RETURN TO GVA ACTIVITIES

Great Valley Association

PO Box 328

Paoli, PA 19301

                                         Newsletter: No. 1 Volume 1

 March 31, 2000

 Dear Neighbor,

 This is the first newsletter from the Great Valley Association. We plan these letters to be a continuing series published twice per year. This is in addition to our annual meeting which is generally held in late October or early November at which time we have the pleasure of personally discussing with you issues of concern to our community.

The Great Valley Association has been in existence for the better part of the last 100 years. It is probably one of the oldest and most effective civic organizations in this area. We welcome your participation and have listed the names and addresses of our Board of Directors on the back of this newsletter for your information. We encourage you to contact our Board of Directors on matters of concern and to actively participate in the Association and the committee(s) monitoring the projects which are the subject of this newsletter.

 WEB Site Project

 Tredyffrin has a WEB page, which provides the residents of the township with information about the Township’s organization, meetings e.g., Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, Zoning Board, Library Commission, School Board meetings, etc. You can access this WEB page at this address:  www.tredyffrin.org

 The Great Valley Association is currently working on a plan to set up a link with this WEB page to provide you with the minutes of public meetings such as the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Route 202 Expansion, and the Slip Ramp Project Committee for the PA Turnpike/Route 29 Project and other important topics. Our target date for the completion of this project is April 30,2000

 Church Road Project

 Traffic on Church Road has reached a critical stage due to increased volume accompanying the development of corporate campuses in the area. The second stage development of the Vanguard property East of Cedar Hollow Road and development already planned for Route 29 in East Whiteland will undoubtedly contribute to even higher levels of traffic on Church Road as well as Swedesford, North Valley, Le Boutillier, and Yellow Springs Roads.  One consequence is the stacking of cars waiting to turn from Church to Swedesford Road and vice versa because of their inability to quickly make a left or right turn onto Swedesford during the morning and evening rush hours. This has encouraged these motorists to exit Church Road and traverse Carrie and Shadow Oak Drives to get to Swedesford Road and make the turn from there to the Greeat Valley Corporate Center.  

A number of proposals have been made to rectify this situation which include 1) a traffic signal at the corner of Church and Swedesford, 2) a three way stop sign at this location, 3) cul de sac Church Road, 4) redirect Church Road to tie into the signal at Cedar Hollow and Swedesford Roads 5) limit access to selected roads during the morning and evening rush hours. Each has its positive and negative consequences. The Great Valley Association has been working with the Township authorities and other concerned parties to work out the best possible solution which will be reviewed  with the residents of the area prior to implementation.

 Omnipoint

 Omnipoint has petitioned the Zoning Board for permission to put a cellular tower on the Vanguard school property on North Valley Road. This tower is not in compliance with the zoning ordinance for this area and the request was denied. Omnipoint made a second petition for permission to construct the tower north of the Turnpike on Yellow Springs Road near Diamond Rock Road which was also denied for the same reason. Omnipoint has taken the matter to court and arguments have been heard by Judge Smith for permission to construct  this tower. The matter will go to a hearing before Judge Smith sometime in April or May. Our township attorney is trying to get the Vanguard and Yellow Springs application combined into one suit to expedite a decision.

Route 202 Section 300 Expansion

 The Great Valley Association Board of Directors has voted to support this project provided that suitable noise abatement is provided to protect the quality of life of the residents of this area. The Association is a member of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Committee (DVRPC) Citizens Advisory Committee for the expansion of Route 202 Section 300. Section 300 starts at the intersection of Swedesford Road and Route 202 and ends at the Exton by-pass. Expansion plans call for the addition of one new lane in each direction and an added entry ramp on the south side of Route 202 and Route 29. In order to assure that appropriate sound abatement is provided, the Great Valley Association commissioned an ambient noise study for that portion of Route 202 that traverses this area. We submitted the results,which clearly support the need for sound walls on this stretch of Route 202., to the Advisory Committee in June of last year. We are pleased to advise you that sound walls will be constructed from North Valley Road to approximately the township line near the beginning of the Great Valley Corporate Center.

 We are currently lobbying for a road surface of porous asphalt to be laid over a concrete slab, if necessary, to attenuate the road noise to the maximum extent possible. The road surface is as or perhaps more important than the sound walls as a means of sound attenuation.

Brochures outlining this construction project are available at the township building.

 Proposed Slip Ramps for the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Route 29

 The Great Valley Association is also represented on the Citizens Advisory Committee for this project.  If  any of these projects are of interest to you please contact the Board member nearest to you an let him or her know of your interest.

 The Great Valley Association