We bring you good news regarding the potential redevelopment of the former Embreeville State Hospital property.

On December 10, 2013, the West Bradford Township Board of Supervisors unanimously passed Ordinance 13-06, on which three planners from the Brandywine Conservancy served as consultants to the Township. The ordinance amends the current zoning and provides for medium- and high-density residential uses in the existing Industrial Zoning District, but does not add such uses at Embreeville. The existing Industrial Zoning District should adequately accommodate future growth needs for multi-family development, making a re-zoning of the Embreeville tract unnecessary. 

After conducting a zoning and land use assessment, Brandywine Conservancy planners (which included John Snook and John Theilacker) noted that the Township needed to plan for future higher density housing in order to satisfy its “fair share” housing requirements made necessary by state law and precedent-setting case law findings. In reviewing the assessment, the Conservancy planners concluded that the Township's existing Industrial Zoning District offers the best option for higher density residential development, due to its proximity to existing public services, shopping, employment, and schools. The Conservancy suggested that the Board invoke a municipal “cure” of its zoning ordinance by amending existing zoning to accommodate additional higher-density residential development in the appropriate area of the Township. 

We are delighted to have played a role in the future smart growth of West Bradford Township. For more information, the West Bradford Township website has a full archive of the ongoing activity regarding the Embreeville property, which can be found here.