Borough Council has already stated via resolution that the Community Garden should continue to exist as it has on property the Chester County Housing Authority owns at the top of Fairview Street. That said, any property owner has a legal right to seek any use for his/her/their/its property within reason and in compliance with regulations, including local zoning codes.

The "correct" answer is in strict compliance with the borough's zoning ordinance. The CCHA parcel, including the Community Garden, is in the Multi-Residential district with clear guidelines on units per acre. However, the CCHA could comply with the letter of the zoning ordinance and still eliminate the Community Garden.

Losing the Community Garden would be a devastating loss for the community, not to mention poor community relations by the CCHA (not that so-called public entities always care about such things). So it's incumbent upon the borough and CCHA to work together to craft a win-win plan for the community. That is, to preserve the Community Garden, and then for CCHA to step up and maintain the property in a way that belies its spotty track record.

Richard Mark Kirkner

Democratic Candidate

North Ward Borough Council