There was a much calmer tone to the discussion of the New Hanover Town Center plans than last year's meetings at the township's Board of Supervisors meeting on Monday, February 28.

            "The Town Center did a good job with a kicking off an entirely different attitude," noted township manager Jamie Gwynn, "but it doesn't mean we trust them."

            Township solicitor John Mahoney reported that developer R. P. Wynstone's attorney Zachary A. Sivertsen had delivered a letter to him at 5 p.m. on the 28th advising him of the developer's "intention to revise the plan to address some of the concerns of the consultants."

The new preliminary plan was submitted Dec. 1, 2021, and discussed extensively at the planning commission meeting on Feb. 9, resulting in a conditional denial by the commission.

            The developer's representatives did not want to be on the Feb. 28 agenda, but Mahoney advised them to come.

            Attorney Sivertsen said that after the "five-and-a-half hours of feedback from the planning commission" on the preliminary plan, that they didn't need any more at this time.

            Board chairperson Marie Livelsberger asked for any comments from the public and from the supervisors. She stressed greater transparency in the non-public staff meetings, and manager Gwynn assured her that they would be taking a new approach.

            He said that going forward they would "do things in public first then have staff meetings."

            Gwynn presented a draft schedule for progress for the plan through April 2023.

            The supervisors accepted an extension for the plan until July 1.

            In other news, the supervisors approved a resolution to appoint Russell Oister Jr. to the zoning hearing board to fill the unexpired term of Phil Ballard, who recently resigned, through December 31, 2023.

            They also approved an addendum to the agreement of sale for the Hickory Park Restaurant on Big Road to allow the due diligence period to continue for review of an environmental impact study.

            In agricultural security news, the supervisors acknowledged the receipt of three applications for admission to the agricultural security area, including Duane and Dawn Bergey, with ten acres; John and Cynthia Pierson, with 15.33 acres; and Diane Reese, with 13.6 acres.

            In open space news, the supervisors authorized an amendment to the agreement of sale between the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania; the Natural Lands Trust of Montgomery County; Upper Frederick Township; and New Hanover for the purchase of a conservation easement. New Hanover's share is $480,733 to be paid in installments over ten years.

            Solicitor John Mahoney announced that the supervisors had met in executive session earlier in the day regarding personnel and pending litigation.