Marple Rezones Don Guanella To Open Space In Face Of Delaware County

MARPLE TOWNSHIP, PA — Residents in and around Marple Township have secured a victory in protecting the beloved tract of land commonly known as Don Guanella.

During a special meeting Monday, the Marple Township Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt an ordinance that rezoned three parcels that make up the property to from R-B Residential, R-C Residential, and Institutional to Open Space. Ward 6 Commissioner Mike Molinaro abstained from the vote.

The rezoning goes against Delaware County's goal of possibly housing residential mental health services and administrative offices on some of the land, which was recently renamed Delco Woods. Delaware County filed an application with Marple seeking to retain its rights to use three existing structures on the land for those purposes.

>>>RELATED: Delco Clashes Over Park, Mental Health Service Plans At Don Guanella<<<

Marple's leaders also voted unanimously to deny that application. The vote was met with applause from residents in attendance. Molinaro also abstained from the vote.

"The board’s passing of an ordinance rezoning the Don Guanella property as open space, and the subsequent denial of the county’s application for housing, is in support of the residents of Marple township and the purpose of the declaration of taking by the county," Marple Township Board of Commissioners President Joe Rufo said in an email to Patch.

"As expressed by the County's legal counsel at last night's meeting, there are any number of legal issues raised by the Ordinance enacted by Marple Township," the county said in a statement to Patch. "The County is currently considering appropriate options to protect its rights as the owner of the property."

Monday's meeting was marked with outburst from passionate residents in attendance, who seemed to all oppose the county's plan. That plan has left some residents have feeling betrayed after the years of work to preserve the land.

>>>RELATED: No Immigrant Housing Coming To Don Guanella Site: Delco Officials<<<
If you have information on the rumored housing of illegal immigrants in Delaware County, email Max.Bennett@Patch.com.

Rufo thanked residents for attending the meeting and backing the effort to preserve the land.