Richland Supervisors Consider Chatham's First Phase of Development for Eden Hall

Chatham University's plans for the 388-acre Eden Hall campus have changed a bit since .

"We've done a lot of visioning," Sean Cryan of Mithun architectural firm told the Richland Board of Supervisors on Wednesday as he outlined the preliminary land development plan.

The large iconic barn on the property will be transformed into an EcoCenter with an addition that parallels Ridge Road. The smaller dairy barn will be moved onto a more sturdy foundation and serve as a cafe with outdoor seating and library.

An amphitheater will be tucked into a ravine near the barns. A greenhouse, field lab structure and "hoop house" will be located in the cluster of buildings toward the middle of the property. A tarp that can be removed during the planting season will cover the hoop house.

Parking, lighting, pedestrian crossings on Ridge Road and an orchard also were described.

Vice President of Finance Walt Fowler said the university plans to start construction in March or April, with completion by August 2013.

Ridge Road reconstruction, from Kim Lane to Glasgow Road, will take place in the summer of 2015. The road will be improved and widened to include a 6-foot-wide bicycle lane. Improvements will include drainage, storm sewers and curbs. 

Supervisors Vice Chairman Raymond Kendrick questioned the university's initial plan to do the roadwork from September through November 2015.

"We've seen snow start in late October," said Kendrick.

Supervisor Bart Miller said construction should be planned to avoid the time when school buses will be using that road.

Fowler said the university had no objection to changing the road reconstruction timeline. He encouraged the supervisors to approve the preliminary plan Wednesday so the university could show progress on the project.

"This spring is a very important time to raise money for this" by soliciting foundations and individuals, he said.

Township Manager Dean Bastianini said the supervisors could table or approve the plan on Wednesday because it met township requirements.

Supervisors Chairman Herbert Dankmyer and Vice Chairman Kendrick noted that only three of the five supervisors were present. They and Supervisor Miller voted to table, which gives Supervisors Skip Allen and John Marshall the opportunity to vote on the plan in the future. 

The planning commission will discuss the plan again at 7 p.m. Monday, and the public is invited to comment on the plan at a public hearing at 7 p.m. March 7. Both meetings will be at the .

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