Speed Reduced on Newtown-Yardley Road. North & South Sycamore Street Too!

A proposed five-story, 75,338 square-foot luxury apartment building has generated some concerns among Newtown Township officials.

The developer KRE Group has filed a sketch plan and related documents with the township outlining the proposal for a vacant 17-acre parcel at 42 University Drive [just down the road from a proposed Wawa].

The sketch plan and other documents were filed Oct. 31 of last year and an initial review by the Newtown Township Planning Commission on Dec. 20 listed several issues [read “20 December 2022 Newtown Planning Commission Meeting Summary”]. The next step is likely up to the developer, township Manager Micah Lewis wrote in an email on Friday.

According to a written synopsis of the planning commission’s review contained in the file, the property had been previously approved for a 200,000 square-foot office building but that the jointure does not permit the proposed residential use in any of its zoning districts. The jointure is a multi-municipal body composed of officials from Newtown, Upper Makefield and Wrightstown townships that governs zoning in the three municipalities.

Ed Murphy, the local attorney representing KRE Group in the matter, indicated that the plan would require a zoning amendment, the synopsis added. The developer prefers that option rather than seeking seven zoning variances, including a use variance, that would be needed for the project to be constructed in the office research zoning district where the property is located.

“The commission members had many concerns about the size and intensity of the project and had many questions about traffic, economic impact and preservation of wetlands and woodlands,” the planning commission’s written synopsis read. “We discussed the impact of such a large building on the (Council Rock) school district."

The document added: “We were generally hesitant to support such a complete change in existing zoning. However, we are willing to continue to work with the applicant and learn more about their plans and their successes in other municipalities.”

During his nearly 18 years on the board of supervisors, Calabro said he has served in the minority - as well as the majority - and has learned to work with both sides in order to accomplish goals.

In the area of safety and quality of life, Calabro has lobbied for the expansion of the annual road program from roughly one to three miles of road improvements each year. For 2023, Newtown Township plans to pave 10 roads,

Calabro has also been an advocate for collaboration with the township's municipal neighbors, pushing for joint fire agreement with Newtown Borough. He also assisted Wrightstown in providing round-the-clock police protection.

More… 

The March 2023 Issue of Mack’s #NewtownPA News of Interest

CONTENTS:

• EAC wants to ban single-use plastics & use solar power for Municipal Center
• NTPD Releases 2022 Annual Police Report
• 2023 Road Paving Program
• February Meet Mack Monday Meeting Summary
• Summary of February 22, 2023, #NewtownPA Board of Supervisors Meeting
• Elen Snyder Announces Re-Election Bid For #NewtownPA Township Supervisor
• Newtown Township Will Reapply For Federal SAFER Grant To Hire More Firefighters. Will 4th Time Be The Charm?

Full issue: https://www.johnmacknewtown.info/noimar2023.html

Mixed use housing, new apartment building JMZO code, Ardana Food & Drink, single-use plastics ban, Lower Dolington Trail additional costs, new street sweeper approved, more…

This is my personal summary of the March 8, 2023, meeting of Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary. Note that I did not attend this meeting.

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
  • Mixed Use in OLI/LI Overlay
  • Create New Apartment Building JMZO Use
• Board Member Report
  • Moving Forward on Ordinance to Ban Single-Use Plastics
• Public Hearing: Ardana Food & Drink Conditional Use
• Engineer’s Report
  • Lower Dolington Road Multi-Use Trail – Change Order #4 & #5
• Manager’s Report
  • February 2023 Police Report
  • Purchase New Street Sweeper for $292,882.75
• Official Video
• Video Transcript

An ordinance that would regulate the use of single use plastics is moving forward in the township.

At Wednesday night’s meeting of the board of supervisors, Supervisor Elen Snyder announced that the EAC will be holding a special public meeting on April 3 beginning at 7 p.m. to introduce a sample ordinance.

“We are inviting all businesses in the township to educate owners and managers about single use plastics,” said Snyder. “There will be a question and answer session where members of the EAC will field questions.”

Single-use plastics, or disposable plastics, are used one time before they are thrown away. They include things like plastic grocery-type bags, plastic straws, stirrers, utensils, and plates; and polystyrene (Styrofoam) cups.

During the meeting, the EAC will be distributing a sample ordinance that would regulate the use of single use plastics in the township and will be looking for feedback from the business community.

“We hope to get all on board with this,” said Snyder.

A representative from Penn Environment will also be attending the meeting to discuss the impact single use plastics is having on the environment.

According to Snyder, for the past two years the EAC has conducted extensive research on single use plastics and alternatives in an effort “to take the temperature of the township” on the issue.

Ordinances have been passed in cities and towns across the nation, said Snyder, “and we hope to follow in their footsteps.”

More...

The battle to bring a Wawa to the township is back before the zoning hearing board where Provco Pinegood LLC is challenging the validity of sections of the township’s E30 use ordinance.

In its latest appeal, Provco, which has been fighting to build a Wawa convenience store and gas station on Lower Silver Lake Road and the Newtown Bypass for the past five years, is challenging the ordinance’s limit on the number of gas pumps allowed, the definition of an Electronic Message Center (EMC) sign and the ordinance’s restriction on signage along the Newtown Bypass.

During its second appearance before the zoning hearing board on Monday night, Matthew Hammond, a licensed civil engineer specializing in traffic planning, and Michael Tantala, a civil engineer, specializing in signage, testified on behalf of Provco.

Hammond testified that if Provco is not allowed to put a monument sign on the bypass alerting motorists of the store and gas station, it could create a dangerous condition on the bypass with motorists making split second decisions to make the turn onto Silver Lake Road after realizing there’s a Wawa there.

Under the E30 ordinance, signs are prohibited along the limited access Newtown Bypass.

Hammond testified that visible signage is important, especially for impulse customers who need enough advance warning to move to the proper turning lane.

“These signs are designed with the appropriate size, height and location necessary to provide a safe and efficient flow of traffic along these roads,” Hammond told the zoning board.

Regarding the use of signs for safety, zoning board chair Paul Cohen wanted to know if that only applied for certain uses. “Do you believe going from an office use to a retail use increases the need for signage?”

“I do,” said Hammond. “Retail use is what I’ll classify as an impulse use. Obviously there are people who want to traverse to that specific use. That signage is important. If it was an office it may not be as important because you’re not normally passing by an office building and saying, ‘Oh, I should probably try to turn in there.’”

More...

Our state and local governments exist to serve our communities. We pay our taxes each year, and in return, we the taxpayers have a right to know what our government is doing, how it’s spending our money and whether we’re getting the services we deserve.

But there are fewer and fewer journalists on the front lines, keeping the government honest — and when officials don’t face questions or requests for public records on a regular basis, they increasingly lean toward the side of secrecy over transparency.

Making matters worse, state and local governments have vastly more resources than members of the public, allowing them to fight requests for information in court (using taxpayer dollars!) knowing full well that most requesters can’t afford to fight back.

We know all too well what can happen when governments are left to their own devices. And that’s why Spotlight PA and many of our partner newsrooms are forging creative solutions to shift the balance of power back in favor of you, the taxpayer.

This week is Sunshine Week, a nationwide effort each year to call attention to the importance of government transparency and access to public records. Those are two principles that are core to the mission of Spotlight PA, the statewide newsroom I lead.

If you’re not familiar with our work, Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom covering the state Capitol in Harrisburg and urgent statewide issues. We share all of our journalism at no cost with more than 90 news outlets across the state.

And we work to bring our partners together to fight for transparency.

Learn more...

This is my personal summary of the February 22, 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

• New Assistant Fire Chief Sworn In
• Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) Update
• Resident Cites Arcadia/Mayfield Contract Violations
• Planning Commission Reports
  • Ardana Restaurant Conditional Use Approval Recommended
  • Comprehensive Plan Cover Letter: Municipality Addendum Recommended
  • Update to CompPlan Principle #5
• NESD Report
• Full Summary
• Official Video
• Video Transcript

I attended the 2nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Dream Builders Award Ceremony at Bucks Community Collage.

There were a few other elected officials present including PA State Senator Steve Santarsiero (at left in top panel of collage), U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (at right) - I did not see them exchange pleasantries - Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie, and fellow Newtown Supervisor Dennis Fisher.

This year’s honorees are:

• Community Dream Builder — Adrienne King (see #1 panel in collage), founder and president, The PairUP Society,
• Corporate Dream Builder — Dr. Vail Garvin (#2), president & CEO emerita, Bucks County Chamber of Commerce,
• Humanitarian Dream Builder — Karen Downer (#3), president, Bucks County NAACP, and
• Student Dream Builder — Lateefat Adewale (#4), president, Bucks County Community College Student Government Association.

All had very inspiring stories to tell.

J. Mcguigan, who resides on High Street in the Newtown Crossing development, informed the #NewtownPA Board of Supervisors that the Mayfield (formerly Arcadia) development project is violating several terms of the 10 February 2022 pre-construction agreement.

The Newtown BOS approved a settlement in 2021 for the developer to build 60 single family detached homes in the $700,000* price range behind the Newtown Reformed Church at Route 532 and the Newtown Bypass. *Now more like $1,000,000!

Specifically, Mr. Mcguigan said that work was being done on Sundays and after 8:00 PM, both of which are prohibited by the agreement. Although work is permitted on Saturday from 7 AM to 8 PM with the PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE MUNICIPALITY, Mr. Mcquigan hoped that some agreement could be reached to start work later in the day on Saturday.

Mr. Mcquigan also contended that the buildings were over 35 feet high in violation of township code.

The Supervisors had no immediate response to Mr. Mcquigan's questions, but agreed to submit them to the Township Manager for answers.

[Image: From left are Supervisors John Mack and Kyle Davis, Fire Chief Glenn Forsyth, Deputy Fire Chief Nicholas Weaver, Judge Mick Petrucci, Supervisors Phil Calabro and Elen Snyder, Township Manager Micah Lewis and Assistant Manager Katherine McGovern.]

Newtown native Nicholas Weaver was sworn in on February 22, 2023, as the new assistant chief of the Newtown Fire and Emergency Services.

A large contingent of firefighters filled the meeting room inside the Newtown Township building as District Judge Mick Petrucci administered the oath of office to the township’s newest employee.

“It’s great to be coming back and seeing so many familiar faces,” said Weaver. “I’m looking forward to giving back to the place that has given me so much. They helped me get to where I am today in both my career and in life.”

After graduating from Council Rock High School in 2007, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in fire science and public safety from Holy Family College in 2012 and a Master’s degree in public safety administration from St. Joseph’s University in 2013.

Weaver was hired by Lower Southampton Township as a fire inspector. He later joined the Bensalem Fire Department as a career firefighter. He then took a job as the fire marshal and emergency management coordinator in White Marsh Township before accepting his new position with Newtown.

The fire that killed a 76-year Newtown Township resident remains under investigation, but her death has been ruled accidental. [But was it avoidable? See insights...]

Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck identified the victim of the fire as Nancy Smollar. She was found to have died from smoke inhalation.

Newtown Emergency Services Department Chief Glenn Forsyth said this week that the report on the cause of the fire will be done in the coming weeks.

During recent briefings to Newtown Borough and Newtown Township officials, Forsyth said the there was only one smoke detector located in the residence.

The fire chief said his crews often find aging old smoke detectors in homes in Newtown borough and township. He urged residents to keep up to date on their detectors and replace them when needed.

Elaine McCarron, Co-Chair of the Newtown Township PA Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) gave the Supervisors an update of EAC's recent activities at the 22 February 2023 BOS meeting.

Her report included plans for celebrating Earth Day and how local businesses feel about a ban of single-use plastics, which the EAC hopes the township will enact after its research is done and recommendations made.

Ms. McCarron also mentioned that the EAC plans to recommend that the township use solar energy to supply the electricity needs of its municipal complex.

It should be noted that at the same meeting, just minutes after Ms. McCarron's remarks, the supervisors approved OK a 5-year $7,210,982.45 electricity supply contract with Freepoint Energy Solutions LLC at $0.05916/kWh.

Zoës Kitchen closed its Newtown location abruptly this week leaving only a hand written note on the door of the Goodnoe Corner eatery.

The note read simply, “Closed Permanently.”

Zoës Kitchen, a fast casual restaurant chain specializing in Mediterranean-inspired food, opened in 2013 at Goodnoe Corner. It replaced Cosi, which had relocated to the Newtown Business Commons.

At its Feb. 22 meeting, the board of supervisors voted unanimously to direct fire chief Glenn Forsyth to resubmit its SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant application for consideration.

If successful, the grant, totaling over $1 million, would fund the salaries and benefits of four additional full-time career firefighters for three years.

Since its last application, [BOS Chair Dennis] Fisher said changes have been made by the township for the good that further demonstrates the township's long term commitment to building a career fire service. “We hired a deputy assistant fire chief. We have a new agreement with Newtown Borough to help pay for emergency services.”

Supervisor John Mack asked Fire Chief Glenn Forsyth whether he felt that would be enough to demonstrate to FEMA the township's commitment to maintaining the additional career firefighters once the grant runs its course.

"With the additional millage - that's an additional $325,000 - and the additional money from the borough - that's $156,000 - that's almost a half a million dollar increase," said Forsyth. "For a $50 application fee, I think we should try it and see what the outcome is."

Welcome to Meet Mack Monday for February 20, 2023. This short, 15-minute presentation covers recent issues of interest and decisions by township supervisors, including:

* 2023 Road Repaving Program: How Are Roads Selected?
* Earned Income Tax: 2022 Data, Future Concerns
* Reduced Speed Limits: What’s Next for Newtown-Yardley Road and Sycamore Street?
* 2022 Speeding Citations: Which Roads Saw The Most Citations? Which Saw None?
* Newtown Shopping Center Traffic Study
* Environmental Advisory Council Update: Earth Day Celebration, Single-Use Plastics Ban, and Solar Power

[Image: Tyler State Park Manager Phil Schmidt stands by part of a solar array going up on the Newtown Township side of the park.]

A large ground-mounted solar array going up near the park headquarters building on the Newtown Township side will fairly soon provide most of the electricity needed at the 1,700-acre park that stretches over Newtown Township, Northampton Township and a small part of Wrightstown Township, Park Manager Phil Schmidt said.

And it will be a big money saver, he added. Once completed and connected to the PECO grid, the solar array will reduce yearly electric costs at the park from about $17,500 a year down to $1,500, Schmidt estimated.

The solar project at Tyler consists of 270 solar panels about three by six feet each, attached together to make six large rectangular pieces, with three of 50 panels and three of 40 panels.

In addition to the savings, there will be environmental benefits as well, he continued.

“With climate change, we’re just going to have to work on getting away from fossil fuels as much as possible,” Schmidt said. “Since state parks are run by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, we should be spearheading some initiatives. It’s something we should be doing, and I’m glad we are.”

The $377,000 cost of the Tyler array is part of a larger contract awarded to Spotts Brothers to install solar at Nockamixon State Park – which like Tyler is in Bucks County – Evansburg State Park and the Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center in Nazareth. All are in the DCNR’s Southeast Region. Money for the installations is coming from Pennsylvania’s Growing Greener grant program, Schmidt noted.

More…

Elen Snyder has announced her bid for re-election to the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors.

Snyder, a Democrat and six-year resident of Newtown Township, is a member of the board’s Democratic 4-to-1 majority. She was appointed to the board in 2019 and won election to a two year seat in 2021.

During her first term Snyder successfully assisted in negotiating an agreement between the township and the borough to ensure that both will have adequate fire coverage coordination for years to come. Snyder also serves as a member of the newly formed fire commission that constantly monitors the agreement and is committed to fire services that includes the retention and expansion of paid firefighters.

More...

[image shows a section of the 2023 Road Paving program Map.]

The township will advertise a base bid listing parts of six roads totaling 2.32 miles, and alternate bids listing parts of 11 roads totaling 2.18 miles. The base bid is budgeted at $703,514 and the alternate bids at $638,994, though true costs won’t be known until bids come back.

Township Engineer Leanna Colubriale said the tentative schedule is to advertise for bids the week of February 13, open bids March 14, and award a bid on March 22.

Supervisor John Mack remarked on the rising cost of repaving roads, noting that this year’s program will cost somewhere around $300,000 a mile.

More...

The Newtown Township Police Department (NTPD) recently released its 2022 Annual Report. Contents include:

• Community Message from Chief of Police
• Awards and Presentations
• Milestone Achievements
• Retirement
• New Officers
• School Resource Officer
• Commercial Vehicle Safety
• DUI Enforcement
• Aggressive Driving Enforcement Initiative
• Speed Timing Devices
• Grant Funding Received
• Newtown Township Yearly Statistics

Some Yearly Statistics Highlights:

• In 2022 there were 20,707 calls for service vs 19.918 in 2021
• 7 “pedestrians hit” in 2022 vs 5 in 2021 (see North Sycamore Street Pedestrian Safety Timeline: https://www.johnmacknewtown.info/blog/?viewDetailed=202301151052
• 1,812 traffic citations in 2022 vs 1,781 in 2021
• 27 overdoes/narcan use in 2022 vs 23 in 2021
• 1,360 school checks in 2022 vs 823 in 2021

View/download the full 74-page report...

New Speed Limits, Wawa v. Newtown Deja Vu, EIT Collections Up, Sewer Rates Up, Should NT Pull Out of Jointure? More...

Full Issue...

On Sept. 9, 1915, Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, known today as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Woodson, who is also called “The Father of Black History,” was a Harvard-educated historian and author who also established the "The Journal of Negro History," now called "The Journal of African American History" in 1916 as a vehicle to chronicle the Black experience — past and present. 

Naturally, Woodson was eager to designate a time when the whole nation recognized — and celebrated — Black history. In 1925, February was chosen as Black History Month because it’s the birth month of two vital change agents in Black history: Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln. 

More...

Have you heard about lower speed limits, higher sewer rates, challenges to our zoning, and more News of Interest to #NewtownPA residents?

Read the February 6, 2023, issue of News of Interest to Newtown area residents.

Planning Commission Report, Earned Income Tax Trends, Joint Zoning Council, 2023 Liquid Fuels Program, Sycamore Street Speed limit Reduction, More…

This is my personal summary of the February 8, 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 – see Full Summary
• Earned Income Tax (EIT) Trends
• Joint Zoning Council Report
• Engineer's Report
  • 2023 Liquid Fuels Road Program
• Solicitor's Report
  • Speed Limit Lowered to 25 MPH on Sycamore Street
• Manager's Report
  • Police Report – Traffic Citations (January 2023 and all of 2022)
• Official Video
• Transcript