Birmingham Township

The committee organized for the year by electing a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. Key discussions included the proposal for the Brandywine Battlefield Park Road Rally event, covering logistics such as parking, vehicle volume, volunteer coordination, and site usage at Birmingham Hill and Sandy Hollow. The committee voted to recommend the event to the Board of Supervisors pending further details. Other topics included the removal of a fallen tree near Meetinghouse Road, monitoring of potentially hazardous trees on the Spackman property, and an interview with a prospective committee member who was subsequently recommended for appointment.

The committee meeting primarily addressed operational matters for parks and recreation areas. Key discussions included the proposed fence replacement at Birmingham Hill, noting requirements for a grant proposal such as a color-coded map, a Board of Supervisors resolution, and a commitment letter for matching funds. The committee also reviewed conditions at Sandy Hollow, specifically regarding snow removal procedures for trails and parking areas, and the need for tree trimming services due to overhanging walnut branches near the Spackman property. One committee member's term ending was also noted.

The meeting included a review of outstanding bills and discussion regarding the Birmingham Hill project. Key agenda items involved a grant application for the Greenways, Trail and Recreation Program (GTRP), for which a 15% township match is pending bid review. Plans were also made for the Recreation, Parks and Open Space committee to prepare bid specifications for future township approval. Additionally, the committee addressed maintenance at Sandy Hollow, specifically the removal of trees and branches by a service provider.

Key discussions during the meeting included the approval of bills for payment totaling $140,847.42 from the General Fund. The Supervisors unanimously approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for a property renovation request concerning the removal of stucco and replacement with Hardie siding and trim, as recommended by the HARB. A request from the Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates for a road rally race at Sandy Hollow Heritage Park in May 2026 was presented; the Supervisors requested additional information, including a recommendation from RPOS, maps, parking plans, farmer approval, and an indemnification agreement before making a decision. Additionally, the Supervisors unanimously adopted Ordinance 2026-01 to amend the police pension plan administered by PMRS, setting the contribution requirement to zero percent of compensation.

The primary discussion centered on clarifying the process for ensuring compliance with the Historic Preservation Ordinance involving the Township Supervisor, Solicitor, and Compliance Officer. Key topics included improving how homeowners are identified as historic resources (HR) or properties adjacent to HRs, especially regarding permit applications. Suggestions involved updating permit forms with checkboxes to identify if a property is on the inventory list or adjacent to an HR, and creating a map view of historic resources, potentially involving the West Chester University GIS department. Further discussion addressed the applicability of the 200-foot adjacency requirement (which only applies to subdivision and land development permits) and ensuring proper notification is sent to new property owners regarding ordinance requirements. A motion was passed to cancel the subsequent meeting scheduled for December 23, 2025.