Chesco Voters Save Farm From Developers

CHESTER COUNTY, PA - Westtown Township reidents voted in favor of a referendum for the township to purchase the 208 acres of the Crebilly Farm for $20.8 million, resulting in tax increases.

A total of 67.5 percent, or 4,001 residents voted in favor of the referendum, and a total of 32.5 percent, or 1,926 residents voted against the referendum, according to the Chester County election results available Thursday.

The referendum asked if voters would support tax increases of .08 percent in earned income taxes and real estate taxes at a rate not to exceed .42 per $1,000 of assessed property to acquire the property for open space.

In April, the township voted to purchase the farm for a park, preventing the land from being sold to a developer.

Land owners, the Robinson family, co-founders of Acme Markets, signed an agreement to sell the land to the township.

A second agreement for Natural Lands, a non profit conservation organization, to purchase easements for 102 acres is pending.

The funds generated from the increase will secure bonds to pay for the acquisition and maintenance of Crebilly Farm, one of the largest remaining unprotected properties in the township and county.

“To say we are thrilled is something of an understatement,” Oliver Bass, president of Natural Lands, a nonprofit trust, said in a prepared statement.

“For years, grassroots groups have been vocal about the importance of preserving this beautiful and ecologically important property. With Tuesday’s vote, the residents of Westtown—on both sides of the political aisle—have made their voices heard with a resounding “yes” for conservation.”

Natural Lands has submitted grant requests for approximately $16,000,000—about 75 percent of the cost of the acquisition.

Jack Stefferud, senior director of land protection for Natural Lands, said the project if the referendum was not approved the project would have failed, and Crebilly Farm likely would have been sold to developers.

History

Crebilly Farm, located off Routes 202 and 926, has a history dating back to the American Revolution.

On Sept. 11, 1777, the largest battle of the American Revolution occurred on the site, according to an historical account provided by the Westtown Township Historical Commission.

American General Adam Stephen spotted Hessian troops marching across the farm from his lookout atop Sandy Hollow, where the main battle would take place.

Stephen dispatched a party of soldiers to the farm to frustrate the Hessians’ advance towards the American position.

At this site, the Continental Army learned courage to stand up to the best British Troops.