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Board votes to rescind township's flexible-development provisions while drafting a replacement
Summary
After a public hearing and discussion, the Board of Supervisors voted to rescind flexible-development provisions in the township code (chapters 170 and 146), citing past problems under the existing ordinance and a desire to write a new replacement, despite a county planning commission request to delay until a new framework is ready.
The Westtown Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on proposed amendments to chapters 170 (zoning) and 146 (subdivision) to eliminate the township's flexible development framework. The Chester County Planning Commission had urged caution, recommending the township not remove the option until an alternative is in place.
Township staff summarized the extensive changes proposed, which would delete flexible development terms and related modifications across zoning and subdivision sections. A county planner and several residents urged the board to postpone rescission until a replacement is drafted so the township would not lose a valuable planning tool.
Board members who supported rescission argued the existing flexible-development ordinance has not produced desired outcomes and could be exploited by unsuitable proposals. One supervisor said the ordinance "didn't work" and that rescission would prevent future applications from arriving under the old rules while the township drafted a new approach.
The board voted to rescind the flexible development provisions for the two ordinance packages presented. Board members acknowledged the planning commission's concerns and discussed possible grant opportunities for drafting a replacement ordinance, but they concluded the current provisions must come out of the code while a new framework is developed.
The rescission takes effect immediately; staff said the planning commission will work on a replacement and that drafting a new ordinance may take time. The board did not adopt a specific replacement at the meeting.
