Bishop Tube developer defends push to build on site

EAST WHITELAND » Proposed Bishop Tube site developer Brian O’Neill launched a strong retort against environmentalist and Delaware Riverkeeper Maya van Rossum in response to her Wednesday press conference criticizing plans for the site.

Van Rossum has challenged a proposal by O’Neill to develop the contaminated 13-acre Bishop Tube site on South Malin Road. O’Neill wants to clean up the heavily wooded area and build more than 200 houses, while van Rossum wants to create a park.

In related news, signs at the Bishop Tube site were posted this week by the Chester County Sheriff, notifying property owner Constitution Drive Partners, Renaissance Boulevard, King of Prussia, of a second notice that the property would be sold for $27,371.54 owed in delinquent taxes.

A Friday afternoon records

search did not show if the owed amount was subsequently paid or is still due.

O’Neill filed a June 22 lawsuit in the Chester County Court of Common Pleas against van Rossum, the network and one named resident.

Van Rossum said at the press conference, at the foot of the Bishop Tube site, that she seeks a “clean, green, healthy and safe Bishop Tube site.”

She said Wednesday that she wants to “expose Mr. O’Neill for his bullying tactics and his blatant effort to silence the community.” Van Rossum argued that the builder is attempting to limit her First Amendment rights.

O’Neill responded directly to the Daily Local News with a letter signed by James C. Sargent Jr., of the law firm Lamb McErlane PC.

“O’Neill has no interest in limiting free speech,” the letter states. “The First Amendment does not protect her from disseminating misinformation, or publicly denigrating O’Neill – which she has done repeatedly, and continued to do (Wednesday).”

Van Rossum responded that the information she and residents have circulated is “based on facts and science and found on the record.”

The letter states that the Bishop Tube site presents a challenge for a developer and is “a sore on the face of East Whiteland Township.”

“Maya proposes a pristine park where adults and children can play in a healthy environment,” reads the O’Neill letter. “Sounds like a fantasy. Well it is. Maya has no ‘plan,’ no funding, no prospect of funding.”

The area is loaded with possible carcinogenic TCEs, following decades-