An amazing re-branding is happening as the Board of Commissioners tries to distance themselves from comments made by planning commissioners they recently rubber stamped. About 2 months ago smart growth buzzwords started flying around at meetings.
This same Board of Commissioners (BOC) who immediately after taking office steamrolled the absolute antithesis of smart growth, an amendment allowing 700 acres of agriculture protected zoning to change to industrial, Strip Mall and Urban are now attempting to re-brand themselves smart growth champions.
Wonderful. Nearly 3 years into Reis, Conrad and Eichenberg’s terms they have started studying possible smart growth implementation.
I am a believer that actions speak louder then words, so lets review their actions:
1. Jaindl MOU. Mere days after taking office the group began working with Mr. Jaindl his lawyers and Engineers to craft a document chock full of waivers and concessions allowing 700 acres of farmland to be developed with warehouses, strip malls and urban density housing.2. The Allen Organ project. A project that so far has been spoken in favorable terms by this BOC including Eichenberg who happens to be the realtor of the project. (before eventually recusing himself) This project would create the highest residential density in the township. The plan that at one time was ridiculously branded as “Smart Growth Mixed Use” but after community concern that label was dropped. Now it’s simply being called exactly what it is. A box supermarket and over 200 apartments smushed together on a small parcel.3. Hamilton Boulevard is becoming Macarther Rd. Two keystone properties are being developed as strip centers on a critical portion of Hamilton boulevard in The Village of Wescosville. It’s been stated this area should become the “Main St.” of the township. Instead we’re getting Macarther Rd.4. Anti smart growth appointments Planning commissioners who state it’s too late for smart growth get unanimous rubber stamp, while community members who constantly advocate for smart growth are blocked.
Again. Rhetoric vs. Action.
Smart growth needs wholesale buy in. Without it you get the Allen Organ proposal. A smart growth sham. 200 apartments crammed with a supermarket that funnels all the traffic onto one intersection. No interconnectivity with adjacent neighborhoods, lip service walkability a sidewalk here and there, no range of housing options and virtually no compact building design.
On the national stage on both sides of the aisle we see politicians who speak out of two sides of their mouths everyday. Where the rhetoric is wonderful but actions don’t always line up. Here on our little local stage we see the exact same thing. This group is trying to shut the barn door after the horse has been stolen. Funny the smart growth talk is being ratcheted up a few months before a primary election? It’s probably just coincidence right?