The Chester County Fire Chiefs Association, Chester County Emergency Medical Services Council, Inc., and the Chester County Fire Police Association, in partnership with the Chester County Department of Emergency Services have contracted with Municipal Resources Inc. (MRI) https://www.mrigov.com/ to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the County's Fire and Emergency Medical Services delivery system and operations and make recommendations for potential improvements for the future. As part of that process, stakeholder input is very important.
MRI is recognized as a leader in assisting stakeholders at all levels of government, and all types of fire and EMS organizations by conducting studies and analyses designed to assist them with achieving organizational improvement, and advocating and advancing cooperation, coordination, and collaboration between local government and other community organizations such as fire and EMS agencies. They have conducted more than 150 studies including two here in Chester County and one in Montgomery County. Below is a link to a survey that we are asking residents and business owners of Chester County to complete as part of this evaluation. This survey is anonymous with only your responses, not any type of identifying feature, visible to the study team. Your feedback and input is important to us and will be carefully considered by the study team as we prepare our report and formulate our recommendations. I ask that you please take some time to complete the survey in its entirety. The more responses we receive, the more valid the information that we obtain from it will be. https://app.surveymethods.com/EndUser.aspx?C3E78B93CB879298C3 This survey will be live on line until Tuesday March 31, 2020. A charter bus will pick you up from the Caln Township Municipal Building and drop you off at Caesar's Hotel and Casino for a day on your own to gamble, shop, or enjoy the beach and boardwalk. AGES 21 AND OVER ONLY.
Bus will leave Thorndale at 9:00AM and return at approximately 7:00PM (we’ll depart from AC at 5:00PM). FEE: $38.00/Person (includes transportation, $15 slot play, snack and tip for driver) Everyone must have or sign up for a total rewards card to claim their $15 credit. In order to obtain a card you must have a valid photo id on your person and a valid email address. Tickets may be purchased online at https://calntownship.ticketleap.com/acmarch2020/ or you can contact Abbey at [email protected] or 610-384-0600 x148 to schedule a time to purchase in person at the Caln Township building. (Note: no tickets will be held without payment and tickets are non-refundable). Caln Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania is seeking professional consultants to submit requests for proposals for a Caln Township Zoning Ordinance Review and Update. Proposals are due March 13, 2020 4:30 p.m. Any questions can be directed to Township Manager, Kristen Denne at 610-384-0600*114 or via email at [email protected], Email is preferred.
Caln Township is currently accepting proposals from qualified firms with expertise in zoning for leading a process resulting in review, audit and recommendations for improvement in the Caln Township’s zoning ordinance. This project was funded in part by a grant from the Chester County Planning Commission and the process will be monitored and proceed under the guidelines provided in the grant. The Chester County Planning Commission (CCPC) will provide professional planning and support staff to assist the Township in the update of the Caln Township Zoning Ordinance. The existing ordinance will be used as a base for this full update. Prior to the start of the process, the Township will create a Task Force, comprised of members of the Township Planning Commission and representatives of the Township Board of Commissioners and other municipal boards, commissions, or groups as deemed appropriate by the Township. The ordinance update will support and be consistent with the Township’s adopted planning policies, including the Comprehensive Plan, address concerns with the current Zoning Ordinance, and respond to input provided by the Task Force and at public meetings. An updated and revised zoning map will be provided. The Ordinance will comply with the applicable provisions and content requirements for a Zoning Ordinance as prescribed by Article VI of the MPC. The organization of the ordinance will be an early discussion between the Township, Task Force, and CCPC. CCPC will make recommendations regarding significant reorganization of the ordinance to create a more user-friendly product. Significant content from the existing ordinance will be incorporated into the updated ordinance, with that content reviewed and revised during the process. Proposals received via the competitive bidding process will be reviewed by the Board of Commissioners and Staff. This solicitation is a Request for Proposals (RFP). Proposals will be reviewed by the Board of Commissioners and staff that will evaluate each proposal according to relevant selection criteria. Interviews may be requested with one or more firms responding to the RFP. Award of this contract, if any, will be to the firm deemed best qualified, in accordance with the selection criteria, to perform the services outlined in this RFP and other services as deemed necessary by the Township. Pricing, while an important factor; will be only one criterion used to evaluate the responses to the RFP. Proposals will be opened at the date and time specified and each firm responding will be recorded as a respondent. Proposal content, including pricing, will be kept confidential until award of the contract. The Township may reject any proposal not in compliance with all prescribed public bidding procedures and requirements and may reject any or all proposals. The Township reserves the right to waive any requirement or condition of the RFP upon finding that it is in the public’s best interest to do so. Current Zoning Ordinance The state of the current Zoning Ordinance is not unusual for municipalities of this size:
With assistance from Township Staff the selected consultant will conduct a public process to develop an updated Zoning Ordinance for Caln Township. It is anticipated that the consultant will work with the Board of Commissioners to make updates that take into consideration the Township’s built out suburban nature and the need for updated design standards for its business district. Unique features of the community such as traffic patterns, pedestrian and recreational amenities and design standards shall be taken into consideration when crafting a proposal. The final work program will be developed in conjunction with the Board of Commissioners, Zoning Ordinance Task Force and staff, but the scope of work should include the following:
Signs Sign definitions will be revised and expanded as needed. Issues regarding non-conforming signs, temporary signs, and sign permits will be addressed. Ordinance provisions will be based on recent case law, including those addressing sign content. Zoning Hearing Board, Nonconforming Uses, Amendments, and Administration These articles will be reviewed and updated as needed for consistency with current MPC provisions. The articles will also be reviewed for completeness of regulations as well as clarity of application to ensure they reflect the actual administrative procedures. There should be consideration given to consolidating these articles at the end of the updated ordinance. General Regulations This article typically includes regulations that apply to most uses (such as landscaping, parking, lighting, etc.) and will be reviewed in its entirety and updated as needed. New provisions will be suggested for consideration as appropriate. Planning Residential Development This article will be updated as necessary to reflect current recommended standards. Consideration should be given to moving this article adjacent to the residential district articles. Environmental Resource Protection This article will be updated to reflect current recommended standards for wetlands, hydric soils, steep slopes, riparian buffers, and woodland/tree protection standards. Cluster Residential Development Option This article will be updated as necessary to reflect current recommended standards. Consideration should be given to moving this article adjacent to the residential district articles. Mobile Homes This article will be updated as necessary to reflect current recommended standards, and consideration will be given to moving relevant standards into the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. Historic Resources Preservation General Provisions This article will be updated as necessary to reflect current recommended standards for preservation of historic resources. Scenic Open Space Residential Cluster Option This article will be updated as necessary to reflect current recommended standards. Consideration should be given to moving this article adjacent to the residential district articles. Wireless Communication Facilities The provisions regarding wireless communication facilities will be updated as necessary to reflect current recommended standards. Consideration should be given to moving the provisions within this article to a newly created Supplemental Use Regulations article. Supplemental Use Regulations Consideration should be given to developing a specific Supplemental Use Regulations article, which could consolidate provisions for uses that require the application of specific standards (e.g., wireless facilities, alternative energy sources, residential conversions, senior housing/continuing care, etc.). Any existing supplemental use standards will be reviewed and updated to reflect current planning practices. Uses currently not addressed in the ordinance may be added. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS Proposals should contain the following information:
*RFP received after 4:30 PM on Friday, March 13th, 2020 will not be given consideration by the Board of Commissioners. Selection of a consultant will be made by the Board of Commissioners at a regularly scheduled Board Meeting in consultation with the Chester County Planning Commission. Sewer main installation will continue next week along G.O. Carlson Blvd., weather permitting. For everyone's safety, we'll be closing G.O. Carlson Blvd. between North Bailey Rd. and Municipal Dr. from 7AM to 5PM for the duration of the work. Signs will detour drivers to Lincoln Highway. Thank you for your patience!
The Beaver Creek Trail is envisioned as an approximately three mile long community multi-use trail that will help to reduce automobile dependence for Caln Township residents, improve pedestrian and bicycle access to the existing parks and trails, better facilitate pedestrian and bicycle travel between Thorndale and Downingtown, and expand off-road recreational opportunities for people in the community. The goal of this study is to examine alternative trail routes that would connect the Caln Township municipal building to Lloyd Park and to recommend the preferred conceptual alignment. The study was presented to the Caln Township Board of Commissioners at their January 30, 2020 meeting. You can read the full draft study here. UPDATE: Due to the rain on Tuesday, this project will extend into Wednesday, February 5th.
North Bailey Road will be closed during daytime hours on Monday, February 3rd and possibly on Tuesday, February 4th from Ingleside Dr. to G.O. Carlson Blvd. for the installation of a sewer main. Drivers should follow detour signs to Ingleside Dr. NOTE: April 4 event has been CANCELLEDFor more information about Chester County's Household Hazardous Waste Events, including a list of accepted materials visit https://www.chestercountyswa.org/117/Household-Hazardous-Waste
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL GUIDELINES
A message from the Chief of Police regarding the recent pipe bomb incidents. During the past several days, our residents, particularly in the southwestern section of the township (often referred to as Megargee Heights), have endured reports of pipe bombs in their neighborhoods. It’s important for me to take this opportunity to ensure the community that we are doing everything in our power, in concert with our partnering law enforcement agencies, to identify the person(s) responsible and to restore a sense of normalcy to the lives of our families and businesses. We’ve received numerous calls from concerned citizens, many wondering if it’s safe to go outside. While the nonstop investigative work that occurs behind the scenes is not always readily apparent, residents can expect to see a significant increased police presence in an effort to alleviate some of their concerns and anxiety, and as a proactive measure to deter any further acts of this nature. This investigation is our number one priority. Police departments strike a fine balance between providing specific details of a case, while at the same time trying to protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation. Regardless, we have the responsibility to make the public aware of situations that threaten their safety, and not withhold information that could potentially place them at an even greater risk and/or add to their fears. At this point in the investigation we have no information to indicate that these acts are targeted at a specific individual or group of individuals. Nonetheless, our investigators will follow all leads to determine motive and to bring those responsible to justice. Additionally, while we have been describing these devices as “pipe” bombs, they were not actually constructed of metal or plastic pipe. Nonetheless, their appearance is similar and the devices that we recovered were capable of causing serious injury or death, and property damage. In the meantime, please go about your daily routines with an added sense of vigilance for anything that seems unusual or suspicious. Trust your senses and call 911 even if the information seems trivial to you. Serious crimes are often solved based on tips from the public that allow police to connect the dots. I’ve spoken to several individuals this week who have heard the term “pipe bomb” but have never seen one, or even a photo of one. While not all pipe bombs appear exactly alike, please share the photos of the devices we recovered with your friends, neighbors, and children, so that one of these devices aren’t picked up or handled by anyone other than law enforcement or a trained bomb technician. The device that was discovered at Olive Street and 14th Avenue had a partial fuse that could have been lit by someone (particularly a child), and exploded, tragically resulting in death or serious injury. The actor(s) responsible for depositing the device at that location had lit the fuse but it extinguished before the device detonated. We continue to stress the “See Something, Say Something” approach. Our department is operating on high alert, so please call 911 if you detect something suspicious or encounter a similar device. Please don’t attempt to handle it. You will be placing yourself and others at risk. Sincerely, Joseph G. Elias Chief of Police ***UPDATE - January 22, 2020*** On January 22, 2020 a caller reported an explosion in the area of the railroad underpass, at S. Caln Road and Olive Street, which occurred on Monday, January 20, 2020, around 3:00PM, approximately 24 hours before a postal carrier located an undetonated pipe bomb at 14th Avenue and Olive Street. The caller reported it to police after reading news reports of the pipe bomb that was discovered on Tuesday, January 21, 2020. Responding officers located a device near the railroad underpass that appears to have been detonated. No property damage in the area of the device was discernible. Both devices appear to be “homemade” and similar in size and construction. The locations are approximately ½ mile apart. Today, officers were again on location and have expanded their search of the area. Police strongly encourage residents “who see something, to say something”, and to immediately call 911 if they observe a suspicious device. Please do not attempt to handle the device and maintain an extra safe distance. Only trained bomb technicians should render an explosive device safe. Investigators have not identified a motive or suspects, and are asking anyone with information to contact the Caln Township Police Department at 610-383-1821. Photo of device located by officers on January 22, 2020: January 21, 2020
The Caln Township Police Department is investigating the discovery of a pipe bomb at 2:40PM today near the southwest corner of the intersection of 14th Avenue and Olive Street in the west end of the township. A postal carrier observed the device and contacted police. Officers, with the assistance of fire police, established a containment zone pending arrival of the Montgomery County Bomb Squad. An off-duty FBI bomb technician also assisted at the scene. The Bomb Squad took possession of the device, which appeared to be "homemade". The Criminal Investigation Division of the Caln Township Police Department is investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call 610-383-1821. |
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