26 February 2024 Meet Mack Monday Meeting
Six #NewtownPA Twp residents and one Middletown resident attended this Zoom meeting, which focused on LED Streetlights, Municipal Trash Collection – Time for a Change? Borscht Belt Neon Sign Decision Update, Newtown Place Apartment Plan Revision, What You Need to Know About the Plastic Bag Ban, Bucks NAACP Race & Policing Report Briefing Summary, Proposed Mural Project, and more...
- Opening Presentation
- Further Discussion and Details
- Links to Important Information
- Detailed Meeting Notes
Opening Presentation
The following is a 9-minute video of the opening presentation:
LED Streetlight Program Payback Period
An attendee disputed the 16.5 year payback period and suggested that it is likely to be 30 years. Keystone Lighting Solutions, which will implement the project, based it's 16.5 year payment by dividing the net investment cost of $720,373 by $43,679 yearly savings estimate. See the "Financial Analysis & Summary" section of the Project specification document.
The attendee said that this ignores the time value of money (TVM). This is the idea that money is worth more today than the same amount in the future because of the earning potential of the present money.
HRC and Mural Arts Program
Barbara Simmons, a member of the NAACP Bucks County Executive Board, informed members of the Newtown Township Human Relations Commission (HRC) about Bucks County's "Mural Arts Program," supported by the Bucks County Commissioners.
Ms. Simmons discussed my idea of having the HRC sponsor a series of canvas murals attached to the chain link fence on the PennDOT walking bridge from the George School to the Township. This would involve police departments of three communities: Newtown Township, Newtown Borough, and Middletown.
AUDIO: Barbara Simmons Talks About a Mural Project in the Newtown Area
The project also has the potential to involve students from Bucks County Community College, George School and Council Rock High School, as well as the Newtown Business Association.
PennDOT had a new banner/mural ban for some time (related to fear of free speech issues). Ms. Simmons and I are working on getting PennDOT to draft a new policy for this purpose.
The goal of the Mural Arts Program is to bring together police, students and citizens to design and paint a mural together, which can help build trust that had been broken since the murder of George Floyd and other People of Color across the country. Murals will also be painted in Quakertown and Doylestown.
Sewage Treatment Plant Environmental Impact
An attendee asked about the proposed sewage treatment plant to be located in the OR district next to the Wawa location.
& proposed sewer treatment plant
I noted that the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (NBCJMA) has made an offer to Kushner RE to purchase the land. The attendee was concerned about pollution of the water flowing through the property (see map).
I noted that If you check the JMZO, a public utility operation under an F-1 use is allowed by Special Exception in the OR district. The key feature is that it can only occupy 10% of the total property. Here's what the JMZO says: "Public Utility Operating Facility. No facility nor projected area thereof as viewed in the plan view shall occupy more than 10% of the property on which it is located." See video from the 27 September 2023 BOS public meeting:
Municipal Authority Meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of each month @ 3:30 P.M. in the Municipal Building located at 5 South Congress Street, Newtown PA 18940.
Sycamore Street Eyesore
An attendee noted that several buildings on Sycamore St., for example Guru's, and the Arya Rug building, are in sore need of siding repair and paint. "Can the Township say anything to the property owners, given that they are eyesores?", he asked.
I noted that I saw work being done on the Arya Rug building to prepare for repainting and that Guru's is on the market and there will perhaps be a new owner who will spruce up that building.
I was also informed by Bill Mahler of the Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) that the Arya property is under contract. Unfortunately, I was informed by Mr. Mahler that, despite being within the Historic District, there is no ordinance for enforcement of maintenance to the structures. Mr. Mahler asked me to ask Mr. Sander, the Newtown Township Solicitor, what the process would be to create an ordinance for enforcement. Mr. Sander said he would look into it and get back to me and Mr. Mahler.
Mack's Pothole Patrol
Meanwhile, after the meeting, I noticed a problem on Lower Dolington Road just north of Frost Lane:
I reported this to the Township Manager.
When I informed the Township Engineer about this back in 2023, I was told that “the pavement is slightly notched out there due to the contractor needing to accommodate the underground stormwater infiltration trench." [Read “Lower Dolington Road Trail ‘Punch Lists”]
I was also told "The pavement edge was sawcut so they could make the excavation for the trench.” Obviously, the trench has NOT been installed as evidenced by the puddle of water seen in one photo!
A resident - who is cc'd on this - first pointed out that this cutout was a “Potential hazard for motorists.” With the current state, I would say that this is even a greater hazard to motorists because the crumbling pavement goes beyond the edge line pavement marking into the travel lane.
I hope that this can be repaired ASAP and, if necessary, the underground stormwater infiltration trench is actually constructed - or if it has been constructed, it should be fixed so that it works to prevent the build up of rain water/flooding that we currently are seeing.
We’ll see what happens...
Links to Important Information
- #NewtownPA Township LED Streetlight Conversation Plan
- Sewer Authority Representatives Discuss Proposed Sewage Treatment Plant
- Guru's Fine Indian Cuisine #NewtownPA Restaurant Put on the Market
- Lower Dolington Road Trail ‘Punch Lists”
- Single Hauler Trash Pickup Survey Results – Survey still open
Detailed Meeting Notes
See the meeting notes embedded below or download the PDF version here.
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