Stormwater Drainage Fees For Residents Explored In Tredyffrin

TREDYFFRIN, PA —About two dozen residents attended a special meeting Monday night in which a West Chester-based engineering firm proposed that Tredyffrin Township implement a stormwater fee for residents as soon as possible.

The township hired Jacobs Engineering in August for nearly $400,000 to develop a proposal to implement a stormwater management fee.

The proposal concluded that the township faces a $22 million pricetag to fund recommended improvements to the township stormwater issues.

The fee would be based on the amount of impervious land, which is land where flooding occurs, for each resident.

The engineers worked with a township advisory board on developing these funding options for the township:

• 12-year funding plan: $2.8 million a year
• Eight-year funding plan: $ 3.4 million a year
• Four-year funding plan: $4.3 million a year

Andrew Potts, an engineer, said the township advisory committee recommended the eight-year funding plan.

Under the eight-year plan, the fee would amount to $207 a year for an average house of 4,000 square feet would result in a fee of $207 per year.

Reaction

Overall, the residents praised the township for exploring the fee project.

Richard Kunin, a resident in the Glenhardie section of the township, said he was pleased that something was being done about the ongoing flooding problems.

However, some objected, noting they already pay fees to their homeowners' association for stormwater management.

Residents of Wayne Glen, a private community on Swedesford and Old Eagle School roads, said the community maintains a top stormwater program that residents pay to upkeep.

What's next?

Courtney Finneran, project manager, said the goal is to implement an ordinance to allow the township to charge a stormwater management fee.

The engineering firm will provide recommendations for the plan in September.

“The township has a lot of corrugated metal pipes from over 40 years ago,” Finneran said during a public meeting this week in the township building. “The aging infrastructure requires inspection, repair, and replacement.”

Here is a sampling of the capital improvement projects going on and planned in the township:

• Pugh Road Culvert
• Glenhardie Road Bridge
• Richards Road Bridge
• Crabby Creek infiltration project
• Bair Road stormwater project
• Stormwater management fee development
• Woodcrest/Wills/Upper West road projects
• West Circular Avenue Drainage project
• Jenkins Arboretum project
• Hickory Old State Road project
• Irish and Howellville roads project
• Valley Hills Project
• Tee Garden and Crabby Creek

Township solicitor Ellen Koopman advised the supervisors to keep in mind that the fee would be for the property owners whose land generates flood waters.