s by him. The sign for the Philter coffee shop is a creation by Sigafoos and local artist Katee Boyle. Continued on Page 2A

Another chapter for Jennersville Hospital By Uncle Irvin It was recently announced that Jennersville Regional Hospital has been sold by its owner, Community Health Continued on Page 2A


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