On May 18, 2023, workers were seen on Lower Dolington Road installing underground rain water drain pipes and basins as part of the rainwater management system associated with the trail. This work was halted back in March 2022 dues to underground cables that had to be relocated.

This video shows the section of the project beginning at Frost Lane (Roberts Ridge Park) and ending at Everett Drive.

At the May 10, 2023, #NewtownPA Board of Supervisors meeting, Township Engineer Leanna Colubriale tried her best to assure Supervisors Elen Snyder and John Mack that she will pursue the Lower Dolington (LDR) Rd trail contractor to update the timeline for completion of the project, which has been on hold since March 2022; i.e. DELAYED OVER ONE YEAR!

I refer to this as the "Lower Dolington Road Trail Fiasco!"

Ms. Colubriale said that initial discussions with the contractor set mid May 2023 for work to recommence.

As of May 15, 2023 - crickets!

It sounded like Ms. Colubriale's company - Remington-Vernick Engineers - would hold the contractor's feet to the fire, but that was also promised back in July 2022!

This is my personal summary of the May 10, 2023, meeting of Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary.

Access the 2023 BOS Chronicle for detailed summaries of all 2023 BOS meetings plus the BOS voting record (UNOFFICIAL) for 2023.

Agenda Items

• Planning Commission Report
  • Applebee’s, 2 West Road
  • Billboards
• Public Comment Regarding Wawa & Pedestrian Safety
• 4 May 2023 Engineer’s Report
  • Lower Dolington Road Trail Fiasco
  • Business Commons Sidewalk Project
• Fire Services Agreement Amendment
• April 2023 Police Report
• See My Detailed Meeting Notes for more details, including Sterling Act Resolution, Bills List, Meeting Room AV Improvement Proposals, etc.
• Etc

More...

Welcome to the April 24, 2023, Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting! I am John Mack, your host and a Newtown Supervisor. Each month I host a Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting to inform residents of items that are of interest to them and to get feedback and comments from them. This helps me keep better informed of residents’ concerns when voting on important issues at supervisor meetings.

This short 14-minute presentation focuses on the following topics:

* Single-Use Plastics Ban – What McCaffery’s Market had to say about it at April 3, 2023 EAC meeting. Some survey results will be presented.
* Business Commons Overlay – Specifications for “Mixed” Residential/Business use presented to Newtown Planning Commission by Bucks County Planning Commission
* PFAS In Our Drinking Water: EPA is proposing drastically lower safe limits. How do these limits compare with measured amounts in our water?
* Lower Dolington Road Trail Fiasco: Residents are disappointed in the progress or lack thereof.
* LED Streetlights Feasibility Study
* New Plan to Fix Villas of Newtown Detention Basin – Another project that has been plagued by delays. Bids accepted for new solution. Will It Work?
* Tractor Trailer Trucks Parked on Lower Dolington Road Are An Eyesore & Hazard – What Can Be Down About It?
* Deluca Construction of 2 single-family houses at 70 Twining Bridge Rd - Seeking relief in connection with a proposed subdivision of a 3.08-acre parcel into 2 lots where the lots will not comply with the dimensional regulations of the CM district. Another potential “historic resource” threatened?
* Wawa Update – Decision by ZHB regarding Amended Challenge to Validity of the JMZO put off to May 4, 2023. Why?
* Blue Point Grill Patio Expansion – The owners are seeking relief to install a 976 sq.ft. patio which will exceed the max. allowable impervious limitation for Newtown Shopping Center. More seating, less accessible parking space?

Plastics Ban Special Meeting Overview, Villas of Newtown Basin Project Awarded, Lower Dolington Road Trail Delay, $75K for Newtown Fire Association, March 2023 Police Report, more…

This is my personal summary of the April 12, 2023, meeting of Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary.

Access the 2023 BOS Chronicle for detailed summaries of all 2023 BOS meetings plus the BOS voting record (UNOFFICIAL) for 2023.

Agenda Items

• Public Comment – Terry Christensen on LDR Trail Delay
• Proposed Plastics Ban - Overview of April 3, 2023 Meeting
• Engineer’s Report - Review Bids for the Villas of Newtown (VON) Basin Repairs
• Comments By Michele Fountain, Township Planner
• Comments By VON Residents
• Solicitor’s Report: Resolution amending the 2023 Budget to allocate $75,000 of American Rescue Plan funds to the Newtown Fire Association
• Manager’s Report
• Routine Bill Payment Proposal
• March 2023 Police Report
• Official Video
• Video Transcript

Read the summary...

At the April 12, 2023, #NewtownPA Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, Terry Christensen - a resident, member of the Planning Commission, and Chair of the Friends Home and Village Board of Directors - questioned the delay in finishing the Lower Dolington Road (LDR) Trail.

“One of the things we discovered,” said Mr. Christensen, “is that there are studies upon studies upon studies that indicate in that social isolation for anybody is bad but it's really harmful for people in senior living facilities” like the Friends Village located on Lower Dolington Road.

“It's been more than two years since I was able to report to the residents [living at the LDR] campus that soon we would have a trail along Lower Dolington Road that would enable them to get to Robert's Ridge Park.

"Progress has been very uneven … we see spurts of activity and then long long periods of inactivity. I'm very disappointed about that.”

A dozen people (mostly Newtown Twp residents) attended this Zoom meeting, which focused on the following topics (view the presentation):

• Change Zoning to Allow Apartment Complex? [Background: “20 December 2022 Newtown Planning Commission Meeting Summary”]
• Should Newtown Pull Out of the Jointure? [This was discussed at the 17 January 2023 Planning Commission meeting. Listen to the discussion...]
• Sewer Rate Increase: Why? Will It Be the Last? [Background: “#NewtownPA Sewer Authority Manager Warren Gormley Explains Rate Increase”]
• “Historic” Site on Toll Bros Site: Should It Be Preserved? [Background: “A ‘Major Historic’ Resource Re-Discovered!”]
• Updates
  • Newtown-Yardley Rd & N Sycamore St Pedestrian Safety: Flashing Beacons, Lower Speed Limits
  • Wawa’s Substantive Validity Challenge: What’s Next?
  • Lower Dolington Road Trail
  • LED Streetlight Procurement Program
• Privilege of the Floor – Q&A Session covering the following:
  1. Trucks Parked on Lower Dolington Road – Quite an Eyesore!
  2. Spot Zoning in OR District!
  3. No Turn on Red – More Dangerous for Pedestrians?
• Detailed Meeting Notes

[Image: Truck parked on Lower Dolington Road in Newtown Twp is a concern of residents.]

Across America, Cristos and other truckers are in high demand, yet these drivers are often cash-strapped and have few places to legally stop for a spell. Laws require truckers to stop at specific times. If too far from a legal parking space, you'll find them parked outside a shopping center, a residential street, or highway off-ramp.

Located at the confluence of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and U.S. Route 1, Bensalem is also trying to keep hundreds of truckers off local roads, which aren't designed for such heavy loads, DiGirolamo said.

Nearly every day someone is calling about a massive truck parked outside a home on an otherwise quiet residential street, the mayor said.*

Kushner RE Sketch Plan, Pedestrian Safety, LDR Trail Update, Exempt Personnel Salaries, More…

This is my personal summary of the December 21, 2022, meeting of Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary.

Access the 2022 BOS Chronicle for detailed summaries of all 2022 BOS meetings plus the BOS voting record (UNOFFICIAL) for 2022.

Agenda Items:

• Planning Commission Report: Kushner Real Estate (KRE) Silverlake Development Sketch Plan
• Pedestrian Crosswalk Improvements at Newtown Walk
• N. Sycamore Street Pedestrian Safety
• Lower Dolington Road Trail Update
• Resolution Establishing the Tax Rate for 2023
• Resolution Establishing Exempt Personnel Pay for 2023 (includes salaries)
• Official Video

Details...

Welcome to “The Year 2022 in Images."

There were many unique and interesting issues that I and other Newtown Township supervisors confronted in 2022. This is a selection of images and stories that document what I consider the most important news items and issues of interest to Newtown residents.

Images include the following with links to more information:

• It Took a Pedestrian Death
• No Gun Shows in Newtown!
• Newtown Says NO to Wawa
• Stand With Ukraine
• OLI/LI District Overlay Plan
• Did Anti-DEI Activists Drive Fraser Away from CRSD?
• 5G Antennas - Are They Safe?
• Shots Fired!
• NAS Asks for More AID
• It's Time For Solar Power!
• Bucks County Sewer Sale Stymied
• Lower Dolington Road Trail - The Longest DELAY!
• Women's Right To Choose
• Not On My BYpass!
• Movie Controversy
• "Historic" Resource Re-Discovered
• Why Did Charlie Feuer Cross the Road?

More...

Image: Work has been halted on the Lower Dolington Rd Trail (LDRT) for so long that  weeds are growing out of the cones! Photos taken on 8/24/22.
 
In May 2022, the Township Engineer informed the Board of Supervisors that the LDRT project encountered some “unexpected utility conflicts” during construction, which impact the underground infiltration trenches designed as part of this project. This is predominately in the area between Stanford Place and Everett Drive. Lumen – the company that owns the utility cable in question – was scheduled to relocate their conduit last year, which became January, then April, and now possibly the beginning of October!

Considering that Lumen will need 2 weeks to complete its job, work on the trail is not likely to restart until November!

Read more...

UPDATE: As of December 21, 2022, the job of removing the cones and barrels, etc., has been completed! As of December 20, 2022, I see that cable is being laid underground on Lower Dolington Road north of Frost Lane. Hopefully this project, which began around December 5, 2022, is still on schedule to be completed within one mont

[Image: These photos were taken on July 13, 2022. They show how the construction materials obstruct access to Raintree/Windemere landscaping. 1 – Netting wraps around bush that is clearly on private property; 2 – Overgrown grass (access denied!); 3 – Netting obviously prevents access to plantings.]

At the July 13, 2022, Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, Supervisor Mack asked the township engineer to explain the delays in the construction of the Lower Dolington Road Trail (LDRT).

Mack noted that even further delays are ahead as the “utility conflict” is resolved. That is, underground cables must be relocated before construction of the trail can begin again. 

More that that, Mr. Mack also voiced his and residents' concerns about "abandoned" construction barriers at the intersection of LDR and Stanford Place/Road (see "Lower Dolington Road Trail Construction Barricades Are a Pedestrian Safety Concern!"; and "Lower Dolington Road Trail Trash Tour").

When the topic of accountability came up, Mr. Mack said "Six feet needed to be held to the fire. The construction company, Lumens (company responsible for moving the underground cable), and Newtown Artesian Water Company," which provided incorrect information that adversely impacted the project.

View the 11-minute video: https://youtu.be/LPyacZEBGFE

Items on the agenda included: Lower Dolington Road Trail Delay, Where's Wawa?, NT Yardley Rd/Bypass Intersection Safety, Newtown Ambulance Squad, Fire Services Agreement, More...

Lower Dolington Rd Trail. Questions answered:

* What’s holding up this project?

* How has the township responded to residents complaints about long abandoned construction barriers causing hazardous conditions, interfering with landscaping, etc.?

* When will these barriers be removed? Should the township pay the contractors to come back and up the mess they left months ago?

* When will this project be completed?

Where’s Wawa? It’s a long story…

Left Turn Signage at Newtown-Yardley Rd/Bypass Intersection. Questions answered:

* Is new, additional signage needed to prevent left turn accidents?

* What did PennDOT think of the idea?

* What did the Newtown traffic engineer have to say about it? You have to read my response…

Newtown Ambulance Squad (NAS) is asking for an additional 0.5 millage Newtown Township tax dedicated to NAS. How much $ is this for the average Newtown homeowner? More...

Newtown Township-Newtown Borough Fire Services Agreement. It’s FINAL! How much will Newtown Borough pay?? More...

A resident of the Newtown Ridings Development complained to Supervisors regarding the Lower Dolington Road Trail construction trash at the intersection of Stanford Drive: "There is no reason for this trash to remain here. It’s ugly and dangerous, and it’s pretty much a lawsuit waiting to happen."

I decided to take a tour myself and record it.This stuff definitely should be outta here! Not shown is how I actually tripped over the netting on the ADA ramp!

UPDATE (6/30/22): The township has removed at least some of the garbage/litter and removed the netting laying on the ADA ramp. The barrels and netting have been removed from the sidewalk on the northeast corner at Stanford Dr to allow pedestrians to reach the intersection. Other barrels and netting have been moved to be less intrusive. There is still weed overgrowth as before and landscapers are blocked from properly mowing and attending the flowers and other plants. The site remains unsightly. It would cost the township $800-$1,000 to "redeploy" the contractor to come back to the site and do the job of removing these unneeded barrels and netting and debris (such as the cut cable, which remains but is blocked off by netting). In my opinion they should have done a cleanup BEFORE they left the site long ago.

A resident of the Ridings Development sent these photos and an email message to Newtown Supervisors regarding the LDR trail trash at the corner of Stanford Drive:

"Someone needs to come out and clean up the leftover materials. There’s a rusty piece of metal, 5 gallon buckets with standing water and garbage, and chunks of broken concrete sticking up in an overgrown patch of grass.

"There is no reason for this trash to remain here. It’s ugly and dangerous, and it’s pretty much a lawsuit waiting to happen."

UPDATE (6/30/22): The township has removed at least some of the garbage/litter and removed the netting laying on the ADA ramp. The barrels and netting have been removed from the sidewalk on the northeast corner at Stanford Dr to allow pedestrians to reach the intersection. Other barrels and netting have been moved to be less intrusive. There is still weed overgrowth as before and landscapers are blocked from properly mowing and attending the flowers and other plants. The site remains unsightly. It would cost the township $800-$1,000 to "redeploy" the contractor to come back to the site and do the job of removing these unneeded barrels and netting and debris (such as the cut cable, which remains but is blocked off by netting). In my opinion they should have done a cleanup BEFORE they left the site long ago.

CONTENT:

• Newtown Has Already Decided How It Will Spend Nearly Half of Its $2 Million ARPA Funds
• Newtown Township PD Incident Report: Reckless Driving Without Front Tire on Durham Road
• Newtown Supervisors Approve Chick-fil-A Settlement Agreement: Traffic Improvements On the Way!
• Solstice Is Second Restaurant In The Village At Newtown Shopping Center To Close Its Doors This Year
• Wawa Versus Newtown Township Timeline: 2017 through 2022
• Bucks County Residents Hold "Stop Wawa" Protest

Access the complete issue...

At the May 25, 2022, Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, the supervisors approved “Change Order No. 2” for the Lower Dolington Road Trail. This extended the date of completion for all authorized work to July 19, 2022.

Meanwhile, construction is NOT underway and hasn’t been underway since way for at least 2 months.

Barrels & Netting Hazard!

Meanwhile, several residents have raised a valid point regarding the barrels & netting construction barriers that are still standing (see image).

"With the barrels and netting in place neither the handicapped nor able bodied are able to cross at these locations," said one resident. "That presents a safety hazard to those who want to cross at those locations.  Removing those barriers should have taken place a long time ago.”

I agree! The township doesn't need another car versus pedestrian incident!

UPDATE (6/28/22): The barrels and netting have been relocated to allow access to the new sidewalks and crossing as well as improving motorist line of site when making turns onto Lower Dolington Road, which was also a concern of residents.

Joint Zoning Council meeting report (Comprehensive Plan, Wood-Burning Outdoor Furnaces, Billboards, etc.), Lower Dolington Rd Trail Update, Bird Town Resolution, Newtown Township/Borough Fires Services Agreement, 5G Wireless Ordinance Update, May 2022 Police report, June 3, 2022, Public Works Report, More…

Agenda Items

• Joint Zoning Council Meeting Report
• Lower Dolington Road Trail Payment
• Liquid Fuels Roadwork Change Order
• "Bird Town" Resolution
• Fire Services Agreement with Newtown Borough
• Consideration to approve of 5G Wireless JMZO Ordinance
• American Rescue Plan Fund Summary
• May 2022 Police Report
• Public Works Report(s)
• Video Highlights

Read the summary for details...

More than 100 projects across 45 Pennsylvania counties have been approved for nearly $50 million in funding, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday.

Newtown Township was awarded $227,000 in funding for the second phase of construction of the Lower Dolington Road Multi-Use Trail. The first phase of the trail was funded through the same grant program in 2019.

The funding comes from the state's Multimodal Transportation Fund, which was created in 2013 to fund improvement projects for roads, walking and bike trails, rail, traffic safety, public transportation and air transport.