Springhouse Seeks To Donate $70K in Lieu of Trail

NEWTOWN SQUARE–Springhouse developer Nelson "Chip" Vaughan and Springhouse Development Homeowners Association President Robert Zakian stood before the Board of Supervisors on Monday night hoping to waive the requirements to install a trail in the development.

The trail was part of the final land development application made by Roll International, which was approved by the supervisors 11 years ago on Aug. 3, 2001.

The Trail That Leads to Nowhere

"Over the period of time tht we did [developed] it, people kept moving in and we always kept getting a little resistance to the idea of this trail," said Vaughan. 

According to Vaughan, the trail "kind of goes from nowhere to nowhere." Vaughan said the trail would have run along Goshen to Boot roads, in which there are two properties between the proposed trail and already existing walking trail within the development. "There really isn't ever going to be, I think, a connection between the two along that road."

Vaughan said he has requested to eliminate the requirement for that trail, in which $55,000 was originally allocated to install the trail. Instead of installing the trail, Vaughan said he would like to donate $70,000 to the township for "whatever purpose they want."

Vaughan and Zakian also met with the township's Environmental Advisory Committee and the Parks & Recreation Committee about the idea of nixing the trail. 

"We went over this with them and they concurred that this kind of doesn't make any sense," said Vaughan about meeting the two committees. "It just really doesn't make any sense to put something in that doesn't really work."

Residents in Springhouse Agree To Nix The Trail

"The homeowners, of which there are 17, are unanimously in favor of not having this trail," said Zakian. "For a lot of reasons, it doesn't make physical sense from where it starts and where it ends but we also have concerns about security–who is going to park where and how dangerous is it because it comes close to some homes."

According to Zakian, the overall consensus of the 17 homes in the development would be in favor of not requiring to honor this agreement. Zakian said two to three meetings were held with the homeowners, specifically about the trail and how to handle it.

Historical Society: Trail Does Lead to Somewhere

John Battista, president of the Newtown Square Historical Society, was the chairman of the township's Planning Commission during the time when the final land development application was submitted.

According to Battista, the Planning Commission was in favor of the trail because it would have been part of the entire trail system that would go through the entire township. Contrary to Springhouse Development representatives, Battista argued that the trail does, in fact, lead to somewhere.

"It was going to go down Goshen Road...down through the meadows, which he left open, to Boot Road. And I resent the fact that it's not going to go anywhere because [developer] Claude [deBoton] is going to pick up that road, it's going to wind down around the covered bridge and back up through Claude's property, over to Drexel Lodge to then pick up the Campus Boulevard trail," explained Battista.

Battista continued, "The developer wanted it, the Planning Commission wanted it, the supervisors agreed to it and the Delaware County Planning Commission wanted it. I think it would be a disservice. It's a public road. We're already having a problem on . We're trying to, after 100 years, change the dynamics of a trail."

John Custer, appointed solicitor of the historical society, served on the Board of Supervisors when the application came through to approve the land development plan with the trail. 

Custer said there was a potential to connect the trail from Goshen Road to and then to a walking trail in Springhouse as part of the township-wide trail but none of these things were approved.

In 2007, Custer said he attempted to reach out to SAP again about the trail but to no avail and at the time, did receive positive feedback from a few residents in Springhouse in favor of the trail.

"I think things were not in the cards at the moment," said Custer. "But I think some sort of approach be taken to SAP about this. This is a wonderful thing for the township. I know how popular the Goshen trail is–it’s packed. It’s only 2 miles long. Think if it was longer. Think if it was interconnected with a series of trails in the township."

Roadblock at SAP

According to Supervisor George Wood said he also agreed with the idea of having more trails in the township but believed SAP would not be in favor of the trail on their campus due to security reasons.

"We could stand for more trails. It just doesn’t seem like they [SAP] would do it now because of security issues. There would need to be a chain-link fence with the trail to the campus," said Wood.

Zakian said the homeowners did receive a request to take the development's existing trail and connect it through SAP's campus and back to the meadow. However, SAP would only agree to it if all the homeowners were unanimous about the decision. Unfortunately, Zakian said, one homeowner was opposed to the idea. 

Vaughan said he also attended the meetings with Custer and Zakian when they approached SAP in 2007 about the trail on their campus which appeared to have been fruitless.

"Every time we tried to get something resolved with SAP, we just ran into another roadblock. Hooking up from here to there is not going to ever be a viable alternative," said Vaughan.

Next Steps

Supervisors Chairman Joseph Catania said more up-to-date information needs to be provided from SAP on their stance for the proposed trail. In addition, any alternatives to the trail should be made now. 

Also requested was the stance of all the homeowners stating in writing that they would like to waive the requirement to install a trail as well as the EAC and Parks & Recreation committees stating their stance in writing about the trail.