Mack's Newtown Voice

Members of the public spoke up at the January 4, 2024, #NewtownPA Zoning Hearing Board regarding Borscht Belt Deli's appeal of a Notice of Violation issued by the township declaring that the neon sign in its window violation the JMZO's zoning ordinance. Read more about this here: https://sco.lt/58eUaW "This is a very troubling situation," Eric Pomerantz told the Newtown Zoning Hearing Board. "Why...

As reported in the Newtown Patch: In arguing the township's case before the board, Township Solicitor Dave Sander asked the zoning hearing board to uphold the law and to reject the appeal. “This is a zoning case limited to a sign that is neon that appears in the front window of a business in the township. A complaint was received by the zoning officer. She investigated it. She saw what she believe...

Several residents made comments prior to the #NewtownPA Board of Supervisors (BOS) 4-1 vote (Kyle Davis voting nay) to approve the Single-Use Plastic Bag ordinance, which will go into effect on April 9, 2023. Speakers include: Bradley Cooper, John D'Aprile, Elaine McCarron, and Elen Snyder.

At the 21 November 2023 #NewtownPA Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, supervisors approved by 4-1 vote (Kyle Davis voting nay) to advertise the proposed Single-Use Plastics Ban Ordinance (LINK: https://rebrand.ly/PlasticsBan_v6a). The discussion focused on revisions from previous version regarding enforcement and exemptions. It also includes comments from residents and a discussion of re...

This discussion took place during the November 13, 2023, Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting. Supervisor John Mack presented his questions regarding the utility of this bridge to Newtown Township and suggested it would benefit primarily Steeple View residents in the Borough. Newtown Environmental Advisory Board member Jan Filios pointed out the environmental concerns, which may be insurmountable due to...

At the 17 October 2023 meeting of the #NewtownPA Planning Commission (PC), members failed to agree unanimously to recommend approval of certain aspects of Capital Grille's signage plan. Specifically, some members had problems with the huge 13ft 4" by 6ft 0" (80 square ft) sign that Capital Grille proposes to affix to the rear facade of the building that faces Silo Drive. The rationale for such a b...

At the 17 October 2023 #NewtownPA Planning Commission (PC) meeting, I spoke up about my concerns regarding the O-LI/LI ("Business Commons") Overly Plan. Find the plan here: The PC - working with Bucks Planning Commission (BCPC) experts - is near to finalizing the Plan to recommend to the Board of Supervisors (BOS). Before this comes to a vote by the supervisors, I expressed a need to have more dis...

This 30-minute discussion was recorded at the 16 October Meet Mack Monday (MMM) Zoom meeting, which focused on the draft 2024 #NewtownPA budget. See the video presentation that was made prior to the discussion: https://youtu.be/arT6ui-fx2M MMM attendees commented on the proposed tax increase, road program, and other aspects of the budget. One resident asked if the budget was reviewed by an outside...

Mary Donaldson - a member of the Economic Development Committee (EDC) - discusses how an Overlay to the LI and OLI zoning districts would allow for additional uses that are currently not permitted. Her comments were made at the September 21, 2021, EDC public meeting.

This is my complete recording of the first 80 minutes or so of the meeting - I had to leave early. Mr. Hanney offered a more detailed summary of PennDOT's rationale for the above position in a September 16, 2021, letter sent to the Township and participants (https://bit.ly/PennDOTresponseLtr). The letter responds to the community's concerns and clarifies why certain alternatives are not acceptable...

The 75-minute audio recording of the September 20, 2021, Meet Mack Monday meeting (via Zoom). The major issue discussed was the Toll Bros proposed settlement. For links to resources relevant to this, see my meeting notes: https://www.johnmacknewtown.info/mmm20sep2021.html

Lisa Wolff Reviews 2020 Census Jointure Race Data

Lisa Wolff Reviews Change in Jointure Population

Lisa Wolff Reviews Jointure Population Trend

Lisa Wolff Reviews 2020 Census Data on Jointure Housing

At the 18 Sept 2023, #NewtownPA BOS meeting, Supervisor John Mack secured his right to hear and judge the evidence provided by KRE Upper Macungie Associates, LLC (“Applicant”) in its challenge to Newtown's zoning. During the hearing, Mr. Mack asked the applicant's expert witness - Town Planner Thomas J. Comitta - to clarify remarks he made in his testimony. Recall that KRE is seeking to build a mu...

This is an edited recording of the discussion I had with residents who attended the 11 September 2023 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting. Among the topics discussed were; (1) Lower Dolington Road Trail problems identified by residents and by the township engineering firm, and (2) The proposed plan to amend the zoning to allow the development of a 120-unit "Garage Core" apartment complex off of South Sy...

At the September 6, 2023, Newtown Borough Council Meeting, Mr. Warren Gormley - executive director of the Newtown, Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority - informed Council members that the Authority is investigating the possibility of acquiring land and building its own sewage treatment plant in Newtown Township. The Authority is looking into the feasibility of acquiring a 17.5-acre tract on Lowe...

Attorney Joel Winston, Cohen Law Group (CLG), answers questions about the draft Wireless Communications ordinance [https://bit.ly/v1_DraftWirelessJMZOordinance] his firm developed for #NewtownPA Area Joint Zoning Council (JZC). The Q&A session was held on July 6, 2023, meeting of the JZC. At CLG, Mr. Winston defends local governments from cable and wireless disputes in state and federal courts. He...

At the June 14, 2023, #Newtown PA Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, resident Tom Crawford, Esq. chastised the Board for refusing to disclose the terms of the “secret” settlement deal with WAWA before voting. "I just think that that is grossly unfair and entirely contradictory to your obligations." He asked the BOS to defer the vote until the public had a chance to see the details of the settleme...

At the 22 May 2023 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting, residents discussed the pros and cons of reducing speed limits to improve pedestrian safety. The discussion focused on Newtown-Yardley Rd between Lower Dolington Rd (LDR) and Washington Ave in the Borough and LDR along the soon-(hopefully)-to-be-completed multi-use trail. Should pedestrians just jump in front of cars at crosswalks and expect them t...

At the 22 May 2023 Meet Mack Zoom meeting [https://www.johnmacknewtown.info/22may23mmm.html#grille], participants had a lively discussion of the impact that a proposed Capital Grille would have on parking in the Newtown Village (aka Brixmor) shopping center. Should the Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) oppose this plan? Before that decision is made, however, the BOS will decide if will approve th...

Participants at the 22 May 2023 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting discussed Deluca Construction's plan is to build two single-family homes on 3.08 acres whereas Newtown's Conservation Management (CM) District permits only one house on 3 acres. The developer must seek zoning variances from the Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB), but the company's solicitor will appear before the Newtown Board of Supervisors (B...

Participants in the 22 May 2023 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting talked trash. It began with a seemingly simple question: "Should Newtown Township contract with one trash company for savings, efficiency, less noise and pollution?" It quickly moved on to how some homeowners associations have taken matters into their own hands to reduce costs and reduce noise and other pollution by hiring a single sour...

This proposed amendment addresses all types of signage including billboards, both on and off-premises. On May 2, 2023, the Newtown Township Planning Commission tabled discussion to review some research done by previous Planning Commissions.