`The NBCJMA recently posted this notice to its website:
"The Newtown, Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (Authority) has decided to halt all work on the proposed wastewater treatment facility. [Listen to the decision here...]
"The Authority had been actively pursuing construction of a brand-new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility on a 17.5-acre parcel between the Newtown Bypass and Lower Silver Lake Road. Gaining control of spiraling sewer rate hikes was the impetus for the Authority’s pursuit of this project.
"However, the Authority, during its Tuesday, March 11 board meeting, voted to stop all work on the proposed project. The vote came on the heels of opposition from community members, as well as the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors. [Read the what the BOS demanded...]
"At this juncture, the Authority has no plans to advance this project. In the interim, the Authority retains ownership of the land where the plant had been proposed and will keep the public apprised of any next steps or updates in that regard as they become available. The Authority thanks the public, as well as our customers, for their interest and feedback as it relates to this project."
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[As reported 3/25/25 in BCCT]:
A group of locals from the nearby Swan Point neighborhood have been protesting the project for months, speaking at public meetings and imploring local officials to intervene.
While the most recent decision is 'progress,' according to Bill Everett, one of the group's leaders, they haven't crossed the finish line yet.
'We're basically still full steam ahead,' Everett said.
Group members will be readjusting their strategy to focus on securing an official, ironclad cancellation of the project, Everett said.
Once complete, he added, they'll keep an eye on any future development proposals on the land.
'It's all about getting it officially canceled and then we can all go back to our regular lives,' Everett said.
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A suggestion was made that perhaps an ordinance is necessary prohibiting outdoor wood-burning furnaces, which - due to high gas and oil prices - may become more popular. It also was suggested that such a use would have an impact on the climate.
Perhaps this was a joke, hence the cartoon from the June 6, 2022, issue of The New Yorker that that I found and to which I made a slight modification.
Note that Doylestown has an Outdoor Furnace ordinance: https://ecode360.com/15690871
"The Board of Supervisors has determined that air pollution from outdoor wood-fired boilers may be detrimental to the health, comfort, living conditions, welfare and safety of the citizens of Doylestown Township and it is hereby declared to be the policy of Doylestown Township to safeguard the citizens of the Township from air pollution."
This ordinance does not prohibit outdoor furnaces but requires a permit to use one. Perhaps that is a more reasonable approach.
Other Bucks County municipalities have similar ordinances.
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