Summary of the 10 September 2025 BOS Meeting
This is my personal summary of the September 10, 2025, meeting of the #NewtownPA Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary. See 2025 BOS Chronicle for details.
Public Comments
Reports of Committees, Boards and Commissions
- Planning Commission: SALDO Landscaping Ordinance Presentation
- John Mack: HARB Meeting – Mélange “Mishegoss” (aka “Mess!”)
Consent Agenda
- Payment of “Interim” Bills List and transfers of August 27, 2025. Payment of bills: $424,853.54. Fund transfers in the amount of $592,087.12.
- Payment of Bills List and transfers of September 10, 2025. Payment of bills: $735,091.81. Fund transfers in the amount of $645,097.89.
Reports of Officials
- Manager’s Report: August 2025 Police Report
- Solicitor's Report
Media
Highlights
ChatGPT Recap Base on Meeting Transcript
The September 10, 2025, meeting of the Newtown Board of Supervisors meeting began with an acknowledgment of Chief Glenn Forsight's fifty years of service to the fire department and community, including a formal proclamation and appreciative remarks.
The meeting then shifted to public comments, where residents voiced concerns ranging from improving crosswalk safety at Chandler Hall due to high traffic and vulnerable residents, to opposition against proposed commercial and residential overdevelopment like a large apartment complex on Sycamore Street.
There was also discussion regarding minor approvals for new businesses, specifically a tattoo parlor and a dog grooming salon, and a public hearing for New Town Bagel's request to expand its facility.
Additionally, the board addressed routine administrative matters, discusses a police report highlighting local crime statistics and safety initiatives, and considers resolutions such as supporting House Bill 1152 for direct EMS provider payments and forwarding a billboard ordinance.
Public Comment
Chandler Hall Residents Push for Safer Crosswalk
Chandler Hall residents and CEO John Whitman urged the township to improve the crosswalk on South Sycamore Street. They cited heavy daily use by seniors, staff, and visitors, along with frequent near-misses and one past accident. Residents requested pedestrian-activated flashing lights, like those near the Green Parrot, to force drivers to stop. Resident Laura Lee Stucky distributed a petition signed by over 90 residents and staff of Chandler Hall. View the video:
Podcast: Chandler Hall Crosswalk Safety Advocacy
Google NotebookLM created the following "Deep Dive" podcast from the audio recording of the Chandler Hall comments:
and staff as illustrated in this graphic, which shows the two
Chandler Hall facilities on opposite sides of S. Sycamore St.
Bradley Cooper Speaks Out Against Overdevelopment
Longtime Newtown Grant resident Bradley Cooper delivered a passionate critique of what he sees as a troubling pattern: supervisors siding with big developers over township residents. Cooper was responding to a new proposal by Jim Worthington to redevelop the Goodnoe farm property on Sycamore Street into a large apartment complex with retail businesses on the ground floor. He compared it to mixed-use developments in Newtown Borough, but warned that in this case, the scale and location are inappropriate. View the video:
Cooper praised Supervisor John Mack for regularly conducting resident surveys, despite pushback (see, for example, “#NewtownPA Township Residents Push Back on Goodnoe Homestead Redevelopment Project”). “Every time a survey is done, it’s always ‘we don’t want it.’ We don’t think it’s appropriate. There’s not enough space to handle the traffic or the headache it’s going to bring.”
Podcast: Tug of War – Developers Versus Residents
Google NotebookLM created the following "Deep Dive" podcast from the audio recording of Mr. Cooper’s comments:
Reports of Committees, Boards and Commissions
SALDO Landscaping Ordinance Presentation
At the 8 September 2025 Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) meeting, registered Landscape Architect Kim Flanders of CKS Engineering gave a brief presentation on native plants and trees and reasons why municipalities’ ordinances should encourage use of such plants in development plans. We were provided with red-lined copies of our SALDO with revisions to be adopted. Ms. Flanders explained that as we see changes in our environment, the SALDO regarding native plants should be updated about every five years. Listen to this “Deep Dive” audio podcast created by Google’s NotebookLM from the audio of Ms. Flanders presentation:
HARB: Mélange “Mishegoss”
At the 10 September 2025 Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) meeting, the applicant was in attendance to review the proposed signage for the six front windows of the building. The signage consists of logos in the front six windows across the front of the building and they will also require zoning relief.
After review of the proposed signage, HARB learned that the existing double-hung aluminum clad windows were badly damaged and had been replaced by six plate glass windows with the signage consisting of sycamore logos had already been installed. The applicant offered to install a wood, double-hung window frame over the etched windows.
The applicant must submit specifications about the proposed insert’s specifications to obtain HARB approval. The HARB members found the etchings themselves to be historically appropriate, and would recommend approval pending review of the proposed insert.
It was agreed that the application for a certificate of appropriateness would be amended and resubmitted.
Reports of Officials
Highlights
- 2,171 Total Incidents (versus 2024 monthly average of 2,475)
- 18 AUTO V. DEER incidents (93 YTD versus 162 in 2024)
- 169 Traffic Citations, 3 DUI arrests, 21 reportable traffic crashes
- 12 Fraud incidents (115 YTD versus 183 total in 2024 and 162 in 2023)
- 1 Retail Theft (30 YTD versus 53 in 2024)
- 7 Narcotics Possession (39 YTD versus 49 in 2024)
- 2 Non-Fatal Overdose (8 YTD versus 6 in 2024)
- 86 School Checks (1,745 YTD versus 2,618 total for 2024)
- HARB Certificate of Appropriateness for signs at 157-159 N. Sycamore Street. The Board approved a motion to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness conditioned on the Applicant’s compliance with the HARB memo of August 13, 2025.
- Newtown Bagel – Conditional Use Hearing. The Applicant presented the conditional use case for Newtown Bagel to expand into the abutting tenant space in the shopping center at 31-33 Swamp Road. The BOS approved the application.
- The Board approved the adoption of a Resolution supporting House Bill 1152 requiring direct payment from insurance companies to EMS providers.
- The Board approved sending the JMZO Billboard Ordinance to the Joint Zoning Council to advertise a public hearing. This action was recommended by the Planning Commission at its meeting in August.
Official Video
"Deep Dive" Audio Podcast
The following podcast entitled “Beyond Bagels & Billboards” is a 20-minute summary of this BOS meeting based on a transcript of the Youtube video. It was created by Google’s NotebookLM AI program.
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