Delco Council at odds with Marple Twp., residents over Delco Woods plans

Delco Council is not unanimous in its support for mental health facility at Delco Woods

As it stands right now, Taylor said county council just wanted to assess the building’s viability.

“That’s why it has not actually been on an agenda or approved of any sort to move forward with the full project,” Taylor said.

Delco Councilmember Elaine Schaefer is the lone council member opposing a mental health facility at a building on the Delco Woods property. She reiterated her respect for her colleagues and the fact that the desire to assess the facility was driven by a need for options.

Nevertheless, Schaefer drew a distinction between her vision for Delco Woods and what her fellow council members might have in mind.

“Given my set of priorities, I don’t believe that there should be any governmental institutional use on the property,” Schaefer said.

Schaefer does not see a world where the two concepts co-exist.

“In my opinion, the uses are incompatible. We engaged in a process where we solicited a really incredible, robust opinion from all over the county,” Schaefer said.

The public backed a “state-of-the-art world-class park” centered around the area where the buildings currently exist.

“In my opinion, any governmental institutional use within that main area [in] the master plan would not be compatible,” Schaefer said.

Delco has no plans to house undocumented immigrants at Delco Woods — but a ‘fringe element’ persists

Some of the opposition against a mental health facility is rooted in safety concerns.

Taylor believes the stigma surrounding mental health has played a role in exacerbating fears. She said a similar facility elsewhere in the county also exists. When asked about its location, Taylor declined.

“Given the current climate, I would think that that would cause other problems for that facility,” Taylor said.

Then there are the false and unfounded claims that Delaware County Council is planning to house undocumented immigrants in the Delco Woods that have driven a new level of fury into a relatively normal dispute.

The baseless allegations prompted county council to issue a statement in March unequivocally denying the rumors. Despite the missive, some community members continue circulating rumors online and doubling down.

One thing Hemphill, Schaefer and Taylor agree on is that the false narrative around housing undocumented immigrants in Delco Woods has derailed an important dialogue.

Hemphill feels as though those voices have co-opted a movement he helped start “to score political points for this fringe element that keeps coming out and screaming about stolen elections and other nonsense.”

Taylor emphasized that no decision has been made.

“Our goal is to try and find another location for it,” Taylor said. “I welcome others to help us find another location.”

The county is continuing to review other options.

“And it is my true, great hope that we do find a more suitable spot and that we can then get back on track in creating a world-class park that will create incredible value to all of our residents,” Schaefer said.

The county is still in the planning process for Delco Woods.