Mack's Newtown Voice

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...

At the 22 November 2021 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting, Supervisor John Mack updated participants regarding traffic and pedestrian safety issues on North Sycamore Street near Silo Drive in Newtown. He summarized the comments and suggestions of Police Chief Hearn. This was followed by a lively discussion that included several ideas for mitigating the danger to both pedestrians and drivers. Read a su...

Supervisor Mack updated residents regarding the "free" LED streetlight feasibility study that the township requested. Resident Jan Filios - member of the Newtown Environmental Advisory Council - and Supervisor-elect Elen Snyder were surprised that at the "kick-off" meeting "quickly took a turn toward budgeting, and what the Township had allocated toward Phases II (design) and Phase III (constructi...

At the November 21, 2021, Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting Supervisor Mack brought up the issue of Hybrid Public Board of Supervisors (BOS) meetings. Resident Terry Christensen spoke up in favor and Supervisor-elect Elen Snyder vowed to "make it happen." Mack also suggested that the township's audio/visual equipment needed to be updated. Sources of funding for these improvements were discussed as wel...

At the November 23, 2021, Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) public meeting, resident, Planning Commission member, and Newtown Friends member, Terry Christensen spoke about the need for hybrid government meetings to allow residents to attend and participate remotely. "I don't believe having a driver's license should be a prerequisite for participating in municipal government," said Mr. Ch...

This session was devoted mainly to two topics: (1) the draft Newtown Township 2022 budget, which was presented to the Board of Supervisors later that same night (more about that here: https://bit.ly/NT2022BudgetPreso), and (2) the Toll Brothers proposed Settlement Agreement (more about that here: http://bit.ly/2sqcHfi).

At the October 7, 2021, Newtown Area Joint Zoning Council (JZC) meeting, Lisa Wolff, Senior Planner, Bucks County Planning Commission, presented recently released 2020 U.S. Census Redistricting Data Summary Files, as related to the Jointure townships (Newtown, Wrightstown, and Upper Makefield). Her analysis, which will be incorporated into the updated Newtown Area Comprehensive Plan, covers popula...

At the October 5, 2021, Newtown Planning Commission (NTPC) meeting, members discussed the Bucks County Planning Commission's (BCPC)September 10, 2021, revised proposal for services related to the creation of an Overlay District in the LI/OLI zones. The purpose of the overlay is to allow new permitted uses that will benefit local businesses.

Karen Downer, Bucks County NAACP President, explains how the Bucks County Mental Health Co-Responder Program helps police give residents support and services beyond police response during mental health and drug abuse emergencies. Her remarks were made at the Bucks County Community College sponsored September 17, 2021, Constitution Day Forum: "Community Policing 2021: Preserving Public Safety and C...

On September 9, 2021, Francis Hanney, Senior Manager - Traffic Services Division/ADA Coordinator at PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT) - hosted an online meeting with residents to discuss road improvements to facilitate access and egress to the proposed Arcadia Green development at the intersection of Newtown Bypass and Buck Road. At least 4 options with variations have been proposed by the...

David C. Babbitt, AICP NJPP, President of David C. Babbitt & Associates, LLC, Land Planning Consultants, was hired by Newtown Township to provide expert testimony at Zoning Hearing Board hearings opposing variances to zoning requested by Wawa. In this 15-minute snippet, Mr. Babbitt presents his opinions of Wawa's request for 8 fueling stations where only 6 are allowed. He also weighed in on the si...

Newtown Fire Association member and local businessman Andy Rich talks about the celebrated Newtown Beerfest, which will take place on September 18, 2021, at the Stocking Works, 301 S State St, Newtown, PA. Andy emphasizes the major role that the beerfest has played in raising funds for the new $800,000 fire engine. All made possible by contributions from local businesses and residents! Even so, An...