The 7 - Zoning Violations Explained.
The seven zoning violations must be waived by our elected Supervisors to proceed with the $6.5 million no-bid project.
1. §139-13.C (Yards) to permit the construction of a salt shed which will encroach approximately 49 feet into the required 75 foot front yard setback.
2. §139-94.A (Yard exception for accessory uses and buildings) to permit the construction of a salt shed which will be situated less than 50 feet from the rearmost portion of the building and will exceed 9 feet in height.
3. §139-94.A to permit the construction of a storage shed which will be situated less than 20 feet from the property line, situated less than 50 feet from the rearmost portion of the building, and will exceed 9 feet in height, where otherwise not permitted.
4. §139-94.B (Yard exception for accessory uses and buildings) to permit the construction of a salt shed and a storage shed which each will have a footprint greater than 150 square feet, which is otherwise not permitted.
5. §139-98.H(5)(Nonresidential parking requirements) to permit 8 off-street parking spaces to be provided where 11 parking spaces are required.
6. §73-54.A (Minimum planting standards) to permit fewer plantings than is required by the ordinance.
7. §139-90.B(2)(Extension) of the Willistown Township Zoning Ordinance to permit the demolition of the existing nonconforming Public Works facility and certain associated nonconforming accessory structures on a nonconforming lot and the construction of a new Public Works facility and associated accessory structures that will increase the nonconformity as to building area and impervious coverage by less than 50% and will include a new fuel station with aboveground storage tanks, a new salt shed, a small equipment storage garage, drive aisles, parking area, and a stormwater management facility.
They will vote Monday night at 7pm, Sept. 8. Surprisingly, no Zoom participation is available. “Due to technical difficulties with Township virtual meeting system, please plan to attend the meeting in person.” (from the township website)
The following is the full notice, which was published within the last month. The township is making significant efforts to advance this project. It is worth considering whether a similar level of speed would be applied in a residential context.
Notice Publish Date:
Monday, August 18, 2025
NOTICE CONTENT
NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Willistown Township Zoning Hearing Board will meet on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., prevailing time, at the offices of the Township located at 688 Sugartown Road, Malvern, Willistown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, to conduct such business as may properly come before the Board and to hold a hearing on the following: Application Z-13-25: Application of Willistown Township, which seeks a special exception pursuant to §139-90.B(2)(Extension) of the Willistown Township Zoning Ordinance to permit the demolition of the existing nonconforming Public Works facility and certain associated nonconforming accessory structures on a nonconforming lot and the construction of a new Public Works facility and associated accessory structures that will increase the nonconformity as to building area and impervious coverage by less than 50% and will include a new fuel station with aboveground storage tanks, a new salt shed, a small equipment storage garage, drive aisles, parking area, and a stormwater management facility. The Applicant also seeks variances from the following sections of the zoning ordinance: §139-13.C (Yards) to permit the construction of a salt shed which will encroach approximately 49 feet into the required 75 foot front yard setback, and a storage shed which will encroach approximately 35 feet into the required 40 foot side yard setback; §139-94.A (Yard exception for accessory uses and buildings) to permit the construction of a salt shed which will be situated less than 50 feet from the rearmost portion of the building and will exceed 9 feet in height, where otherwise not permitted, and to permit the construction of a storage shed which will be situated less than 20 feet from the property line, situated less than 50 feet from the rearmost portion of the building, and will exceed 9 feet in height, where otherwise not permitted; §139-94.B (Yard exception for accessory uses and buildings) to permit the construction of a salt shed and a storage shed which each will have a footprint greater than 150 square feet, which is otherwise not permitted, and to permit the total number of accessory structures within the required yards to exceed the permitted limit of two; §139-98.C (Location) to permit a parking space to be located less than 20 feet from a salt shed, where it otherwise not permitted; §139-98.H(5)(Nonresidential parking requirements) to permit 8 off-street parking spaces to be provided where 11 parking spaces are required; and §73-54.A (Minimum planting standards) to permit fewer plantings than is required by the ordinance; for the property located at 688 Sugartown Road, Malvern, being UPI No. 54-6-2, in the RU Rural District; and such further relief as may be necessary. A copy of the foregoing application will be available for public inspection at the Township Office during normal business hours. If you are a person who wishes to participate in the meeting and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation, please contact the Township at 610.647.5300.WILLISTOWN TOWNSHIP ZONING HEARING BOARD Donald A. Mancini, Chairman Stacey L. Fuller, Esquire, Solicitor DLN 8/12, 8/18; 1a.
How Did We Get Here: On April 14th, 2025, Supervisors Robert Lange and William Shoemaker voted to award a $6.5 million government no-bid contract to the Australian contractor BlueScope Construction. The contract is for the construction of a new Public Works Building for the 9 employees of the roads crew.
NOT TOO LATE - By law, every construction contract CAN BE TERMINATED.
Request for Action: I urge you to write to Lange and Shoemaker and request that they TERMINATE THE CONTRACT and Get Competitive Bids after Community Review.
Sample Email:
Dear (William Shoemaker or Robert Lange),
I believe this $6.5M No-Bid government contract should be terminated and we should get community review by our Planning Commission, Historical Commission and Sustainabilty Committee. By law - every construction contract CAN BE TERMINATED.
Please terminate the contract and get competitive bids from American Companies. This is good stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
Sincerely yours,(your name)
Send emails to: SLodge@Willistown.pa.us