Q&A with Honey Brook Township for Progress section, continued from last issue.
What were the highlights of 2014? It was Honey Brook Township’s 225th Anniversary year, and celebrations were held throughout the year. The Township website was re-launched in its new format in January, 2014. Significant Ordinances (mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection) were passed regarding Stormwater Management and Recycling.
Were there any expansions, developments, road work or projects? A Born Learning Trail, with activities aimed at preschoolers and their caregivers, was installed at the James A. Umble Memorial Park with funding from the United Way.
Thanks to the hard work of many residents, a pilot program of the Chester County Food Bank became a permanent Honey Brook Food Pantry in 2014. It is housed in a Township business with refrigeration capacity and serves the needy in the Honey Brook and surrounding areas in the Twin Valley School District attendance area.
Looking at 2015, are there any projects or developments planned? Work is continuing with the Honey Brook Township and Borough Planning Commissions updating the joint Comprehensive Plan (due out in 2016). The Township newsletter (accessible on our website) details the subdivision and land development projects in progress.
How has the township progressed over the past 5 to 10 years? Since 2006, more than 2,750 acres of farmland has been preserved thanks to the work of the Township’s Land Preservation Committee, Brandywine Conservancy, and the Chester County Ag Land Preservation department. A referendum in 2006 created a 0.5% Earned Income Tax to help fund these preservation efforts.
In 2008, the township facilities were expanded to create a separate Administration building across the street from the Roads department facilities. The Roads department facilities were expanded to provide garage housing for all municipal vehicles. Suplee Road, on which Township facilities are housed, was turned back to the Township from the Commonwealth in 2010.
The Park & Recreation Committee was revived in 2012. Its hard work yielded children’s summer programs and the installation of a raised garden bed to grow produce for local food banks. It was the first such garden to be installed at a municipal facility in Chester County.
