Worcester Township manager responds to proposed lots sale story
I am the Township Manager for Worcester Township, and I am responding to an article published online on Wednesday evening regarding the Township-owned building lots proposed for sale. Important information noted in the article — information provided to The Reporter by the Friends of Worcester — is inaccurate. Please note:
1. The three building lots proposed for sale have never been a park or preserved open space, the three building lots have always been building lots.
2. The official Worcester Township Open Space Plan clearly notes that the building lots are not preserved and could be developed in the future (p.30, p.31). A copy of the official Worcester Township Open Space Plan may be viewed at worcestertwp.com.
3. The map that accompanied the article is not the map of protected lands in the official Worcester Township Open Space Plan. The correct map is shown on page 32, and this map shows the building lots are Townshipowned property only.
4. The building lots do not adjoin the Zacharias Creek. In 2006 the Township prepared a subdivision plan that decreased the size of the three building lots in order to create a 6-acre parcel along the creek that will forever be retained by Township. The Township’s popular offroad trail was constructed on this parcel several years ago.
5. The 2006 subdivision plan was prepared and submitted for review less than one month AFTER the official Worcester Township Open Space Plan was adopted by the Board of Supervisors in June 2006. This timing clearly shows the building lots were never considered to be preserved as open space or a park.
6. The sale of the three building lots — which collectively encompass about 9 acres — may bring $500,000 or more at public auction. The Township can use this money to purchase or preserve many, many, many more acres of open space in the Township. Consider that, later this year, the Township, County and State will purchase a conservation easement that will preserve a 35-acre property on Kriebel Mill Road. The total purchase cost to Worcester Township is about $73,000. Would you sell 9 acres to preserve 100 acres, 200 acres or more open space in your community?
I will also note that the Friends of Worcester did not contact the Township to share their concerns before your article was published. I wish they had done so, if only to let them know that current Township Supervisor and Friends of Worcester member Susan Caughlan worked on the 2006 subdivision plan that created the three building lots that are now proposed for sale. Ms. Caughlan served as the Township’s Open Space Coordinator at the time. — Tommy Ryan, Township Manager