Summary of August 22, 2018, BOS Public Meeting

The following is a brief summary of the August 22, 2018, Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting based upon the official minutes of that meeting, which you can find here.

Committee Reports

Planning Commission - Newtown Athletic Club: Applicant is seeking a variance to add an outdoor garden and fountain, which will exceed the minimum front yard setback requirement (variance is being sought to maintain a 0.57ft. front yard setback where current relief is 33ft. 75ft. is required per Ordinance). Access to the area would be through the men’s locker room. There were concerns regarding the basis for relief as the application did not show a hardship. The property is being used now without the garden and fountain. A suggestion was made that adding enhancements to an existing 7 ft. wall would provide a pleasing streetscape.

The Planning Commission made an informal recommendation that the Supervisors oppose this application.

Planning Commission - Newtown Brewery: Applicant is seeking to occupy 4,550 sq. ft. in an existing 10,000 sq. ft. 1-story warehouse/ manufacturing facility to operate a brewery and tavern. The tavern will be open to the public with seating for 70 patrons. There will be space for small parties and would be a “Bring Your Own Food” operation. Applicant will maintain 34 parking spaces with overflow parking use by agreement with a neighboring tenant for the required 46 parking spaces.

Members of the Planning Commission felt it was a favorable use in the Business Commons, and made an informal recommendation that the Supervisors not oppose this application.

Development

Arcadia Green - Tentative PRD Hearing, Part 2: Jason Duckworth, President of Arcadia Land Company, and Attorney John VanLuvanee, presented the plan and testified (see Summary of August 8, 2018, BOS Public Meeting for Part 1). Mr. Duckworth, still under oath, testified that under this current plan, there would be no access to High Street and the church property is not included in this current plan. Also, emergency access was not considered in the plan. Testimony included mention of Arcadia meeting with PennDOT to discuss the proposed plans for a U-turn at the intersection Buck and Mill Pond Roads. [Arcadia Green’s traffic engineer will be available at the September 13, 2018 BOS meeting.]

NOTE: There was a question as to why there was a hearing at tonight’s meeting when Arcadia Green will be meeting with the Planning Commission on September 4, 2018. The review letters had not been received in time for the Planning Commission’s review; Mr. Duckworth had volunteered to come before the Planning Commission. Arcadia Green stated that it will not modify the current plan. The Board of Supervisors will consider the recommendations from the Planning Commission and will continue the hearing at this meeting.

Public Safety

Keystone Community Grant: Interim Police Chief Jason Harris requested that the BOS approve RESOLUTION 2018-R-20 to request a Keystone Community grant of $94,000 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to be used for the purchase of two (2) police Harley Davidson motorcycles and a Ford F-250 Pickup Truck to support community policing efforts and truck enforcement. The current enforcement truck is nearly 18 years old and in “dire need of replacement,” according to Chief Harris. The total estimated cost of the truck and 2 motorcycles is $95,747. As the grant is for $94,000 the Township would pay the difference of $1,747. State Representative Perry Warren was instrumental in securing this grant.

Ms. Bobrin made the motion to approve. Mr. Davis seconded, and the motion passed 5-0.

Posted on 12 Sep 2018, 20:45 - Category: Board of Supervisors Minutes