The New Britain Township Board of Supervisors is working to sort out what to do with the recently purchased Coleman property area.
At its May meeting, which also saw establishment of a township Environmental Advisory Committee, the board discussed the property near Upper State and Almshouse roads.
Several possible uses were previously put forward, including a pavilion, a cell tower and/or nature trails that’d connect to the Neshaminy Greenway Trail.
But the board requires more information on the area before drafting concrete plans, so the township will conduct a study with assistance from Michael Baker International, which previously worked with the township Greenway Trail project.
Any Coleman Property Planning Study that the board conducts will not be a part of the current township budget, though money can be allocated from the Open Space fund, which was used to purchase the property in the first place, as well as the Public Works fund.
Several board members, most vocally Gregory T. Hood, are hesitant to move forward with plans for the area. This is due in part to the cost and uncertainty among the board.
“In feedback from other members of the board, there is some hesitancy on certain aspects of this project,” said Hood. “To allocate or commit to $20,000 worth of a proposal that we’re not even quite sure we have a majority of the board (in favor of) may be a waste of taxpayers’ money.”
At this same May meeting, the supervisors approved adoption of Ordinance 2023-04-02, which established an Environmental Advisory Committee.
The residents who spoke during a public hearing on the subject were overwhelmingly on board with it.
This new committee’s purpose, according to the ordinance, will be “For advising the New Britain Board of Supervisors, and other boards and committees of the township, on matters dealing with the protection, conservation, management, and use of natural resources, including air, land, and water resources, located within the township, and to help educate residents on the importance of environmental protection.”
The board appears to be encouraging those with extensive backgrounds in environmental issues to apply.
Notably, the Environmental Advisory Committee will have no jurisdiction over county-owned nature preserves, such as Peace Valley Park. Any action the committee would want to take in these areas would require approval from and coordination with the county directly.
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