The Goshen Road Walking Trail Extension is Important For All Newtown Residents

Even though I have written about the value of televising public meetings previously, Monday night’s Board of Supervisors meeting was a great example of governance that I would not have believed if I weren't in attendance.

It is almost impossible to describe the conduct of township officials at the meeting as well as the many concerns of those residents in attendance. To begin, the agenda for last night’s meeting was posted on the township’s website. But, the agenda provided at the meeting had been changed with no explanation as to why items that had been on the agenda were dropped off it.

In Newtown Township, residents who take the time to attend thinking an item of importance to them will be discussed find that it is mysteriously absent on the agenda provided at the meeting. And, as always seems to be the case, items that should have been noted get added at the meeting either as the agenda is first accepted or, more frequently, in the process of the meeting. Additionally, items that are on the agenda one month that you think will be on the next month's agenda are not even mentioned.

In the course of the meeting, as well as from public comment, here is, in my view, a particularly noteworthy item from the Board of Supervisors meeting. I wish all residents could have watched township officials and residents discuss this issue. At last month’s BOS meeting, . 

At that meeting, the developer and Homeowners Association offered $70,000 to the township to be allowed now, years later, to eliminate that part of the walking trail. It would seem that if not for the concerns of residents like John Custer and John Battista, the township would have accepted this offer. 

This trail, which would extend the heavily used Goshen Road walking trail, needs to connect through a small portion of the SAP property. With that connection and the Springhouse trail, residents would be able to enjoy the beauty and health benefits of a longer walking trail.

At last month’s meeting, the township discussed meeting with SAP as well as getting additional information from the Springhouse homeowners. Seems no other residents of the township were considered of importance even though the trail would benefit all.  

Seems the approved plan for the Springhouse development was never completed and rather than require completion, it could now be changed and the trail would be gone. We learned on Monday night that even though John Custer and John Battista requested to be part of a meeting with SAP, the meeting with SAP took place without them. 

The township manager who met with SAP reported at Monday night’s meeting that SAP did not want to grant use of a small portion of the property for the walking trail because of security concerns. This struck me as an odd excuse by SAP. I would have thought that they would welcome the opportunity to provide this access which would also benefit their employees.

Other townships, specifically Radnor, have managed to create walking trails that are of great benefit to the community. Last night, one resident came to the public meeting saying that no one in Springhouse wants the trail. Thankfully, the Board of Supervisors agreed to include Mr. Custer and Mr. Battista in another meeting with SAP. 

Hopefully, they will be able to convince SAP that allowing the walking trail extension is good for all. Then, hopefully, the township will hold the Springhouse developer accountable to extend their portion of the trail. How great to imagine that you could walk from the Goshen Road trail starting at the Square Tavern all the way to Boot Road. How great to imagine that this township could actually be committed to a comprehensive plan of walking trails that would benefit all.

In this discussion, township officials did not seem to view this issue as important for all Newtown residents. It was as if it only mattered to the homeowners in the Springhouse development. When the Springhouse development was approved years ago, it included the trail.  

Homeowners who purchased in the development knew it was to be built.  As was the case with the but not on the agenda in months, it seems to me that township officials don’t view this as an issue for all residents. 

They seemed to be willing to make a decision to eliminate the trail based on the request of the developer and a few residents. I hope this serves to remind our elected officials that they represent the entire township. If you have any questions about the walking trail, email John Custer at jscuster@verizon.net.