The Looming Challenges for Kennett Square & the Townships: Time for Responsible, Local Leadership

Kennett Square, Kennett Township, and New Garden Township sit in one of the more desirable parts of Chester County — beautiful countryside, strong schools, and a proud agricultural legacy (especially mushrooms!). But along with growth and promise come problems. If local leaders don’t act with foresight and restraint, some of those problems risk undermining the quality of life residents currently enjoy. Here are several of the biggest issues, from a perspective that values fiscal responsibility, individual liberty, and preserving character.

1. Overreaching Zoning, Growth, and Infrastructure Strain

New Garden Township is currently in the midst of revamping its zoning map and ordinances. Chester County Press+1 The goal is to align with its 2018 Comprehensive Plan to guide future residential and commercial development. But this raises persistent tensions:

• When zoning is loosened (or made vague) it can lead to unplanned density, traffic congestion, and loss of rural character. Residents are rightly wary of by-right uses of property that may be outdated or poorly defined. Chester County Press

• Key corridors like Route 41, Limestone Road, and Old Baltimore Pike are under scrutiny. What kind of businesses are allowed, what traffic volume, where driveway openings are permitted — these all affect safety, property values, and quality of life. Chester County Press+1

• Infrastructure: roads, traffic control, water/sewer systems — many of them built for a lower load — are being stretched. New Garden officials are being asked how they plan to handle increased traffic and infrastructure demands. Chester County Press

Kennett Township has its own budgeting and infrastructure concerns. For example, to fund the Greenway project (including the Chandler Mill Trail), the township proposed using reserves and making modest real estate tax increases. Peter4Supervisor+2Chadds Ford Live+2 While trails and open space are valuable, residents are asking whether the costs are being properly spread out, whether reserves are being depleted too fast, and whether capital needs for roads, sewers, and public safety are being deferred. Peter4Supervisor+1

2. Rising Cost of Housing and Affordability

Kennett Square, in particular, is facing an affordability crisis. With increasing demand, limited supply, and many rental units being upgraded (and priced accordingly), low- and moderate-income families are struggling to find housing they can afford. Chester County Press+1

• A large portion of Hispanic residents in Kennett Square report that the rents and home prices are well beyond what they consider affordable. For many, the “market” of $1,500+ per month for a one-bedroom or several thousand for multi-bedroom is out of reach. Chester County Press

• Even those with modest incomes but stable employment find themselves squeezed. As demand increases (from people who want the “walkable, amenity-rich” life, or those moving out from more urban places), supply hasn’t kept pace.

Without deliberate planning and perhaps incentives for mixed-income or “missing middle” housing (duplexes, townhouses, modest single-family homes), the gap between who can live here vs. who must flee will widen.

3. Government Transparency, Spending, and Accountability

The public’s trust is always fragile. Some recent episodes in Kennett Township remind us why.

• The embezzlement scandal: A former township manager allegedly misappropriated over $3.2 million. The township has since recovered much of it, but the episode eroded trust and highlighted gaps in oversight. Chadds Ford Live+1

• Bank account irregularities: Suspicious transactions in the township’s bank account led to investigations by the District Attorney’s office. Even if ultimately resolved, these events raise serious questions about controls, financial oversight, and whether residents are truly getting the scrutiny and transparency they deserve. CBS News

• Tax increases, reserve depletion: In Kennett Township, residents saw a 20% proposed tax hike in 2023, in part to support new projects like the Greenway. There is concern that projects with long-term costs are being funded at the expense of maintaining basic infrastructure, and that reserves are being drained to cover ambitious non-essential initiatives. Peter4Supervisor+1

Fiscal conservatism means: prioritize core services, maintain infrastructure, ensure that new spending is sustainable, and make sure oversight is strong.

4. Environmental & Health Concerns

Some of the charm of this area comes from its farms, nature, and clean air, but growth and industry bring risks.

• New Garden Township has dealt with persistent complaints about odors and potential health impacts from mushroom production / composting facilities. Emissions of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and related gases have been measured; residents have raised concerns about odor, damage to property (corrosion), and potential health issues. Chester County Press+1

• Air quality studies show that while some emission levels are below certain thresholds, the perceived impact on daily life, property enjoyment, and peace of mind are real. Regulatory compliance is one thing, but ensuring that residents don’t feel like their environment is being compromised is another.

• Remediation of industrially contaminated sites: The former NVF site in Kennett Square is being addressed under Pennsylvania’s Act 2 land-recycling (brownfields) program. While remediation is underway, many residents worry about transparency, safety, timing, and what the redevelopment will look like. Chester County Press

5. Public Safety and Policing

• Burglaries rising: Kennett Township police have warned residents that home burglaries have increased, particularly along certain corridors. Chester County Press

• Juvenile behavior: There have been incidents involving juveniles — assaults, possession of contraband including vape devices with THC, weapons — in Kennett Square. These raise concerns about youth outreach, prevention, enforcement, and parental involvement. MyChesCo+1

• Police coverage adjustments: To deal with staff fatigue and costs, Kennett Township has restructured its police coverage hours (from midnight to 6 a.m. calls going to the Pennsylvania State Police) so that local officers are available and rested during higher-activity hours. Chadds Ford Live

Public safety must remain a core priority. It’s not just reacting to crime but being proactive: strong community policing, ensuring that law enforcement has the necessary resources, and that the community trusts them.

6. Balancing Growth With Small-Town Character

Perhaps the hardest part is preserving what makes Kennett and its townships special: the landscape, historic feel, sense of local community, the rural vistas, mushroom farms, open space — resisting “suburban sprawl” and cookie-cutter development.

• Once new development starts, traffic, loss of farmland, environmental stress, and shifts in culture tend to follow.

• Residents often oppose overly dense development or development that doesn’t fit the aesthetic or infrastructure capacity of the area.

• There is growing interest in mixed-use, “missing middle housing,” etc., but also concern about whether the zoning changes being made will protect property rights and prevent overreach. Chester County Press

What a Conservative Path Forward Looks Like

Here are some guiding principles (not policy prescriptions) local leaders and citizen-activists might consider:

• Fiscal restraint: Prioritize essential infrastructure (roads, sewers, public safety) over wish-list amenities. Avoid draining reserves unless the benefits are clear and long-lasting.

• Transparency & oversight: After the embezzlement and bank anomalies, strong auditing, public reporting, and checks & balances are essential.

• Zoning with respect for property rights: Residents should have fair say in how zoning changes affect them. “By-right” uses should be well defined; vague language is invitation to misinterpretation or overreach.

• Balanced growth: Permit growth, but only where the infrastructure can handle it. Encourage development that preserves open space and minimizes traffic disruption.

• Environmental protection without unnecessary burden: Ensure health and environmental studies are taken seriously. But also ensure that regulation doesn’t become excessively burdensome or discourage economic activity (notably agriculture).

• Affordable housing solutions rooted locally: Instead of wholesale mandates, consider incentives for “missing middle” housing, accessory dwelling units, or public/private partnerships that maintain affordability, especially for working families.

• Public safety investment: Ensure local police are supported, well-trained, responsive. Encourage community programs that reach at-risk youth so that issues don’t escalate.

Conclusion

Kennett Square, Kennett Township, and New Garden Township face a pivotal moment. Growth is inevitable in many ways — people will continue wanting to live here, developers will continue seeing opportunity. But whether that growth enriches our communities or erodes what makes them special depends on choices made at the local level. Conservatism in local government means preserving what works, knowing what to spend (and what not to spend), respecting what residents value, and making sure tomorrow’s development does not become today’s regret.

Residents should stay engaged, demand accountability, and insist that elected officials remember the first duty of government: safe streets, honest finances, and preserving the character of our towns.

Be sure to check out your Republican candidates for important local offices in the upcoming November 4th election. Seats up for election include: Mayor & Council Members (Kennett borough); Supervisors in New Garden Township and Kennett Township; and, Directors for Kennett Consolidated School Board.

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