Welconweir Estate will now provide the setting for weddings and other events, now that they have approval from East Nantmeal Township Supervisors.
The Welconweir Estate, home of the Green Valleys Association, has received permission to provide a setting for weddings, breakfasts, luncheons and birthdays.
‘All efforts will be taken to protect the township and neighbors, said East Nantmeal Township Attorney Tom Oeste during the Feb. 12 meeting.
The attorney had drawn up 14 conditions.
‘Among the conditions are each affair will be limited to an attendance of 150 guests. The Affairs are to end no later than 11 p.m. and caterers and musicians should leave as soon as practical. Affairs are limited to Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings over a 10-week period in the spring and in the fall ending June 30 and Oct. 30 respectively. One caterer will provide for all events.’
Oeste said the conditions were approved.
‘A person would be responsible for each event with cell phone contact to Green Valley’s directors and supervisors living close to Welconweir,’ said Chairman Jim Jenkins.
Oeste said, ‘It would be accepted as a zoning violation if the group using the facilities at Welconweir does not comply with the requirements.’
‘They hosted weddings there before this understanding was made. There had been no official regulations,’ said Jenkins.
In other news, the township storm water ordinance will follow a model established by Chester County, said Oeste.
‘That is modeled after an original plan devised by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. It is based on concerns to control erosion with better practices of storm water management. Primarily the origin of the enforcement is with the federal government. If you are locating a building of less than 1,000 square feet, you do not have to comply. This has been foisted on residents from higher up.’
‘If there is less than 5,000 square feet of earth movement or a building with less than 1,000 square feet of ground cover, compliance is not required,’ said Ed Bacon, member of the Planning Commission .
‘Storm water runoff should be separated from wastewater management,’ said Oeste.
‘Personally, I object to the government telling me what I should do,’ said Chairman Bill Cochrane. ‘I do not like these orders foisted on us when we have no choice.’
In other news, Jenkins thanked all members of the Road Crew for their hard work during and after the snow storms. ‘Daryl Guest and several of his employees were hired to clean up the eastern part of the township. What a day.’
‘A resident stirred up a mess with PECO over the way they did the job,’ said Jenkins. ‘It seems each crew was assigned a road using Geographic Information System and told to fix it. There was no coordination. Some crews sat for an hour doing nothing. There were nine repair trucks along Wynne Hollow Road on Monday. Repairs were made along Wynne Hollow Road and John’s Road and then they were called to another location. There were four homes along Wynne Hollow Road who had no power when they left the area.’
Jenkins said ‘Route 401 was closed for a week. Cars and trucks got stuck on side roads during the detour. Drivers had no idea where they should go. The actions of PennDOT closing route 401 while directing traffic to township roads was disgusting.’
Resident Allison Malamo said ‘PECO should explain to people that they are responsible for electric maintenance along public roads. The resident has to pay an electrician to deal with storm related damage on their own property.’
‘Generators have an expense,’ said Jenkins. ‘They need gas and maintenance.’
In other news, ‘Easements on preserving the Mac Affee farm have been completed,’ said Jenkins. Wren agreed that ‘East Nantmeal has made an effort to preserve about a half of its open space.’
During the reorganization meeting in January, LTL Consultants was appointed to provide the zoning officer, building inspector and township engineer. Jenkins was appointed road master. Rick Stierly was appointed maintenance superintendent. Diana Cormack and Fred Wookey were appointed to a 4 year term on the Planning Commission. Dick Sheiner was appointed to a 3 year term on the Zoning Hearing Board and Bud Locilento will serve as an alternate. Anne Bedrick, Diana Cormack and Kristine Gordon Watson were appointed to a 3 year term on the Historical Commission. Lisa Hevner, Jim Moore and Diana Cormack were appointed to a 3 year term on the Environmental Action Committee. Nancy Barclay was appointed to the Vacancy Board. John Philips resigned from the EAC.
The East Nantmeal Municipal Building will be used for the polling location for the May and Nov. 4 elections.