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Chester council repeals presale inspection rule, approves development releases and liquor transfers
Summary
At its June 11 meeting, the Chester City Council repealed a presale residential inspection ordinance, approved release of remaining development security for the WSFS Bank Sportsplex, authorized a redevelopment agreement and approved two liquor-license transfers while denying a third; it also authorized a $200,000 SS4A grant application.
Chester City Council on Wednesday moved to repeal a city presale inspection ordinance, release a remaining development-security payment for a sportsplex project, approve a redevelopment agreement and act on three liquor-license transfer requests, among other items.
The council voted unanimously to repeal Article 17-15 of the codified ordinances — the city’s presale inspection requirement for residential properties — finding it “no longer reasonable and necessary,” and to approve several related resolutions and motions during the June 11 meeting.
The repeal: Council considered Bill No. 2, described in the meeting record as “an ordinance of the City of Chester…amending the codified ordinances of the City of Chester to repeal Article 17-15 entitled presale inspection of residential properties and units in its entirety.” A council member moved to pass the bill on its reading; the roll call recorded Councilor Gibson Williams, Councilor West, Councilor Davis and the mayor voting yes.
Developer security release: The council unanimously approved a resolution to release the remaining $111,423.60 in development-improvement security for the WSFS Bank Sportsplex Phase 1, following a city-engineer inspection and recommendation that the project was complete. The meeting record states an original financial-security bond of $1,114,236.01 and a prior release of $1,002,812.41 on Nov. 8, 2023.
Liquor-license transfers: The council approved transfer of Pennsylvania retail restaurant liquor license R-7363 (LID 112593) to Wolf Lounge LLC for a restaurant at 1 W. Third St., Chester, subject to Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board approval. The council also approved the transfer request from Highland Deli Market Inc. for an eating-place retail-dispenser license (ED-4712) to 2740 W. 12th St. in Chester, after a public hearing and a record of testimony about operations and concerns. Separately, the council denied a request (in the record identified as “Holland Deli Market Inc.”) to transfer ED-4712 from 6801-01 Marshall Road, Upper Darby, to 2740 W. 12th St., finding, per the resolution text, that the transfer “would adversely affect the welfare, peace, health, and morals of the municipality and its residents.” (The meeting record includes inconsistent company naming in the hearing text; see provenance and audit.)
Redevelopment agreement: The council approved a redevelopment agreement allowing purchase and clustered multifamily redevelopment of city-owned lots by a private buyer identified in the resolution as Jean Pinder, sole proprietor trading as Bellor Properties, for 20 residential units (described in the meeting record as five addresses with four apartments each and parking) on East 10th Street. The resolution cites the urban redevelopment law (35 P.S. § 1709-k) as the authority for council approval.
SS4A grant authorization: The council authorized submission of an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program for up to $200,000 for a demonstration program on a corridor the meeting record alternately names Highland Avenue and Holland Avenue between Schwartz and Twelfth Street; any required match was to be in-kind services.
Votes at a glance: - Ordinance (Bill No. 2) to repeal Article 17-15 (presale inspection): Motion to pass on reading — Outcome: Approved; Roll call: Gibson Williams — Yes; West — Yes; Davis — Yes; Mayor — Yes. - Release of remaining development security for WSFS Bank Sportsplex Phase 1 ($111,423.60): Motion — Outcome: Approved; Roll call recorded unanimous yes votes. - Transfer of retail liquor license R-7363 to Wolf Lounge LLC (1 W. Third St.): Motion — Outcome: Approved (unanimous), subject to Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board approval. - Transfer request for ED-4712 to 2740 W. 12th St. (Highland Deli Market Inc. per hearing text): Record includes detailed hearing testimony; council action recorded as denied for the applicant name listed later in the resolution (see provenance). Outcome: Denied (council vote to deny recorded as unanimous yes votes to deny). - Redevelopment agreement with Bellor Properties (Jean Pinder) for clustered multifamily housing (20 units): Motion — Outcome: Approved (unanimous). - Authorization to apply for SS4A grant (up to $200,000) for a corridor demonstration project: Motion — Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
Council members and city staff characterized several items as following engineer or staff recommendations and noted some transfers remain subject to Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board approval. The council’s roll-call procedure in the meeting record shows each recorded vote as a yes from the three named council members and the mayor on the items presented.
Less urgent business at the meeting included community announcements, reports from the health bureau and reminders about city services.
Ending: The council adjourned after public comment and several community reports; the meeting record includes extended public-comment remarks on neighborhood safety, animal-control work, environmental justice and community events.
