Newtown Township is taking steps to protect its historic structures that lie outside designated historic districts.
The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors discussed potential measures during its Wednesday evening meeting.
The issue was raised during reports from the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) and Planning Commission. Both bodies expressed concern about the lack of protection for historic structures not already part of the historic district or designated historic villages.
“We have no way to protect our historic structures that are not already part of the historic district or in one of the designated historic villages,” said Peggy Driscoll, a Newtown Township Planning Commission member. “It is our understanding that Newtown Borough and Upper Makefield have also been researching this.”
The board discussed creating an inventory of historic properties throughout the township as a first step. Supervisor John Mack suggested inviting an expert who recently presented to Newtown Borough to speak to the Planning Commission.
[See presentation by Megan McNish, Eastern Region Community Preservation Coordinator for the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO): “Preservation and Regulatory Strategies to Maintain Community Character”; LINK: https://rebrand.ly/McNish_Preso]
The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office is responsible for evaluating potential structures for inclusion on their historic preservation list.
Chairperson Dennis Fisher suggested the Planning Commission, along with HARB, research potential preservation strategies and make recommendations to the supervisors.
“My thought would be maybe the Planning Commission, along with HARB or whomever else, would take the time to research what it is and make a recommendation back to the Board of Supervisors,” Fisher said.
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I was told that Newtown needs more people to move in so that tax revenue can be increased without increasing the millage rate. That may be why the BOS recently voted to approve an amendment of the zoning to allow high-density housing in the Business Commons (OLI-LI district). Read "Public Hearing to Consider Establishing LI/O-LI Overlay District”, which was held at the August 2024 BOS meeting.
The process has started to begin developing the 2025 draft Budget. Department heads are prioritizing expenditures and capital projects.
The question is, do we need high-density apartment buildings in the Business Commons to ensure that Newtown's population/tax base will increase and not continue to decrease? Keep in mind that Toll Bros will be building 45 single-family homes soon and another developer wants to building a 100-unit apartment building in the center of town.
Fore more, read this Patch article: “#NewtownPA LI/O-LI Overlay Ordinance Problems”