Mack's Newtown Voice

On December 20, 2022, the KRE Group presented to the Newtown Planning Commission a plan for development of 17.87 acre parcel in the OR, Office Research, Zoning District to construct a luxury rental apartment building with 225 units, 244 surface parking spaces and 232 garage parking spaces. Synopsis by PC Chair Peggy Driscoll: The Jointure does not permit such a residential use in any of our zoning...

On December 20, 2022, the Newtown Planning Commission reviewed a sketch plan submitted by Kushner Real Estate (KRE) Group to construct a multi-story residential apartment building/complex containing 225 luxury apartments on a 17.87-acre parcel. Access to the site is proposed via two, two-way driveways along the Bypass and Silver Lake Road. At the outset of the meeting Edward F. Murphy, Esq (Wisler...

In May 2022, the Township Engineer informed the Board of Supervisors that the LDRT project encountered some “unexpected utility conflicts” during construction, which impact the underground infiltration trenches designed as part of this project. This is predominately in the area between Stanford Place and Everett Drive. Lumens was scheduled to relocate their conduit last year, which became January,...

Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority (BCWSA) recently announced that it is considering an offer from Aqua to purchase its sewer (but not water) assets for $1.1 billion dollars (read “Bucks County Moves Ahead on $1.1 Billion Offer to Sell Sewer System to Aqua Pa.”; https://sco.lt/63oDya). BCWSA and Aqua are now hosting a series of private and public meetings to answer questions from municipalitie...

At the May 25, 2022, Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, there was a lively debate regarding whether or not to send the 5G wireless JMZO amendment back to the Joint Zoning Council (JZC) with the changes, corrections, additions suggested by the CKS, the Township Planner. There was a disagreement as to whether and WHEN other changes such as those suggested by Mr. Andrew Campanelli, ESQ. should be pa...

At the May 25, 2022, Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS)Meeting, Newtown Engineers Leanna Colubriale requested that the BOS approve a change order delay of 60 days for the completion of the Lower Dolingtown Road Mult-use Trail. The change order was required because of “unforeseen utility conflicts.” Ms. Colubriale answered questions from supervisors regarding specifics and the relocation of fencing...

On May 23, 2022, representatives of Pennsylvanians for Safe Technology hosted a Zoom meeting with Andrew Campanelli, Esq., who is a national expert in telecommunications law. Mr. Campanelli reviewed the current version of the JMZO Wireless/5G Antenna Ordinance and summarized several problems including a “fatal gap” that renders the entirety of the ordinance moot! Mr. Campanelli also discussed othe...

On May 19, 2022, Jeremy Stoff, Planner at Bucks County Planning Commission (BCPC), met Newtown Economic Development Committee (EDC) members via Zoom to present an outline of BCPC's plan for a LI/OLI Overlay District. The goal of the plan is to revitalize the Newtown Commons by allowing for certain currently not permitted uses that would help keep businesses in Newtown and provide more local servic...

On May 3, 2022, Bucks County Planning Commission (BCPC) representatives gave the Newtown Planning Commission an overview of the concept of an overlay district for the Business Commons, explaining that within an overlay some loosened requirements or additional uses could be added to the existing zoning. LINK to presentation: https://bit.ly/BCPC_OverlayPreso

Ted Dorand, PECO External Affairs Manager for Bucks County, was a Special Guest speaker at the April 19, 2022, meeting of the Newtown Economic Development Committee (EDC). In this audio clip, Mr. Dorand speaks about solar power in response to a question from Matt Peters, the Chair of the EDC, about installing solar panels in parking lots and/or other open spaces. Mr. Dorand also explains how PECO...

On April 19, 2022, representatives of Volta Charging, LLC, came before the Newtown Township Planning Commission (NTPC) to discuss a plan to install two Electrical Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations in landscape islands located in the parking lot of ACME in the Newtown Shopping Center. Testifying for Volta were Michael J. Megnniss of Begley, Carlin & Mandio, LLP, and John Stuckey, VP East Charging Solu...

In this audio snippet from the April 19, 2022, Newtown Township Planning Commission (PC) meeting, Township Planner, Michele Fountain, reviews the 5G Wireless Facilities Ordinance developed by the Newtown Area Jointure (Newtown, Wrightstown, and Upper Makefield). Specifically, Ms. Fountain focuses on measures to ensure wireless infrastructure – i.e., Small Wireless Communications Facility (pole) - ...

Ted Dorand, PECO External Affairs Manager for Bucks County, was a Special Guest speaker at the April 19, 2022, meeting of the Newtown Economic Development Committee. In this audio clip, Mr. Dorland speaks about Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations. He describes the three main types of EV charging – rapid, fast, and slow - and provided information on financial aid that PECO and the Department of...

John Mack discussed the Newtown Planning Commission’s review of the latest Wawa Land Development Plan at the April 11, 2022, Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting. Mr. Mack specifically discussed issues raised by the Bucks County Planning Commission in a letter to the township, including orientation of the buildings, traffic issues, and pedestrian safety. Mr. Mack also mentioned that the E30 ordinance giv...

In its review of the Preliminary Plan of Land Development for a Super Wawa combination gas station & convenient store on Newtown Bypass, the Bucks County Planning Commission (BCPC) made several recommendations for modifying the plan [LINK: https://bit.ly/BCPC-Wawa-Comments]. One of these involved the location and orientation of structures. BCPC said: “We recommend that the location of the store an...

Brett Duffy – a Holland resident – criticized Provco for being unprepared to answer questions about its Wawa Land Development Plan at the April 5, 2022, public meeting of the Newtown Planning Commission (NTPC). Mr. Duffy was among more than a dozen Newton and neighboring township residents who attended the meeting and made public comments. “The developer that wants to build on a parcel of land in...

At its April 5, 2022, public meeting, the Newtown Planning Commission (NTPC) failed to achieve a consensus to recommend that the Board of Supervisors (BOS) approve the latest Provco/Wawa Land Development Plan. This plan calls for building a Wawa “Superstore” – 12 pump gas station plus convenience store – at the intersection of the Newtown Bypass and Lower Silverlake Road. This project has a long h...

On March 11, 2020, Newtown Township passed a "Love is Love" Resolution in support of LGBTQ + minority youth (read "Newtown Township Passes Revised Love is Love Resolution"; http://bit.ly/PatchLoveislove). This resolution was inspired by State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, who has attempted to get his LOVE is LOVE Resolution passed by the PA Senate for the last 3 years without success. Mr. Santarsiero at...

Jan Filios – a Newtown Township resident and member of the Newtown Environmental Advisory Council – spoke about her concerns the impact of Super Wawa (gas station + convenience store on Newtown Bypass) on the environment. The plan submitted by Provco/Wawa will be reviewed by the Planning Commission at its April 5, 2022, public meeting. In her unofficial observations, Ms. Filios pointed out that th...

Peter Ancona, VP of the Newtown Crossing Community Association, gave an update on Arcadia at the March 7, 2022, Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting. Mr. Ancona noted that the developer submitted a revised Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) application for a U-turn at the Buck Road and Millpond Road intersection. In this recording Mr. Ancona describes an alternate to the U-turn option, which PennDOT said it...

At the February 16, 2022, “Basics of the Sunshine Act” webinar, George Spiess, Chief of Outreach and Training, PA Office of Open Records, reviewed what constituted a meeting covered by the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act. In this audio segment from the presentation, Mr. Spiess answers my question about establishing a quorum. In particular, can members of a committee participate remotely – via speaker ph...

Topics include: Newtown Gun Show, N Sycamore St Pedestrian Safety, Tolls Bros 413 Plan Update, Hybrid Meetings, Review of Arcadia Highway Application Permit Application, Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, American Rescue Plan Funds

This webinar was presented on January 20, 2022. This audio excerpt is from the first half of the webinar which covers prohibited uses and the NEW guidelines for lost revenue replacement. Notably the final rule eliminate the burden of calculating lost revenues. PSATS advised that it does not matter if the township had actual loses.

On January 18, 2022, the Newtown Planning Commission reviewed a variance application to permit the installation of three (3) electric vehicle charging stations (G-16 use) which is not a permitted use in the LI District and would require relief from the parking standards. The applicant is Cameron C. Troilo & Olga Jean Troilo, applicants/owners, Homewood Suites, 110 Pheasant Run, Newtown Business Co...

At the December 2, 2021, Joint Zoning Council meeting, Bucks County Planning Commission representatives (Jeremy Stoff and Lisa Wolff) presented an analysis of new dwelling units demand through 2030 versus the supply land potentially suitable for development. The projected population growth for the Jointure by 2030 will be 1,000 people, which would require 410 housing units. Approximately 50% of th...