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Residents urge accountability on stormwater, watershed and noise rules as development plans proceed
Summary
Multiple residents raised stormwater failures and watershed risks tied to local development, and urged updates to noise rules for large facilities; a Chestnut Ridge HOA president delivered a transition study citing 42 deficiencies and asked the township to withhold bond releases until corrections are made.
Several residents used the public‑comment period at the July 8 Honey Brook Township supervisors meeting to press the board to enforce master‑plan commitments, update ordinances and protect water and neighborhood character.
Adam Sawyer, president of the Chestnut Ridge HOA, said a transition study the HOA commissioned found 42 deficiencies in the community’s construction relative to the approved master plan, including problems in all 13 stormwater basins and sections of walking trail that were not built as planned. “42 total deficiencies,” Sawyer told the board, and he asked the township engineer to hold the developer accountable and recommended the board withhold performance‑bond releases until the study’s issues are addressed.
A resident from Grandview Circle warned that a proposed development near a Lutheran Church drains a large watershed that feeds local wells; he asked whether geotechnical drilling or additional protections will precede any intensive construction. "The land and back of the church is basically, a large watershed," he said, and urged caution to protect recharge areas and nearby wells.
Russell Janney presented model noise‑ordinance language and urged the board to strengthen sound measurement and district rules ahead of any conditional‑use or data‑center hearings. “Our ordinance is very substandard, and it's not gonna work with something as large as a data center,” Janney said, and provided a packet of sample provisions for the board to consider.
Board and staff responses: Supervisors asked for copies of the HOA transition study and said they would share it with the township engineer and Chester County Conservation District. Staff advised residents with property‑specific questions to consult township offices where zoning and permit specifics can be reviewed; planning staff also said noise‑standard revisions are being considered alongside the draft data center ordinance.
Next steps: Staff will accept the materials offered by the HOA and the noise‑ordinance packet for review; the board indicated it will ask the planning staff and solicitor to incorporate appropriate noise standards into the proposed data center ordinance revisions and to review the transition study and developer obligations.
