Create an Account Sign In Search How Do I... Government Services Residents HomeResidentse-NewsletterFall 2020 Edition Fall 2020 Edition MS4 PRP Online for Public Comment Uwchlan Township's Pollutant Reduction Plan (PRP) is available for public review and comment through Wednesday, October 14, 2020. Halloween COVID-19 Guidance Uwchlan Township does not regulate Halloween. For residents who choose to participate in Trick-or-Treating, the Township asks that residents limit Trick-or-Treating to between 6PM and 8PM on October 31, and that they follow all CDC guidelines for COVID-19. Click Here for the CDC COVID-19 guidance for Halloween. Norwood Road Closure Culvert repair work on Norwood road, near Williamsburg Way will have Norwood Road closed between Santillo Way and Garris Road for several weeks. Detour information can be found by Clicking Here. Comprehensive Plan Update Nearing the Finish Line After over a year of hard work from the Comprehensive Plan Committee, the final draft of the 2020 update to the Uwchlan Township's Comprehensive Plan is now online. Click Here to view the draft document and Click Here to view the draft Official Map. Upcoming Comprehensive Plan Meetings Planning Commission Presentation: Wednesday November 4th at 7:30PM Board of Supervisors Hearing (Special Date) Wednesday November 11th at 7PM Update Process Uwchlan Township last underwent the Comprehensive Plan update process roughly 10 years ago, with the most recent update being adopted in 2010. Every 10 years the Township reevaluates the Comprehensive Plan and determines what updates are needed to meet the needs of the changing environment and the Uwchlan Township community. This process brings together various stakeholders from our community volunteer boards, residents and property/business owners to create a vision for Uwchlan Township and how we can continue to prosper as a community for the next 10 years. While not a binding document, the adopted plan acts as a guide for future land development and zoning ordinances, infrastructure improvements and policy changes. Uwchlan Township Update Township offices remain closed to the public, the front desk is available via phone from 9-3 Monday through Friday at 610-363-9450. We continue to recommend the use of email when contacting Township staff. All Board, Commission, Committee and Council meetings are being held virtually via the Zoom platform, with login information posted to the Township Website. Township parks are open, however pavilions, playground areas and bathroom facilities remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Trash and Recycling pickup will continue on a normal schedule (with potential delays due to COVID-19), however the following requirements are now in place for trash/recycling pickup: All trash must be bagged and tied. Loose items will be not be collected. All recyclable materials must be placed inside your recycling container, including your flattened cardboard. Recyclable items left outside of your recycling container will not be collected. Click the graphic above to visit the Chester County Voter Information Portal Polling Locations All Chester County polling locations will be open from 7:00am - 8:00pm on November 3, 2020. Main-In Voting If voting by mail, make sure you place your ballot in the secrecy envelope and then put the secrecy envelope into the official envelope. Be sure to sign the declaration, or your ballot may not count Important 2020 General Election Dates/Deadlines October 19th - Last day to register to vote for the 2020 General Election. Check your registration here. You can find more information and register online here. October 27th - Last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot. Check the status of your mail-in or absentee ballot here. November 3rd – Election Day (polls open 7am - 8pm) November 6th - Last day for County Boards of Elections to receive mail-in and civilian absentee ballots. As decided by the PA Supreme Court on September 17th, 2020. November 10th - Last day for County Boards of Elections to receive military and overseas ballots postmarked before November 3rd. For more information on Pennsylvania's General Election visit Votes PA by Clicking Here. Rep. Houlahan Telephone Town Hall Series, “Voting Safely in 2020” Wednesday, 9/30 at 3:30pm Tuesday, 10/6 at 3:30pm Wednesday, 10/14 at 3:15pm Thursday, 10/22 at 4:00pm Monday 10/26 at 5:00pm To join any of these town halls, please dial 855-731-4616. Mail-In Ballots It was a Good Summer for the Heart of Uwchlan Project Milkweed Garden Visitors to the grounds of the Uwchlan Township building were treated to a successful milkweed garden with blossoming milkweed plants, monarch butterfly caterpillars, and lots of butterflies. Thanks are due to volunteers who planted the milkweed plants and kept them watered during the hottest, driest days of the summer. Now that autumn is upon us, plans are being made to renew the garden in the spring. We are planning to repeat the workshop we gave last fall on how to best sow milkweed seeds, so that you the public can have your own milkweed gardens. Covid restrictions are a challenge, but we are looking for a remote media-based way to do the workshop, so keep checking the Environmental Advisory Council page on the Township’s website for details. Meanwhile, the handout from last fall’s milkweed seed planting workshop and a Milkweed Garden Handout with plant list are available on the Township’s website. Streamside Garden/Riparian Buffer Another garden was planted along the stream below the lowest pond in the park. This garden, planted with a variety of native plants that tolerate the wetness of the streamside and attract pollinators, is part of a “Riparian Buffer” to protect the banks of the stream from erosion. This garden was started last fall with “lasagna gardening,” a process of layering cardboard, leaves, and mulch to kill the wee ds and prepare the soil. “Live stakings” of cuttings from dormant shrubs were also put along the streamside to help establish the riparian buffer. This demonstrates how a buffer of vegetation can stabilize stream banks, manage floodwaters, and mitigate erosion, and is a good example for any homeowner who has a stream or pond on their land. The Heart of Uwchlan Project volunteers plan to expand the garden along more of the stream bank and place more live stakings during the cold months. The garden attracted lots butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects, and added to the biodiversity of the park. Lists of recommended native plants – shrubs and perennials -- are also available for gardeners interested in expanding the pollinator allure of their gardens. Check the Environmental Advisory Council’s page on the Township website. What is the Heart of Uwchlan Project? The Heart of Uwchlan project emerged out of the Uwchlan Township Environmental Advisory Council’s #SustainableUwchlan goals. It reflects the growing community interest in sustainable gardening practices that include planting native plants to support our threatened pollinators and enhance the environment for birds, butterflies, and other beneficial wildlife. While the Uwchlan Township campus has been maintained with care over many years, the opportunity existed to enhance the park to make it more attractive as well as more environmentally beneficial. Goals of the project include: adding native plant gardens such as the milkweed garden and riparian border to increase the biodiversity of the area and enhance the environment by supporting pollinators and beneficial wildlife, creating a place for a nature walk within the heart of Uwchlan, and providing examples and education to the public of environmentally sustainable and more ecologically sound gardening and land management practices to apply in our own back yards. Heart of Uwchlan Project: Nature Learning Stations Another project being worked on by the Heart of Uwchlan Project is a path of nature-oriented Learning Stations that visitors, families, and small school groups can follow through the park grounds around the Uwchlan Township buildings. A map of several dozen stations has been developed, and markers will be placed soon. A Learning Station Handbook has been developed that provides “nature facts” and environmental “Learnings” for each station. There is a lot more to see than one might expect, with the frogs and turtles in the ponds, the historic garden’s trees, the plants and birds and butterflies. What’s visible varies with the season. Covid restrictions are making it difficult to introduce the Learning Stations, but we are exploring ways to make them available for families looking for something outside to do for remote learning. Consider a walk with your smart phone, use the “Seek” or “iNaturalist” app, and see what trees, plants, birds, and insects you can identify! Questions? Want More Information? Considering getting involved? At present Covid restrictions make it difficult to invite your participation, but we do have volunteers who are working carefully while observing safe distancing, using masks, and using remote communication. We all look forward to a future when we can become more interactive. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact the Environmental Advisory Council through the “Contact the EAC” icon on the EAC webpage. Uwchlan Township Environmental Advisory Council Goldenrod: It Doesn't Make You Sneeze Now that it’s Autumn, you will see the bright yellow of goldenrod by the roadsides. Hopefully you are also allowing goldenrod to grow in some areas of your garden. Goldenrods, in the family Solidago, do not make you sneeze, despite the bad rap they have gotten. That blame goes to ragwort, which has small, not so noticeable flowers that are wind pollinated and send their irritants out on the breeze. Goldenrod’s yellow flowers are pollinated by bees and other pollinators, who must visit the flowers to collect the pollen, so they do not put allergenic pollen in the breeze. Goldenrods are actually one of the environmentally important “keystone species” noted by Douglas Tallamy, author of Nature’s Best Hope, a New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard. Tallamy promotes planting native plants to increase our gardens’ biodiversity to address environmental degradation. Goldenrods are “keystone” because they support many of the beneficial insects we need. In addition, blooming in the fall, they provide important high quality nutrition in their pollen to insects that are migrating, like the monarchs, and to pollinators who are laying down eggs, larva, and cocoons to make it through the winter. And they are lovely in the autumn sunlight, contrasting with the purple and blue of wild asters. Fall Yard Waste Pickup Dates September 26th October 10th October 24th November 7th November 21st December 12th For more information on yard waste pickup, visit the yard waste section of the Township website by Clicking Here. It’s Autumn and the leaves are falling. Traditionally we raked them to gather them into piles and perhaps put them in bags to be carted away with the other trash. Or maybe we used a power leaf blower and added diesel or particulate matter pollution to the air as well as noise. But practices are changing, and those leaves are an essential resource for your garden ecosystems, so don’t throw them away! Leave the leaves! Consider mulching the leaves – chopping them into small pieces with a lawnmower or a leaf shredder and leaving the mulched pieces on your grass lawns or adding the mulch to your flower beds. The benefits of leaf mulching are numerous: it enhances the health of your yard by creating valuable compost, which enriches the topsoil. Mulching improves soil structure, reduces the need for fertilizer, and avoids water pollution by reducing phosphorus and fertilizer leaching. By adding organic matter to the soil, leaf mulching improves water retention and percolation for improved rainwater management. Additional organic matter loosens the soil, allowing grass roots to penetrate more deeply, improving grass health. Mulch, when spread on garden beds, suppresses weeds and improves soil quality; when it decomposes into compost, it suppresses disease. And you will save money instead of having to buy mulch in bags from the store. Don’t chop all the leaves. Let the insects live! Mulch the leaves on the lawn to avoid smothering the lawn – but rake whole, unchopped leaves around the base of trees and shrubs, under tree canopies, or into perennial beds. Not only will they protect the roots of these plants and enrich the soil, but they are an important habitat for overwintering beneficial insects, including butterflies, whose cocoons lay in the leaves. You will encourage biodiversity in your yard and help insect populations, which are in serious decline. Ideally these leaves should not be cleaned up at all in the spring, but if you want to give in to that impulse to “spring clean” your garden, wait until there have been several 50-plus degree days in the spring so insects can emerge. And you may find that by spring the leaves have decomposed, adding to the health of your soil. Pile the leaves for compost. If you prefer the neat look, pile the leaves where they are out of the way, maybe in the woods. Leave them alone where they won’t be disturbed, best where they are not too sheltered, as the pile needs to get wet occasionally. After about two years or less, you’ll have compost ready to add to your flower beds -- a rich and crumbly blend of partially decomposed organic material that will utilize microorganisms to break down and decompose organic matter. This compost provides a balanced source of plant nutrients and improves your soil’s texture, water-holding capacity, and fertility. Establishing and maintaining a compost pile is the easiest way to produce the best possible food for your garden. IMPORTANT: Chester County does not allow one to use food scraps in a compost pile, unless you have a closed compost bin that will block odors that could attract pests such as rodents and flies. Your homeowners association may also have restrictions. Reference: http://www.leaveleavesalone.org/, part of the Healthy Yards Campaign. And Leave the Stems, Too. Native bees are important pollinators, and they are declining like other insects under environmental stresses. The survival of wild bees depends, among other things, on finding a suitable nesting site. Many wild bees gnaw their nest tunnels into the marrow of plant stems, and they prefer vertical stems. By not leaving your garden "broom-clean" for winter in your autumn garden care you can leave an important habitat for some wild bee species. Leave those dead plant stems through the winter – and into spring to allow the wild bees to hatch out. If you need to clean away the stems, tie them in a vertical bunch and put them in an out of the way place in your garden – treat them as an ornament! National Fire Prevention Week Starts October 6th Home fires are the biggest public safety threat facing U.S. families today, with one home fire reported every 86 seconds. October 6th through the 12th is National Fire Prevention Week and an excellent time to make sure you and your loved ones are ready in the event disaster strikes. Follow the tips below from the the International Association of Fire Fighters on how you can use this time to prepare. A Brief History of Lionville by Lee Wisdom, Uwchlan Township Historical Commission Once a little country village nestled among dairy farms, Lionville now bustles with modern day life. Amid present day businesses and neighborhoods it can be easy to overlook the past that remains. 18th, 19th, and 20th century structures mingle on North and South Village Avenues and tell the tale of the village that was, is, and will remain, thanks to the Uwchlan Township Historical Commission’s work of preserving our historic resources and making Lionville a National Historic District. Even before Welsh settlers arrived, this area was a hot spot of activity as a convergence of many Native American paths which became the roads we travel today. In 1712, John Cadwalader, a Quaker looking to form a new meeting, settled in Uwchlan Township on land owned by David Lloyd on what is now N. Village Ave., essentially making him the first resident of what would become Welsh Pool, then Red Lion, and eventually Lionville. Lionville officially became a village in 1826 when local lore has it that the Post Office refused to accept the name Red Lion because there were too many towns of the same name in the area. The post office arbitrarily chose Lionville for the official name and then proceeded to grant them their own post office. Lionville was considered self sufficient with every necessary shop and service available to its residents. Until the advent of motor cars people rarely left the village for neighboring Downingtown or West Chester. The surrounding area had its share of mills, iron works, inns, and factories but mostly dairy farms which was the area’s primary industry and remained so until the 1960s when developers began to buy farms and build large neighborhoods. When you visit, see the site of John Cadwalader’s first settlement, which now houses the UTHC’s headquarters and many local artifacts, and the Edith P. Moore one room schoolhouse, which was in use from 1859-1959 and is the only one-room schoolhouse in Uwchlan still regularly open to the public and furnished as it would have been when in use. These buildings along with the Uwchlan Meetinghouse, its history ranging from a place of worship and a Revolutionary War hospital to a grange and a school, are open the first Sunday of the month from 2-4, April through November. South Village Ave. is mostly private residences and businesses, but a beautifully detailed map of a self-guided walking tour is available at the Cadwalader House (located at 21 N. Village Ave.) or at the Uwchlan Township building (715 N. Ship Rd). See upcoming events and interesting facts and photos on our Facebook page “Uwchlan Township Historical Commission and Lionville Historic District.” Drains to Stream: Keeping our Stormwater Inlets Clean Did you know that most stormwater drains flow directly into our community's local streams and tributaries? That is why making sure only stormwater drains into these pipes is so important. View the video below from the Penn State Extension to see what exactly is allowed in stormwater inlets and how you can help be a good stormwater partner. Click Here for more information on stormwater from the Penn State Extension. Land Development and Zoning Update Christian Brothers Automotive 399 W. Uwchlan Avenue 6,807 sq ft building Uwchlan Hills Elementary 50 Peck Road 81,969 sq ft elementary school Eagleview Lot 24 650 Stockton Road Planned life care facility Dollar Tree 200 Eagleview Blvd Former Walgreens Iron Hill Brewery 260 Eagleview Blvd Restaurant/Brewery Severgn Apartments (Special Exception) Severgn Drive Special exception to permit two buildings consisting of 12 units each plus an existing home. ZHB Approved Eagleview Town Center Apartments Eagleview Town Center Preliminary/Final plan for proposed 44-unit apartment building. Eagleview Lot 58 Lot 58 50,000 sq ft office Boas Vision Associates 577 W. Uwchlan Ave 2,519 sq ft building addition Turnpike Interchange Former Vanguard Property Conditional Use Plan 3 Distribution warehouses - 1,928,880 sq ft total and outdoor recreation park Eagleview Town Center II Eagleview Town Center Conditional Use Plan 364 Apartments in several buildings, clubhouse and 40,749 sq ft office building Gray Farm Property 1025 Worthington Road Preliminary Plan for a proposed 76-lot subdivision. Stormwater: Did You Know? Five minutes of running the hose uses 25 gallons of water. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean decks, sidewalks, and other paved areas. As much as 30% of the water used can be lost to evaporation by watering lawns during midday hours. Water your lawn during the coolest part of the day (preferably morning) and never on windy days. Grass turf requires 30-50% more water than shrubs and other ground-covers. Limit grass areas and use trees, shrubs, and other native plants that typically require less water. An average uncovered pool loses about an inch of water a week because of evaporation. Cover pools to prevent evaporation. (Cumberland County Conservation District, 2006) Proper Placement of Mailboxes With the threat of snowfall starting in late fall, the time is now to make sure you are prepared for the winter weather ahead. Uwchlan Township takes every precaution to avoid damaging mailboxes during snow removal operations. Below are mailbox placement guidelines to help reduce the chance your mailbox is damaged this winter: Mailboxes should be located 2' from the edge of the pavement to provide adequate clearance at an uncurbed roadway. The mailbox face should be located 8” behind the curb face at a curbed roadway. Mailboxes should be installed on the side of your driveway away from approaching traffic. This will lessen the likelihood of a plow strike, and minimize the shoveling needed to clear the area around the mailbox. The Spotted Lanternfly: Spotting and Destroying Egg Masses While stopping the Spotted Lanternfly may seem like a spring or summertime activity, there is still plenty of work to do as we enter Fall and the temperatures start to cool. Fall is when the Spotted Lanternflies start to lay their egg masses, which can be found on virtually any flat surface. Watch the video below from the Penn State Extension to learn how to identify Spotted Lanternfly egg masses and how to destroy them from hatching this spring. Important Dates Date Event Time October 7, 2020 Planning Commission Meeting 7:30 pm October 8, 2020 Historical Committee Meeting 7:30 pm October 10, 2020 Curbside Leaf / Yard Waste Pickup Starting @ 6:00 am October 10, 2020 HHW Event @ Government Services Center, West Chester 9:00am - 3:00pm October 12, 2020 Township Offices Closed All Day October 13, 2020 Board of Supervisors Meeting- Tuesday 7:30 pm October 15, 2020 Environmental Advisory Council 6:30 pm October 16, 2020 Uwchlan Township Industrial Development Authority 9:00 am October 24, 2020 Curbside Leaf / Yard Waste Pickup Starting @ 6:00 am October 31, 2020 Halloween 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm November 2, 2020 Park & Recreation Committee 7:30 pm November 3, 2020 Election Day Offices Township Offices close @ noon November 4, 2020 Planning Commission Meeting 7:30 pm November 7, 2020 Curbside Leaf / Yard Waste Pickup Starting @ 6:00 am November 9, 2020 Board of Supervisors Meeting 7:30 pm November 12, 2020 Historical Commission Meeting 7:30 pm November 18, 2020 Environmental Advisory Council 6:30 pm November 21, 2020 - Curbside Leaf / Yard Waste Pickup Starting @ 6:00 am November 26, 2020 Thanksgiving Holiday - No trash/recycling pickup, Township Offices Closed All Day November 27, 2020 Thanksgiving Holiday, Trash/Recycling Pickup Resumes Township Offices Closed All Day December 2, 2020 Planning Commission Meeting 7:30 pm December 12, 2020 Curbside Leaf / Yard Waste Pickup Starting @ 6:00 am December 14, 2020 Board of Supervisors Meeting 7:30 pm December 17, 2020 Environmental Advisory Council 6:30 pm December 25, 2020 Christmas Day - No trash/recycling pickup Township Offices Closed All Day Important Phone Numbers: AQUA: 610-525-1400 PECO: 215-841-4000 PECO Outage Hotline: 215-841-4141 PENNDOT: 484-340-3200 PENNDOT Maintenance: 484-340-3201 Chester County SPCA: 484-302-0865 Chester County Health Department: 610-344-6225 Contact the Township Address: 715 N. Ship Road Exton, PA 19341 Phone: (610) 363-9450 Fax:(610) 363-0518 Website: www.uwchlan.com Fall 2020 Edition Winter 2020-2021 Edition Spring 2021 Edition Summer 2021 Edition Fall 2021 Edition Trash & Recycling Let us Know Notify Me® Online Payments Contact Us 715 North Ship Road Exton, PA 19341 Ph: 610-363-9450 FX: 610-363-0518 Contact Us Quick Links Agendas & Minutes Building & Zoning Police Trash & Recycling Winter Weather Tips FAQs Who do I call for help with raccoons / foxes / ground hogs? Who is responsible for repairs to sidewalks and curbs? What do I do with old paint? What do I do with old refrigerators? How do I dispose of medication? Using This Site Home Site Map Accessibility Copyright Notices Government Websites by CivicPlus®