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East Whiteland authorizes time‑sensitive agreement of sale for two properties tied to Malvern Superfund site
Summary
East Whiteland supervisors authorized the township manager to sign an agreement of sale for the Springridge and Balderston properties, funded by Chester County and the National Park Service; staff said a signed agreement is required by month‑end to preserve the grant. Residents raised contamination concerns during public comment.
East Whiteland Township on June 12 authorized the township manager to execute an agreement of sale for two large parcels known as the Springridge and Balderston properties, parcels the township has pursued for more than seven years.
Township Manager Steve Brown said the parcels sit across from Great Valley High School and the middle school and lie mostly within East Whiteland (with portions in Charlestown). He said the properties are "associated with the Malvern TCE super fund site" but added, "we are not buying the super fund site." Brown told the board that Chester County and the National Park Service will fully fund the purchase and that the National Park Service requires a signed agreement by the end of the month or it will not extend the grant.
The board voted unanimously to authorize the manager to sign the agreement. Chair Scott Lambert said the township will attach conditions to the sale "regarding the remediation to protect ourselves." The motion was made by Peter Fixler and seconded by Rich Orlow.
Several residents raised concerns elsewhere in the meeting about redevelopment on contaminated properties and urged stronger local controls. Those comments were part of a broader public discussion on contaminated‑site redevelopment during the meeting; the board and counsel said they are awaiting guidance or decisions from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and will consider legal and technical safeguards before taking final steps.
The agreement of sale will be executed using funding commitments from Chester County and the National Park Service. A partner grant of $1.825 million tied to another acquisition remains pending, township staff said.
