The group working on preserving the former Don Guanella Village property in Marple has implored Delaware County officials to put a referendum on the November ballot for an open-space bond issue, writes Kathleen E. Carey for the Daily Times.

“Time is of the essence on this issue,” said Elaine Paul Schaefer, Radnor Commissioner and Democratic candidate for the 165th state legislative district. “The Don Guanella site is in play, and is in immediate risk of development.”

Alex Charlton, Schaefer’s Republican competitor, said he had asked the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the owner of the land, to donate the 213 acres to a land trust or a governmental body after the deal with developer Goodman Properties, worth more than $40 million, collapsed.

During last week’s County Council meeting, supporters and opponents of the bond gathered to express their views.

Supporters of the proposed bond emphasized that the council will only put the question on the ballot, and that it will be the voters who decide if they want to pay an additional tax or not.

Opponents brought up the fact that not everybody in the county would be able to afford the proposed increase.

Read more about the proposed referendum in the Daily Times by clicking here and previous coverage of the Archdiocese efforts to sell the coveted piece of undeveloped land on DELCO Today here, here and here.