NOI features content curated from articles published in local newspapers and other sources. The insights expressed here are solely those of John Mack and do not represent the opinions of any other person or entity. Subscribe here, if you are not yet a subscriber.
At the July 13, 2022, Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, Supervisor John Mack requested that the township request – again! – that Provco/Wawa agree to extend the expiration date to the end of September for the BOS to vote on Wawa’s land development plan so that the hearing can happen after Labor Day when ALL the supervisors and more residents are likely to attend (view video clip).
Good news: Two days later on July 15, 2022, John VanLuvanee – attorney for Provco/Wawa – indicated that his client agreed to extend the deadline to Sep 30, 2022.
Mr. Resnikoff supplied some financial information and estimated that a 0.5 Mill increase - bringing the total to 1.0 Mill - will cost the average Newtown homeowner $1.81 per month ($21.80 per year).
Newtown Township (NTT) currently provides $171,000 (about $8.75 per resident) in annual funding to the NAS, whereas Newtown Borough only contributes $10,000 (about $4.45 per resident) annually.
|
John Mack's Insights/Comments:
A bit of history: In 2017, Mr. Resnikoff came before the BOS and suggested going back to a 0.5 millage dedicated tax instead of a percentage of the then current Local Services Tax, which varies from year to year.
I’ve heard that the Borough may be balking at paying more, which means that NTT residents would be paying nearly 3X more than Borough residents on a per resident basis! View the video clip to hear Mr. Resnikoff’s reaction to that.
Related Content:
|
|
Revisions to the existing traffic signal permit plans are summarized below.
Newtown Bypass (SR 0332) &: Newtown-Yardley Road/Lower Silver Lake Road:
- Widen east leg
- Add westbound right turn lane
- Add east leg pedestrian crossing
- Revise westbound signal heads
- Add westbound right turn overlap phase
- Upgrade signal heads #1 and #4 to red arrow
Newtown Bypass Corridor:
- Retime backup timings for Int. #8 [sounds like delays are in store]*
|
John Mack's Insights/Comments:
*Perhaps some resident/traffic engineer out there may be able to decipher this HOP application so we ordinary folk can understand the impact on traffic if and when Wawa comes to town. Find all the submitted documents here.
Q: The township was asked to to "complete and execute the attached Application for Traffic Signal Approval (PennDOT Form TE-160)..." Is this something that the BOS should approve?
A: The Township Engineer said via email: "The TE-160 is the form that ties the Township to maintain the traffic signal as noted in the PennDOT permit for the signal. This is a standard procedure for most signals. In this case, however, there would be no reason for the Township to sign the TE-160 until after the application has received BOS approval (if it receives approval). We will advise PennDOT and the applicant that the project has yet to go before the Board and the TE-160 can not be signed at this time."
Related Content:
|
|
The Council Rock School Board on Thursday, June 23, 2022, approved a $258 million budget for the 2022-23 school year that includes a real estate tax increase well below the Act One Index of 3.4 percent.
After voting down a proposed 1.59 percent tax increase, the board compromised on a 1.25 percent increase requiring the district to dip into its fund balance to the tune of $590,000.
The board voted 8-1 to approve the spending plan with Kristin Marcell voting against the motion. Marcell had favored a lower one percent increase, which had been debated by the board before settling on the compromise.
|
John Mack's Insights/Comments:
How much more would the average Newtown Township Homeowner pay in school taxes based on a 1.25% increase?
A 1.25% increase in the CRSD Millage = 1.66 Mills. That equates to (1.66 X 43,600)/1000 = $72.38 more dollars per year for a total of $5,862.78 for the average Newtown Township Homeowner based on the 2018 average assessment value of $43,600.
Meanwhile, a 1.25% increase in Newtown's real estate tax would amount to a $4.63 yearly increase for the average Newtown Township Homeowner based on the 2018 average assessment value of $43,600.
|
|
|
At the July 13, 2022, Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, Supervisor Mack asked the township engineer to explain the delays in the construction of the Lower Dolington Road Trail (LDRT).
Mack noted that even further delays are ahead as the “utility conflict” is resolved. That is, underground cables must be relocated before construction of the trail can begin again.
How much further delay can we expect? View the video to find out.
|
John Mack's Insights/Comments:
The photos above were taken on July 13, 2022. They show how the construction materials obstruct access to Raintree/Windemere landscaping. 1 – Netting wraps around bush that is clearly on private property; 2 – Overgrown grass (access denied!); 3 – Netting obviously prevents access to plantings.
|
|
[Image: proposed plan to add a dedicated right turn lane]
A resident emailed me: "Many people are unaware that this intersection allows both lanes to turn left. So many times the driver in the left lane proceeds to drive immediately into the right lane after turning unaware that another car turned beside him. A sign depicting double turning lanes is necessary when I'm sitting at the light on Newtown-Yardley Road turning left towards Shady Brook Farm.
Wanting to know what other people thought of this idea, I posted a survey. The survey asks respondents to select one of three choices:
- Yes, this is definitely a good idea
- No, this is not needed (people should just be more aware & keep in lane)
- Yes, but I doubt it will help
Respondents could also submit optional comments.
As of July 9, 2022, there were 144 responses with 57 comments. See survey results summary for details, including comments.
|
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 (aka, "JMZO 2022-01 Wireless Communications Ordinance") and summarized several problems including a “fatal gap” that renders the entirety of the ordinance moot!
Mr. Campanelli also discussed other “gaps” such as protections against excessive limits of radiation, random testing provisions, effective notices to the public, and ADA compliance issues.
The ordinance been tabled in Newtown Twp for further review. Upper Makefield Twp has not yet made a recommendation. At the July 7, 2022, Joint Zoning Council (JZC) meeting, the JZC Solicitor was authorized to seek proposals from Dan Cohen and Michael Giles (suggested by a resident in attendance) to review ordinance and provide guidance.
|
bit.ly/2022BOSchronicle
Includes BOS meeting summaries, voting record for the year, a glossary of terms, an index, and links to documents and data - all in ONE document.
|
|
|
