At the End of the Day in East Vincent

Last evening was pleasant. The oppressive humidity was absent and the night’s temperature comfortable.

As I drove into the parking area at the Township Building, I was buoyed seeing a lack of space. Perhaps, I thought, the many efforts at getting residents to the public meeting for the Jones Motor zoning ordinance had some positive effect.

They kept coming. Vehicle after vehicle. Disgorging homeowners bent on letting their elected officials know their thoughts and opinions about a zoning revision that could change their beloved Township forever.

At 7 p.m., the meeting room was filled and overflowing. People stood in the anteroom and every seat or perch where one could sit was occupied. The doors at the back of the meeting room were opened so the standees outside could hear the speakers.

Supervisor Chairman John Funk called the monthly BOS meeting to order, whereupon he invited all to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance facing our flag. The closing words “…and justice for all” rang with a passion that energized the space, seeming to presage the public meeting to be held after the monthly Board business was temporarily suspended.

The brief agenda was satisfied at 7:30. Funk had Township solicitor Stu Cohen announced the suspension of the meeting in order to begin the Jones public comment meeting and ordered a five minute break, saying the Jones issue would start promptly at 7:40, which it did.

Funk opened that discussion by explaining how the public meeting would be conducted and gave a brief recitation of the history of the proposed ordinance.

Of note in the ensuing parade of advocates for the zoning change was the property owner representative, James Koegel, CEO of the Jones Motor Group, providing an abridged history of the property and the efforts of his company to maximize the value of its asset. He told of his shareholders' desire to stop the bleeding of the taxes paid on the non-productive property and that this ordinance was intended to make the Jones property attractive to a developer, ridding his company of their albatross.

Cohen described the legal process. Vice Chairman Mark Dunphy rolled his chair to the zoning map mounted on the wall behind the dais and melodramatically talked to TDR sending and receiving zones, attempting to place any blame for development on his predecessors. The township engineer passed on commentary and the Township’s planning consultant, Ray Ott, was asked to share his thoughts in his capacity.

He submitted an impact and comparison analysis, using substantiating data long past currency and in some instances given the economic tumult of the past few years, questionably irrelevant.

After Ott’s presentation, Funk opened the floor to the public, at about 8:50. And so began the wave of concern and distress by the residents who remained silent for almost two hours.

I cannot recall a time where I heard people speak so eloquently to that which typically would elicit catcalls and emotional outbursts. I felt a pride within myself as my neighbors talked to the great need to keep East Vincent rural, to eschew a large scale commercial development, to which the audience repeatedly pointed out the inability of the surrounding roads to handle the anticipated traffic.

As the clock ticked, people stood and spoke of their concerns. From all over the Township they came and talked. They related their concerns about their children. The safety and education of their children. How this ordinance could have a severe detrimental effect on their children. They shared their thoughts with clarity and purpose. It was a most wonderful expression of the will of the people. They were saying, with perhaps one or two dissenters, don’t pass it. Let’s look more closely at it and try to find a better solution.

Don’t change the rural nature of where I live was said time after time. Many told stories of moving to East Vincent to escape the over-development of other parts of the County. I heard them all, regular people, simple folk, asking for their Township to be kept the way it is.

At about 10:30, with no more public comment offered, the meeting was formally closed and the monthly meeting resumed. Funk then said to Dunphy, “Did you hear anything that would change your mind on the ordinance.” To which Dunphy replied, “No.” Supervisor Christine McNeil offered her impassioned position, and as one would predict, her plea to not pass the ordinance as it is now written was embraced with applause and loud cheers by the assembled residents.

Funk called for the vote: 2-1 for. The two Republicans versus the sole Democrat and 100 or so residents. The groan from the remaining voters was loud. The realization that it was a done deal hit them hard. Then the catcalls; the sotto voce comments about integrity and lying. The two-by-four to the forehead saying it doesn’t matter what you think. Our future profoundly affected by two people, ignoring out of hand all that was spoken to that pleasant summer night.

We filed out into the parking lot. Residents expecting a process of representation were sorely disappointed and bitter. Cars and trucks left until the parking area was deserted.

Funk declined comment to a news reporter claiming illness and Dunphy reiterated his assertion to the Press that he had little choice since the development area in East Vincent was chosen many years ago, as if that absolved him of any responsibility in casting his vote with Funk to determine the potential size of development on that site.

At the end of the day, tyranny prevailed and citizen desire was ignored. At the end of the day, disillusionment pounded another nail into the coffin of public distrust and disgust with elected leaders. At the end of the day it was business as usual.  And then the residents wept.