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Residents and Sierra Club urge commission, council to preserve Mosino tract after planning commission recommendation
Summary
Multiple residents and the Sierra Club urged Upper Darby officials to conserve the Mosino tract, calling it the township's last forested space; speakers criticized the commission’s recent vote and requested council action to preserve the land.
Numerous residents and environmental advocates used the public‑comment period to press the planning commission and township council to protect the Mosino (referred to in the transcript as Mosino/Mizino) tract from redevelopment.
Howard Sherman, co‑chair of the Sierra Club Delaware County Green Team, appealed to the commission on scientific and public‑health grounds, saying urban tree canopy helps reduce heat‑island effects, sequester carbon and protect residents during increasingly frequent heat events. Sherman said failure to preserve the tract ‘‘would be a grave mistake’’ and urged officials to consider the tract’s environmental services.
Several residents, including a speaker identified as Bonnie Hallam, described the tract as valuable open space and questioned the planning commission’s decision at a prior meeting. One resident raised a procedural concern, asserting the township solicitor had told the planning commission president that the commissioner should not vote because the commissioner had publicly expressed views; the commissioner (speaker 2) said he had been allowed to vote but raised transparency concerns and urged the commission to be mindful of process.
Commissioners acknowledged the difficulty of the issue and noted the planning commission’s recommendation letter had been submitted to council. Chair asked speakers to bring concerns to their council members as the matter moves to council. The meeting closed with an adjournment motion.
