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Preserve the Beauty. Stop the Traffic.
Keep our community safe, peaceful, and green.
Mark Your Calendar
August 5 at 5:00 PM
This meeting will begin 30 minutes earlier than the Township’s usual workshop time to allow additional time for discussion and public comment. Chadds Ford Township’s engineering consultant, HRG, is reviewing the development application, with particular attention to:
- Stormwater management and drainage impacts
- Traffic and roadway concerns
- Potential off-site improvements
- Other impacts affecting Chadds Ford Township residents
Residents concerned about traffic, stormwater runoff, private wells, road safety, emergency access, construction impacts, or other effects of the proposed development are strongly encouraged to attend.
Why This Matters to Residents
Traffic Impacts at a Congested Intersection
Traffic Impacts at a Congested Intersection
The debate surrounding the Shoppes at Concord is not about opposing all development. It is about ensuring that any development of this scale is thoroughly evaluated and that its impacts are fully understood before approvals are granted.
The questions being raised by residents are fundamentally about:
- Public safety
- Health and welfare of the community
- Environmental protection
- Infrastructure capacity
- Responsible planning
These are the issues that regulatory agencies are charged with evaluating, and they will shape the future of the Route 202 and Ridge Road corridor for decades to come.
As the review process continues, Save Ridge Road remains committed to providing residents with accurate information, encouraging public participation, and advocating for a transparent and thorough review of all outstanding issues.
Traffic Impacts at a Congested Intersection
Traffic Impacts at a Congested Intersection
Traffic Impacts at a Congested Intersection
The Route 202 and Ridge Road intersection is already one of the most challenging intersections in the area. The proposed development is expected to generate thousands of additional vehicle trips each day, adding substantial pressure to an intersection that already experiences congestion and delay.
Key concerns include:
- Increased traffic volumes on Route 202 and Ridge Road
- Longer queues and delays during peak hours
- Increased crash potential at an intersection previously identified as high-risk
- Additional turning conflicts associated with multiple commercial entrances and exits
- Increased cut-through traffic on local residential roads
PennDOT's review process remains ongoing, and the project has undergone multiple review cycles and revisions given numerous concerns.
24 Acres of Nearly 70% Impervious Coverage
Traffic Impacts at a Congested Intersection
24 Acres of Nearly 70% Impervious Coverage
The current plans propose converting 24 acres into a largely paved commercial center with nearly 70% impervious surface coverage. Impervious surfaces include:
- Parking lots
- Roads
- Sidewalks
- Building rooftops
When rainfall can no longer naturally infiltrate the ground, runoff increases dramatically.
This raises concerns regarding:
- Stormwater management
- Flooding
- Water quality
- Long-term maintenance of stormwater facilities
- Increased pressure on downstream waterways
While engineering models are designed to predict performance, residents remain concerned about how these systems will perform during real-world storm events, especially as rainfall patterns intensify.
Impacts to the Environment
Scale and Intensity of Development
24 Acres of Nearly 70% Impervious Coverage
The development site contains environmental features that have been the subject of ongoing public concern, including:
- Wetlands
- Streams and drainage corridors
- Forested areas
- Wildlife habitat
- Groundwater recharge areas
Residents have also raised concerns regarding:
- Potential impacts to private wells
- Protection of the fractured-bedrock aquifer system that serves the region
- Long-term water quality impacts
- Habitat fragmentation and loss
Environmental reviews are intended to identify and mitigate these impacts, but many residents believe additional scrutiny is warranted given the scale of the project.
Scale and Intensity of Development
Scale and Intensity of Development
Scale and Intensity of Development
The proposed development would significantly alter the character of the corridor.
Current plans include a large retail center featuring major commercial tenants, extensive parking areas, multiple drive-through uses, and high levels of daily vehicle activity.
Questions raised by residents include:
- Whether the scale of development is appropriate for the location
- Whether the surrounding infrastructure can adequately support the project
- The cumulative impact of nearly 1,000 parking spaces and associated traffic
- The long-term effect on nearby residential communities
These concerns are not simply aesthetic; they relate directly to traffic, safety, infrastructure capacity, and quality of life.
Unresolved Regulatory Reviews
Scale and Intensity of Development
Scale and Intensity of Development
Perhaps the most significant concern is that several important regulatory reviews remain ongoing.
PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit Application No. 375666 has been under review for approximately one year and has progressed through multiple review cycles. As of the latest submissions, the project remained in the Traffic Impact Analysis/Traffic Impact Study (TIA/TIS) Mitigation Scope Review Phase, indicating that traffic-related issues are still being evaluated.
Residents are also closely monitoring:
- Stormwater permitting
- Environmental reviews
- Wetland and waterway approvals
- Infrastructure and utility considerations
Before major approvals are granted, residents believe it is essential that all regulatory agencies complete their reviews and that any outstanding deficiencies be fully addressed.
About Us
Our Story
We represent more than 1,100 homeowners, and are committed to protecting the character, safety, and long-term well-being of our community through thoughtful advocacy, informed engagement, and responsible planning.
We do not oppose growth; rather, we advocate for development that is thoughtful, responsible, carefully planned, and proportionate to the capacity and character of our community.
The Issue
A major developer, Retail Sites LLC, based in New Jersey, has proposed a 24-acre retail development at the corner of Ridge Road and Route 202.
This project threatens to permanently alter the rural character, safety, and natural beauty that make our community home.
It will bring increased traffic and congestion to already overburdened roads, heighten the risk of flooding from stormwater runoff, threaten groundwater quality, and disrupt local wildlife habitats.
Our Mission
As planned, this commercial development will erode the quiet, scenic character that defines our community.
Our mission is to protect the safety, well-being, and quality of life of residents of Chadds Ford and Concord Township.
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