Is this Kosovo?

A man and his wife moved from the city to the country almost thirty years ago. The farm they bought was run down and dilapidated. The house had been neglected, its floors warped and walls falling down. There was no electricity or water. Over those thirty years, the couple worked hard and with their own determination and sweat they turned the old farmhouse into their dream house to lovingly share with their family. It is a two hundred year old restored stone home with a huge walk-in fireplace, glass atrium addition, modern kitchen and Jacuzzi bathtub. They painstakingly groomed the farmland. They planted an orchard and every year; they trim the trees and treat them. They built a greenhouse and they planted vegetable and herb gardens. The couple raised five children. Sadly one child passed away, but two of their daughters settled on the land and raised their families there too. Their grandchildren now play in the fields and tend to their horses and pets. The man and his wife still enjoy working in the gardens and revel in the solitude and beauty of their efforts over the years.

Then abruptly, without any warning, someone knocks on the door and serves them a summons. The city officials are condemning their farm and the man and his wife are told that they must vacate and leave their home. Seemingly they have no recourse, they are told that they have no choice.

Is this Kosovo, you ask? No, this is America. This is how the city of Coatesville Pennsylvania treats their citizens. Is the city putting in an access road, a hospital, a watershed or a school? Or anything for the common good of the entire community? Shockingly, No. They plan to put in a golf course, a restaurant, a pitch & putt!

The family, my father and my mother, are devastated. They have been forced to invade their retirement savings to fight this unethical act by ruthless, seemingly unscrupulous politicians. They had planned to spend the rest of the lives on the farm enjoying their grandchildren, their horses, their gardens and their home. There was no prior warning or communication from the city of Coatesville. There has been no opportunity to ask questions and discuss options and alternatives. This is unconscionable.

I read in the paper that you plan to treat us fairly. Do you think that issuing a summons with no communications, no explanation, and no opportunity to ask questions is treating others fairly? What kind of representatives of the people are you? I am led to wonder what kind of motives are behind this project.

We don’t object to putting a golf course on the city dump. But we don’t understand why the project needs to be so elaborate and put my parents out of their home. We understand that rights of ways are required for sewer and water that may include our property and we would cooperate with the city of Coatesville, pursuant to the requirements of eminent domain laws. However, we see this act to evict my parents from their home to be a grossly unfair interpretation of these laws that were never intended for the narrow use of profit generating ventures.

I implore you to recognize what you are doing to these people and reconsider the scope of your project.

cc: City Council Members
Planning Commission
Daily Local News