At the June 12, 2024, #NewtownPA Board of Supervisors meeting, Planning Commission (PC) member Terry Christensen, criticized the Corners at Newtown Traffic Impact Study (TIS) provided by the developers (BET Investments). The study was presented at the 4 June 2024 Planning Commission meeting (see https://johnmacknewtown.info/4jun24pc.html#Corners).

Mr. Christensen suggested the study was incomplete because it did not take into account the traffic that would be generated by the nearby approved Steeple View development in the Borough.

Mr, Christensen also questioned the methodology by which housing density was calculated which suggested a much lower density than would be expected.

This is a video of the presentation I made at the 17 June 2024 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting. The contents include:

* Anti Chick-fil-A at the Bypass Update, Including Petition Results
* Wawa Coming Soon – Will It Sell Beer/Wine 24/7?
* LI/O-LI District Overlay Problems: High Density Housing, More Traffic Congestion
* Corners at Newtown “Garage Core” Apartment Complex: Should We Amend JMZO to Allow This New Use in the Town Center District?
* What’s (not) happening with Pedestrian Crosswalk Improvements?
* Indoor Pickleball Club Proposed for Vacant Bed, Bath, and Beyond Site
* “Pollinator Garden” in Roberts Ridge Park

One word kept coming up during a review of a planned upscale apartment complex at Sycamore Street and Richboro Road. And that word was “density.”

BET Investments, a real estate management and development company owned by Bruce Toll, attended the August planning commission meeting seeking input on its plans to redevelop the Corners at Newtown Place with a 120-unit luxury apartment building with an interior parking garage.

The plan calls for the demolition of a series of stand-alone commercial and retail buildings on Cambridge Lane and the construction of a three-story apartment building that would wrap around a multi-level interior parking garage and have direct access to a common hall and a private, outdoor pool and recreation area.

"We have a project that would require multiple variances from the zoning hearing board. Instead of seeking those variances, we crafted an amendment that we believe addresses the items of zoning relief that would be required for the project and would allow us to proceed in some fashion," land use attorney Matt McHugh told the planners.

According to the draft ordinance submitted by BET, a new use - Parking Core Apartment Building - would be added to the zoning ordinance.

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