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We the undersigned (Marple residents only please, sign as Marple - not Media) oppose granting PECO a Special Exception for the proposed “gas reliability station” at the corner of Sproul and Cedar Grove Rds. in Marple Township.

According to Code Chapter 300 Article V Section 300 37-39, a public utility facility project must receive a Special Exception to qualify for approval in District N (defined as a Neighborhood Center permitting “low- intensity retail establishments and offices”).  Said facility must not cause harm, hardship or adverse effects to the community. 

The township has placed the burden of proof for effective opposition on us concerned citizens; and through an ongoing process of inquiry, fact finding, and scholarly research we have and are continuing to demonstrate that the Special Exception is not warranted on the grounds of Public Safety, Health and Welfare, Vehicular Traffic and Pedestrian Safety, Appropriate for Location, Intent of District, Environmental Impact, Aesthetics, and overall Public Interest.

We have offered the Board strong evidence that this already highly trafficked accident-prone intersection will be rendered even more dangerous, with heightened risks of harm due to the perimeter wall limiting sight distances yet with unknown impact resistance. Collisions could result in much more serious injuries and/ or outright disaster, especially if gas is released into the air in the presence of an ignition source.  Moreover PECO does not allow access for local EMS and announced an up-to-1 hour response time for their personnel. As an ‘attractive nuisance’ this highly visible, heavily trafficked location could invite acts of malice or even terrorism.  There is significant likelihood of increased pollution affecting air quality, contributing to greenhouse gasses, light, noise and radio waves, potentially in excess of acceptance levels.  This presents very real potential hardship and harm to our many elderly, disabled and seriously ill residents and group-home Occupants, let alone to children attending Russell Elementary and all of those riding local school buses, Russell staff, as well as neighborhood business patrons, employees and owners.

This would be the first station of its kind, meanwhile none of PECO’s comparable installations are located in areas of similar population and development density. It is against sound design theory and best-practice planning principles to place a facility of untested implementation, whose operational performance is merely estimated and studies such as sound abatement only simulated, would be surrounded so closely by residences and small businesses, with an elementary school within 1/10th of a mile.

A “gas reliability station“ is a high-intensity complex well outside the Intent of the district. It is out of keeping with the appearance and character of the neighborhood and would surely be considered an eyesore, detract from the curb appeal and value of nearby properties and diminish the reputation and legacy of those who approve it.

Furthermore, as energy and environmental policies evolve we could be left with an installation that might become obsolete sooner than projected in addition to being unsightly and right smack in the midst of a neighborhood center.

Township residents have already identified several more suitable locations and successfully compelled PECO representatives to admit that they had not explored more viable alternatives.