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Residents urge board to reject Bishop Tube redevelopment over contamination concerns; supervisors grant extension
Summary
Residents told the board to 'just say no' to Bishop Tube redevelopment over TCE and PFAS worries; the board accepted an extension of the final plan to Sept. 30, 2024, and counsel urged awaiting DEP findings and adding protections.
A group of residents on June 12 urged the East Whiteland Board of Supervisors to halt the Bishop Tube redevelopment, citing contamination and public‑health concerns, while the board opted to accept a developer's extension rather than deny the plan.
At the podium, Kathleen Stauffer, Carol Armstrong and Sara Casper urged supervisors to "just say no" to redevelopment of the Bishop Tube site and cited new information about three tree species — American holly, American elm and white green ash — that they said help absorb and decompose TCE. "Everything we know says you can’t build on this site, if you touch one hair on that site you are releasing PFAS," a speaker said during public comment.
Maya van Russum told the board she had supplied the township with expert analysis and warned that either outcome could prompt litigation: "if you say no Mr. O’Neil will sue you, but the DRK will join you to push back. If you say yes, you will violate legal protectives that are already in place, the DRK will sue you and you will stand alone on the other side."
Township Solicitor Bernadette Kearney advised caution, saying the township is receiving materials under the planning code and that DEP has not yet issued determinations: "DEP has not made a decision therefore we wait." Staff and board members said conditions and additional reviews would be used to protect the township if the project moves forward. Chair Scott Lambert said the board would attach remediation conditions "to protect ourselves." Vice‑Chair Rich Orlow cautioned the board that to deny an application it must have specific legal bases and that taking unprepared action would be a mistake.
Rather than deny or approve, the board accepted a developer request to extend the review timeline for the Bishop Tube final plan to Sept. 30, 2024, giving staff and counsel time to evaluate technical and legal issues and to wait for any DEP determinations.
