"Township limits development Exton Sq." Workers once walked to mills nearby. WWII Bombing in Europe & Japan resulted in massive civilian death. Eisenhower separated factories, homes, offices linked with interstate highways; FHA Zoning.

And the blast zone of the Mariner East Pipeline is 1.3-miles, not "50 feet."

“WEST WHITELAND — Sparks flew at Wednesday’s West Whiteland Township board of supervisors meeting when the three member board unanimously voted after a public hearing to approve an ordinance to limit the number of units per acre, and type of housing units, at the 75-acre Exton Square property.

The dilapidated and outdated mall is located in a 643-acre Town Center zoning district (TC) around the intersection of Routes 30 and 100, at what is known as the Exton Crossroads. The mall is slated for razing by a proposed builder.

Equitable owner of the mall property,  Peter Abrams, of Abrams Realty and Development, and Exton Square LLC.,  said plans call for construction 375 apartments and 243 multi-family units, along with commercial, restaurants, retail and professional office uses.

The new township ordinance forbids the size of such development. It calls for construction of apartments only in TC districts, with life care facilities still permitted. The new ordinance agreed to by supervisors: Rajesh Kumbhardare, chair; Brian Dunn, vice chair; and Jo Ann Kelton, caps residential density at just six units per acre.

Prior to the vote, Marc Kaplin, while representing the builder, said that with the new ordinance that any use of the property would be “unviable.”

“If you put the kibosh on this plan, no other developer will come in here,” Kaplin said.

Builder Peter Abrams, of Abrams Realty and Development, and Exton Square LLC, would agree.

“This is the mall,” he said. “This is not pristine land.

“This mall is empty…”

A couple of residents talked about what they said is regular flooding in the area and already over-tapped storm water systems. Another resident discussed the “growing and growing” school system and “where are you going to put the kids?”…

Development would have to stay at least 50 feet away from the Mariner East Pipeline.”

MORE AT:

Daily Local News 

Township limits size of development after a planned demolition of Exton Square

Residents turn out in force for West Whiteland supervisors meeting

Bill Rettew

February 13, 2025 at 12:04 PM EST

***

James A. Pitcherella on
his crane at Lukens Steel Co.

Before WWII heavy industry and workers lived in close proximity. Workers would walk to work. 

My dad walked to Lukens Steel Company.

Bombing of cities in Europe & Japan resulted in massive civilian death. 

In the United States FHA mortgage loans to GI’s were created. And FHA Zoning was created. 

After the war  President Eisenhower kept factories, homes & offices separated by FHA Zoning & linked with interstate highways. Isolated suburban living and long commutes by car & heavy traffic jams began.

After hydrogen bomb warheads on ICBMs civilian death was counted in megadeaths. Full scale nuclear war will burn the entire land mass of the Northern Hemisphere of earth. When all animals plants and humans burn zoning does nothing to prevent death. 

If you're from Chester County PA you might know some people mentioned in this book:

 SEE:

Last Harvest: How a Cornfield Became New Daleville.

By Witold Rybczyński

Traces the creation of a Pennsylvania residential subdivision from its planning stage to the residence of its first owners, in an account that offers insight into the long process of development and how it is related to sprawl and ex-urban growth.

The hydrogen bomb made FHA Zoning obsolete. But it still hangs around. Growing look-a-like homes on former cornfields & creating long commutes to work. 

We get around Cold War zoning with zoning overlays to make walkable communities. 

And the blast zone of the Mariner East Pipeline is 1.3-miles, not "50 feet."