All Residents Should Be Considered in the Decision of the Springhouse Trail

As a condition of approval when the Springhouse development located off Goshen Road, was built, the developer agreed and the township approved a walking trail available to all township residents. 

In fact, at the time Springhouse was marketed, the walking trail and open space featured prominently in their marketing brochures. Unfortunately, township officials never required the developer to complete this trail and a required environmental easement. Now the developer and some of the residents of Springhouse (all 15 or 16 of them) would like the township to agree to abandon the trail. 

At last night’s BOS meeting, Chairman Joe Catania offered an update of the status of the request to eliminate the trail. It included a recap of the outcome of a meeting with SAP as well as documentation from the residents of Springhouse.

Following this update, Chairman Catania directed the solicitor, manager and engineer to review and complete the necessary documents before approving Springhouse’s request to abandon the trail.   

When I asked Chairman Catania why no other public comment was taken in this matter, his reply was that the supervisors weren’t taking any action last night so no public comment would be permitted. He indicated that public comment would only be taken once the matter came before the Board of supervisors for a vote.

So, SAP gets to offer their position, the residents of Springhouse get to offer their opinion, but the rest of the residents of Newtown have to wait for the supervisors to vote on the matter. 

Although this was not offered in the recap provided by Chairman Catania, here is some additional information provided to me by an attendee at the meeting with SAP:

“Patti,

Unfortunately, SAP has not changed their position.  They refused to even consider a trail through their property, although they did offer some money if it would go away.”

Additionally, this is the proposition that the township officials would now like to consider.

“Mike Trio has the idea that the Township could run the trail along Goshen Road all the way down to the Covered Bridge, using the road easement.  Such a trail would not be very appealing, since, even if it could be built, it would be right next to Goshen Road, with cars whizzing by only a few feet away. I would rather walk in a parking lot. The other question is where would the trail go from the Covered Bridge? A trail through the Springhouse development could hook up with a trail through Claude's property and go all the way to Route 3.”

So, I’ have a number of questions now that I hope will be considered before this matter is before the Supervisors for a vote:

1. Why was the Springhouse developer not required to finish this development and install the walking trail? When the development was marketed, the brochures indicated that the trail was going to be built.  
2. Can the township agree to eliminate the trail that was to be provided as a condition of the developer's plan approval and just accept some money from the developer to eliminate it? Wouldn’t this be considered township property with all the public hearing requirements that go along with “selling” public property?
3. As was indicated by one of the attendees at the SAP meeting and verified by others who attended the meeting, can SAP offer money to township officials to have the trail considered on their property go away?  
4. Why wouldn’t township officials, in the interest of all citizens, consider the possibility of utilizing eminent domain for the land on SAP’s property that would be needed to link the existing trail with the Springhouse section of the trail? 

I have attended a number of township meetings and I have concluded all too frequently that the decisions that are made by township officials seem to be too narrowly focused. It is reminiscent of their approach when a resident on Paper Mill Road proposed to close a trail there.

Please consider contacting township officials and attend the township meetings.  Let them know that they represent all residents in the matter of the trail–a trail that could provide many positive benefits to the community.