Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Officials oppose Embreeville sewage plan
Developer seeks to renovate old sewage plant to serve residential development
NEWLIN TOWNSHIP » A public hearing will take place next week on a developer’s plan to renovate an old sewage treatment plant in order to serve a proposed 1,100unit residential development at the old Embreeville hospital grounds.
The Embreeville sewage treatment plant, built in 1940 and shuttered four years ago, had last been used by the state police at Embreeville barracks and the PennDOT garage. The sewage treatment plant was never owned or used by Newlin Township.
The developer, Embreeville Redevelopment LP, purchased the 225-acre property in 2013 and wants to build a mix of residential and commercial buildings in West Bradford Township, along with an open space area and a dog park.
The application by the developers is being opposed by Newlin Township, The Brandywine Conservancy and the Brandywine Valley Association.
“This would be a nightmare,” said Janie Baird, chairman of the Newlin supervisors. “Who knows what those pipes are made of, but
my guess is that they are old iron pipes leaching lead. This (plan) is totally undesirable.”
The old plant is a stream discharge system discharging treated sewage into the west branch of Brandywine Creek, just east past the canoe launch at ChesLen Preserve. Newlin officials claim there is no way the developer could bring the plant up to modern standards The permit from the Department of Environmental Protection for the old sewage plant expired in November of last year. Embreeville Redevelopment LP would need to pump considerable money to bring the plant up to current standards. But Baird said even if they do, nitrates will still to be able to be removed from the effluent. Nitrates in water results mainly from the organic pollution caused by urban agglomerations.
“We just think it’s a bad thing to reopen that old plant when there is a brand-new, modern facility just down the road, and it’s in the township where the development is proposed,” Baird said.
State Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19, said he does not favor the developer’s application.
“I stand with the Newlin Township Supervisors, the Brandywine Conservancy, and the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance in opposing the discharge permit renewal,” Dinniman said. “In my judgment, DEP granting such a permit would go against local efforts to maintain open space and limit development at Embreeville, since West Bradford’s zoning board denied the developer’s plan and appeals earlier this year. As a state senator, I have a responsibility to support our township supervisors and local residents.”
In May, West Bradford’s zoning hearing board rejected the Embreeville developer’s challenges to the zoning ordinance, which claimed that the township does not allow for its fair share of future housing. Embreeville Redevelopment LP is appealing that decision.
“Our roads can’t handle the traffic now,” said Newlin Township resident Susann Hoffman, who lives adjacent to the Embreeville property.
The purpose of the July 17 public hearing is to take testimony concerning the DEP’s intent to renew the permit to Embreeville Redevelopment GP, LLC for the discharge of treated sewage from Embreeville Redevelopment GP, LLC for the discharge of treated sewage from Embreeville Complex to West Branch Brandywine Creek located in Newlin Township. Once issued, DEP permits are good for five years.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at Marshallton United Methodist Church, 1282 W. Strasburg Road, West Chester, with a brief presentation from DEP officials.
“We’re hoping that we get a good turnout,” Baird said. “This is the only avenue Newlin has to officially oppose that development.”
Dinniman said he was in the process of sending a letter to DEP outlining his opposition.