West Whiteland task force weighs $3.4M Miller Park stream restoration to meet DEP pollutant reduction mandate

The West Whiteland Township Stormwater Task Force on Jan. 21 discussed how to comply with a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Pollutant Reduction Plan that requires a 10% sediment reduction by June 30, 2027. Consultant Nick Szeredai told the group the Township already received credit for Keva Flats stream restoration (51,612 lbs.) and still needs roughly 106 lbs. of credit to meet the target.

Szeredai said Miller Park stream restoration would generate about 133 lbs. of credit but requires cooperation from at least two private property owners—Chadwell, Produce Junction and Kohl’s are the private parcels identified for possible inclusion. "If we can get two of the private properties to cooperate, we meet the credit requirement," Szeredai said. He added that if private cooperation is not secured the Township could still pursue stream restoration on Township-owned land at Miller Park and Exton Park to obtain the remaining credits.

The consultant estimated the Miller Park project at $3.4 million and said Township staff will pursue grants to cover costs. "It is not likely the project will be completed by June 30, 2027," Szeredai warned, pointing to the time needed for design, land agreements and funding. He also explained DEP appears to be pivoting toward greater emphasis on volume management—storing water and releasing it slowly—which will increase land needs and could require land acquisition or underground storage solutions.

Task force members and staff discussed why runoff has worsened despite strict modern ordinances. Member Mike Dowger suggested new development is driving problems; Szeredai and staff responded that much of the added runoff originates in older subdivisions built before stormwater controls or from basins that have fallen into disrepair. Staff noted there are more than 200 stormwater basins in the Township, some of which are unmaintained, and that recent extreme storms exceed the design assumptions for older infrastructure.

HOA cooperation emerged as a central challenge. Szeredai described the Swedesford Chase HOA’s resistance to basin retrofits—board members preferred the "clear lines" of a dry basin and worried about additional maintenance costs. Williams said staff will continue outreach with single-sheet reminders, face-to-face meetings and open houses, and will maintain a spreadsheet tracking contacts, last touch points and willingness to cooperate. Supervisor liaison Libby Madarasz offered photos and video of stormwater impacts in Meadowbrook Manor to help illustrate downstream effects during outreach.

Staff also noted alternatives under consideration: partnering with cooperative developers (the consultant mentioned Hankin as an example), pursuing basin retrofits where HOAs agree, constructing Township-owned restoration projects, or implementing broader funding mechanisms such as a stormwater fee. No new ordinance or fee was proposed at the meeting; members discussed incentives and outreach as near-term options.

Procedural items: the task force unanimously approved the Dec. 17, 2025 minutes (mover/second not specified) and appointed Jason Bailey as chair (mover: Gabe Pankratz; second: Mike Dowger) and Gabe Pankratz as vice chair (mover: Scott Jeffers; second: Mike Dowger). The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:02 p.m.

The next steps identified were continued HOA outreach, pursuit of grant funding for Miller Park (if feasible), and tracking inspections and remediation where property owners have already taken action on their own.