A dispute is unfolding between landowner Richard Glunk and Willistown Township over the proposed use of eminent domain at Maple Leaf Farm, a roughly 45-acre property in Malvern protected by both a conservation easement with the Brandywine Conservancy and Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Area Security Law. The township issued a notice of contemplated condemnation for 2,060 square feet of the property that sits within the township’s Agricultural Security Area, seeking to repair a culvert and address stormwater and public safety concerns along Spring Road. Glunk has refused access needed to fix failing infrastructure beneath the roadway, and he argues the project threatens his land, the nearby West Crum Creek and its environmental value. Glunk has appealed to Chester County Board of Commissioners for intervention, prompting county officials to review their role under state law, which requires notification when protected agricultural land is targeted. Conservation officials noted that while easements do not bar eminent domain, additional legal protections require justification and may involve court review unless an emergency is declared, leaving the outcome of the dispute uncertain.
Source: Daily Local; 4/17/2026