`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.
UPDATE (6/9/23): The hearing for the KRE Substantive Validity Challenge/Curative Amendment will begin on July 12, 2023 (regular BOS meeting), and continue on July 17, 2023. See 9 June 2023 Manager's Report.
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UPDATE (5/29/23): NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Supervisors of Newtown Township will hold a public hearing on Monday, June 19, 2023 at the Newtown Township Building, 100 Municipal Drive, Newtown, PA 18940, at 7:00 PM, to consider, and if appropriate, take action on, the application of KRE Upper Macungie Associates LP for a determination that the Newtown Area Joint Municipal Zoning Ordinance is unconstitutionally de jure and/or de facto exclusionary with respect to the legitimate and protected apartment use, for which use provision must be made in all Pennsylvania municipalities, and corresponding adoption of a proposed curative amendment to cure such defect.
Pursuant to Section 916.1(e) of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, notice is hereby given that the validity of the Newtown Area Joint Municipal Zoning Ordinance is in question, and the application, including all plans, explanatory material, and proposed ordinance amendment (LINK to online version: https://bit.ly/KRE_ValidityChallenge) may be examined by the public at the Newtown Township Building, 100 Municipal Drive, Newtown, PA 18940, during regular business hours, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
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