The township has declared a public health local disaster emergency (click here to view the declaration). In an effort to protect the health of the citizens of Caln Township, township employees, and officials, the Caln Municipal Building and Police Station will be closed to the public beginning Monday, March 16. Township employees will be available via phone and email to help maintain our usual level of service as much as possible.

• Bills can be paid via mail to 253 Municipal Dr. Thorndale PA 19372 or via the drive-up mailbox at the side of our building labeled “Caln Township Mail Only.” 
• All  township parks and playgrounds, as well as Ingleside Golf Course are closed to the public at this time.
• Eagle Disposal Residential Collections will operate as follows:
  • ​​Trash Collection- On Schedule - All trash must be bagged and tied. All bags must be placed inside your mobile cart. Loose items will be not be collected. 
  • Recycle Collection- On Schedule - All recyclable materials must be placed inside your recycling container, including your flattened cardboard. Recyclable items left outside of your recycling container will not be collected.​
  • Yard Waste Collection- temporary suspension until further notice
  • Bulk Item Collection- temporary suspension until further notice
• CODES: In compliance with the Governor’s Order of March 19, 2020 the Township will no longer provide UCC inspection service for non-life sustaining construction work, until the order is lifted. Our interpretation of life sustaining work is that related to that required for the health, safety and welfare of our community.  Further defined, work that is of an emergency nature, or work already approved related to a health, safety or welfare feature that must be completed. The requirements of the UCC remain in effect, and once the Governor’s Order is rescinded all required inspections shall be performed. Work completed contrary to this will be considered illegal and subject to enforcement action.
• All housing (including rental) permits and inspections will continue under the COVID-19 Temporary Permit and Inspections Procedure. See Coronavirus Pandemic - Temporary Permit and Inspection Procedures for specifics. Feel free to call 610-384-0600 x136 with questions.
• All Township Police Department offices are closed to the public until further notice: For an emergency dial 911.  There is also an emergency call box located at the main entrance of the Police Department.  Non-emergency, you may call 610-383-7000, administrative staff and staff phone directory 610-383-1821.  Please read this message from Chief Elias about business closures and stay-at-home orders.
• Right to Know requests will be answered as quickly as possible, but due to staffing limitations during this time, we may not be able to respond within the usual 5-day window. 
• As usual, from 8AM-4:30PM you can reach our offices by calling 610-384-0600 or by emailing info@calntownship.org.

​Please be patient with us during this difficult time.  It is the hope of township officials that taking these steps will help to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and enable us to continue providing services to our residents. Check CalnTownship.org for updates and see the links below for additional information:
 
If you need help or assistance, call 2-1-1. They can refer you to a wide variety of services that are available to Chester County. It’s free, confidential and available 24/7.
Chester County: https://www.chesco.org/224/Health    ESPAGÑOL: https://www.chesco.org/DocumentCenter/View/53970/Coronavirus-Flyer-Spanish-v4?bidId=
Pennsylvania: www.health.pa.gov
CDC: www.cdc.gov

The Chester County Fire Chiefs Association, Chester County Emergency Medical Services Council, Inc., and the Chester County Fire Police Association, in partnership with the Chester County Department of Emergency Services have contracted with Municipal Resources Inc. (MRI) https://www.mrigov.com/ to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the County's Fire and Emergency Medical Services delivery system and operations and make recommendations for potential improvements for the future. As part of that process, stakeholder input is very important. 
 
MRI is recognized as a leader in assisting stakeholders at all levels of government, and all types of fire and EMS organizations by conducting studies and analyses designed to assist them with achieving organizational improvement, and advocating and advancing cooperation, coordination, and collaboration between local government and other community organizations such as fire and EMS agencies. They have conducted more than 150 studies including two here in Chester County and one in Montgomery County.
 
Below is a link to a survey that we are asking residents and business owners of Chester County to complete as part of this evaluation. This survey is anonymous with only your responses, not any type of identifying feature, visible to the study team. Your feedback and input is important to us and will be carefully considered by the study team as we prepare our report and formulate our recommendations. I ask that you please take some time to complete the survey in its entirety. The more responses we receive, the more valid the information that we obtain from it will be.
 
https://app.surveymethods.com/EndUser.aspx?C3E78B93CB879298C3
 
This survey will be live on line until Tuesday March 31, 2020.

Caln Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania is seeking professional consultants to submit requests for proposals for a Caln Township Zoning Ordinance Review and Update. Proposals are due March 13, 2020 4:30 p.m. Any questions can be directed to Township Manager, Kristen Denne at 610-384-0600*114 or via email at kdenne@calntownship.org, Email is preferred.
Caln Township is currently accepting proposals from qualified firms with expertise in zoning for leading a process resulting in review, audit and recommendations for improvement in the Caln Township’s zoning ordinance.
This project was funded in part by a grant from the Chester County Planning Commission and the process will be monitored and proceed under the guidelines provided in the grant.  The Chester County Planning Commission (CCPC) will provide professional planning and support staff to assist the Township in the update of the Caln Township Zoning Ordinance.  The existing ordinance will be used as a base for this full update.  Prior to the start of the process, the Township will create a Task Force, comprised of members of the Township Planning Commission and representatives of the Township Board of Commissioners and other municipal boards, commissions, or groups as deemed appropriate by the Township. 
 
The ordinance update will support and be consistent with the Township’s adopted planning policies, including the Comprehensive Plan, address concerns with the current Zoning Ordinance, and respond to input provided by the Task Force and at public meetings.  An updated and revised zoning map will be provided.  The Ordinance will comply with the applicable provisions and content requirements for a Zoning Ordinance as prescribed by Article VI of the MPC.  
 
The organization of the ordinance will be an early discussion between the Township, Task Force, and CCPC.  CCPC will make recommendations regarding significant reorganization of the ordinance to create a more user-friendly product.  Significant content from the existing ordinance will be incorporated into the updated ordinance, with that content reviewed and revised during the process.   
 
Proposals received via the competitive bidding process will be reviewed by the Board of Commissioners and Staff.
This solicitation is a Request for Proposals (RFP). Proposals will be reviewed by the Board of Commissioners and staff that will evaluate each proposal according to relevant selection criteria. Interviews may be requested with one or more firms responding to the RFP.
Award of this contract, if any, will be to the firm deemed best qualified, in accordance with the selection criteria, to perform the services outlined in this RFP and other services as deemed necessary by the Township.  Pricing, while an important factor; will be only one criterion used to evaluate the responses to the RFP.
Proposals will be opened at the date and time specified and each firm responding will be recorded as a respondent. Proposal content, including pricing, will be kept confidential until award of the contract.
The Township may reject any proposal not in compliance with all prescribed public bidding procedures and requirements and may reject any or all proposals.  The Township reserves the right to waive any requirement or condition of the RFP upon finding that it is in the public’s best interest to do so.
Current Zoning Ordinance
The state of the current Zoning Ordinance is not unusual for municipalities of this size:

• It was rewritten in early 2000’s
• It is large and sometimes difficult for residents and developers to interpret
• Many amendments and overlays have become burdensome
• The Zoning map may not be congruent with the goals of long-term development in the Township
• It is not user-friendly and lacks consistent graphics to improve readability. There is also a great reliance on Appendixes and Appendices to describe zoning requirements
• Board and residents have discussed making changes related to use type in specific zoning districts.
• Changes should be reflective of recent suggestions of Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted in 2017

SCOPE OF WORK
With assistance from Township Staff the selected consultant will conduct a public process to develop an updated Zoning Ordinance for Caln Township. It is anticipated that the consultant will work with the Board of Commissioners to make updates that take into consideration the Township’s built out suburban nature and the need for updated design standards for its business district. Unique features of the community such as traffic patterns, pedestrian and recreational amenities and design standards shall be taken into consideration when crafting a proposal.
The final work program will be developed in conjunction with the Board of Commissioners, Zoning Ordinance Task Force and staff, but the scope of work should include the following:

• Current Zoning Ordinance Diagnosis. The consultant will work closely with Township Staff and Task Force in producing a diagnosis of the existing code.
• Review of Comprehensive Plan. The consultant will review and identify Plan Goals, Objectives and Recommendations to ensure the new code will be consistent with recent planning documents
• Public Outreach. The consultant will develop a public outreach strategy designed to inform community stakeholders and hear suggestions of improvements from the public. This will include meetings with Township Board of Commissioners and Task Force in order for the consultant to understand the direction of the Board and the Residents of Caln Township.
• Evaluation of Existing Neighborhoods, Corridors, Overlays and Zoning Districts.  Caln Township contains many unique areas that will warrant context-sensitive regulations. Staff will work with the consultant to identify these areas.
• Drafting the Document. The consultant will prepare drafts of the zoning ordinance, including graphics, for review by Staff, Task Force and Board of Commissioners culminating in a final version to be acted upon by Township Board of Commissioners.

Specific Areas that Should Be Given Attention During the Process
         Signs
Sign definitions will be revised and expanded as needed. Issues regarding non-conforming signs, temporary signs, and sign permits will be addressed.  Ordinance provisions will be based on recent case law, including those addressing sign content.
                                                           
Zoning Hearing Board, Nonconforming Uses, Amendments, and Administration
These articles will be reviewed and updated as needed for consistency with current MPC provisions.  The articles will also be reviewed for completeness of regulations as well as clarity of application to ensure they reflect the actual administrative procedures.  There should be consideration given to consolidating these articles at the end of the updated ordinance.     
 
General Regulations
This article typically includes regulations that apply to most uses (such as landscaping, parking, lighting, etc.) and will be reviewed in its entirety and updated as needed.  New provisions will be suggested for consideration as appropriate.     
 
Planning Residential Development
This article will be updated as necessary to reflect current recommended standards.  Consideration should be given to moving this article adjacent to the residential district articles. 
 
Environmental Resource Protection
This article will be updated to reflect current recommended standards for wetlands, hydric soils, steep slopes, riparian buffers, and woodland/tree protection standards.
           
Cluster Residential Development Option
This article will be updated as necessary to reflect current recommended standards.  Consideration should be given to moving this article adjacent to the residential district articles. 
           
Mobile Homes
This article will be updated as necessary to reflect current recommended standards, and consideration will be given to moving relevant standards into the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
 
Historic Resources Preservation General Provisions
This article will be updated as necessary to reflect current recommended standards for preservation of historic resources.   
           
Scenic Open Space Residential Cluster Option
This article will be updated as necessary to reflect current recommended standards.  Consideration should be given to moving this article adjacent to the residential district articles. 
           
Wireless Communication Facilities
The provisions regarding wireless communication facilities will be updated as necessary to reflect current recommended standards.  Consideration should be given to moving the provisions within this article to a newly created Supplemental Use Regulations article. 
 
Supplemental Use Regulations
Consideration should be given to developing a specific Supplemental Use Regulations article, which could consolidate provisions for uses that require the application of specific standards (e.g., wireless facilities, alternative energy sources, residential conversions, senior housing/continuing care, etc.).  Any existing supplemental use standards will be reviewed and updated to reflect current planning practices.  Uses currently not addressed in the ordinance may be added.   
 
PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
Proposals should contain the following information:

1. An introduction to the contractor submitting the proposal.
2. A listing of References of similar projects completed by your firm and the name, address, phone number and email of the contact person for whom the project was completed. The Caln Township reserves the right to contact these references to discuss their project experience with your firm.
3. A completed pricing form for the project.
4. Anticipated ability to start date
5. Anticipated Calendar of Activity and Completion of New Proposed Zoning Ordinance

 
*RFP received after 4:30 PM on Friday, March 13th, 2020 will not be given consideration by the Board of Commissioners.  Selection of a consultant will be made by the Board of Commissioners at a regularly scheduled Board Meeting in consultation with the Chester County Planning Commission.

The Beaver Creek Trail is envisioned as an approximately three mile long community multi-use trail that will help
to reduce automobile dependence for Caln Township residents, improve pedestrian and bicycle access to the
existing parks and trails, better facilitate pedestrian and bicycle travel between Thorndale and Downingtown,
and expand off-road recreational opportunities for people in the community. The goal of this study is to examine
alternative trail routes that would connect the Caln Township municipal building to Lloyd Park and to recommend
the preferred conceptual alignment. The study was presented to the Caln Township Board of Commissioners at their January 30, 2020 meeting. You can read the full draft study here.