John Mack Newtown

Newtown Township Code Services — March 2026

Executive Summary

This briefing document synthesizes the professional services provided by Barry Isett & Associates, Inc. (BIA) to Newtown Township for the period of March 1, 2026, through March 31, 2026. The total invoice for this period amounts to $56,836.50, covering Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (PA UCC) services and specialized zoning administration.

Mack's Newtown Voice · Newtown’s $56,000 Construction and Zoning Bill

Key takeaways include:

  • Revenue Generation: UCC Plan Reviews and Inspections generated $50,266.50, driven by significant commercial fit-outs and new residential construction.
  • Operational Efficiency: A substantial portion of zoning hours was dedicated to the “Old Open Road Permit Project,” a systematic effort to inspect, verify, and close outstanding permits from as far back as 2022.
  • Enforcement Focus: Significant resources were directed toward signage compliance, including the removal of 21 illegal advertising signs and the issuance of Notices of Violation for unpermitted commercial and residential work.
  • Administrative Stability: Zoning services maintained high continuity through consistent correspondence, land use meetings, and homeowner consultations regarding permits and property easements.

Financial Overview

The following table outlines the cost distribution for professional services rendered in March 2026.

Task Category Description Amount
Task 01 UCCCD Plan Review & Inspections $50,266.50
Task 05 ZONCD Zoning Services — 54.75 hours @ $120/hr $6,570.00
Total Invoice Professional Services — March 2026 $56,836.50

Remittance and Security Notice

BIA has issued a security advisory regarding a rise in check theft. They recommend that Newtown Township utilize ACH transfers, credit card payments, subject to a 3% fee, or certified mail for future payments to ensure security.

Task 01: PA UCC Services and Permit Activity

The UCC log for March 2026 details 40 distinct permit actions involving fit-outs, alterations, new construction, and repairs. For this work, Isett takes 60% of the fees collected. I was told that this is the standard percentage that Isett charges for similar services provided to other townships.

Major Commercial Projects

Significant commercial development centered on fit-out projects, which contributed substantially to the total permit fees:

  • 2700 S Eagle Rd: Fit-out project with an improvement cost of $1,094,000, generating $10,536.50 in total fees. BIA share: $6,319.20. This is the Rothman building at the Village at Newtown. Jefferson Health is proposing move into this building. 
  • 2834 S Eagle Rd: Fit-out project with a $400,000 improvement cost, generating $6,919.50 in fees. This is the location Fuze Barber Shop.  Warby Parker: An eyewear retailer that has recently opened or is in the final stages of opening at this specific address to offer glasses, sunglasses, and eye exams.
  • 1 West Rd: Fit-out project with a $311,000 improvement cost, generating $8,657.50 in fees. This is a TD Bank building.
  • 828 Newtown-Yardley Rd: Fit-out project with a $349,710 improvement cost, generating $8,028.50 in fees. I’m not sure what this project is about, The only reference I have to this address is a reference to a 4 December 2925 ZHB decision regarding Application No. 1243-25 – 826-828 Newtown-Yardley Road: request to replace freestanding complex ID signs exceeding size/location limits. Unfortunately, there is no publicly available minute for this meeting. Read more here...

Residential Development and Maintenance

  • New Single-Family Dwellings: Three new dwellings were processed at 9 Augusta Dr, 24 Augusta Dr, and 17 Caroline Ct, each with an improvement cost of $298,000.
  • Infrastructure & Maintenance: Activity was high in roofing permits, with 11 permits issued, and solar installations, notably at 362 Parkview Way and 159 Liberty Dr.
  • Fee Adjustments: A credit of $23.70 was applied to the final UCC total, specifically related to Permit #260010 at 12 Atkinson.

Task 05: Zoning Services and Inspections

Zoning services were split between field inspections by Sean Emberson and administrative/correspondence tasks by Ana Gindhart.

Field Inspections and Code Enforcement

Sean Emberson logged 31.75 hours, focused on active enforcement and the resolution of legacy permit files.

  • Old Open Road Permit Project: Significant hours were spent organizing and closing files from 2022, 2023, and 2024. Locations included Merion, Linton Hill, S Norwood, and others where road opening permits were inspected and marked as “Pass” to close the files in the Caselle system.
  • Signage Enforcement:
    • Removed 21 advertising signs along the corridor from Durham/Stoopville to Washington Crossing.
    • Conducted follow-ups on signage violations at Five Guys and for Steven Singer.
    • Issued a Notice of Violation for a prohibited off-premise sign at 434 S Norwood.
  • Complaint Resolution: Addressed resident concerns regarding snow removal processes, ADA sidewalk ramps, bump outs, and unpermitted construction.
  • Notices of Violation: Drafted and issued NOVs for various infractions, including unpermitted fences at 6 Caulfield, HVAC work without permits at 2890 South Eagle Road, and unpermitted alterations at 828 Yardley Newtown Road.

Zoning Administration and Public Liaison

Ana Gindhart logged 23.00 hours managing the administrative pipeline and public interactions.

  • Stakeholder Meetings:
    • Consulted with the owner of 433 Burns Ln regarding exceeding permit scope and allowable impervious area.
    • Met with a homeowner at 149 Willow Dr concerning a facade easement on a historic house.
    • Conducted Land Use meetings for 413 Linton Hill Rd and 1 Ice Cream Alley.
  • Permit Processing & Correspondence: Managed a high volume of inquiries regarding new walkways, deck amendments, home-based business applications at 8 S. Lancaster Ln, and Use and Occupancy applications at 790 Newtown-Yardley Rd.
  • Special Events: Processed the Special Event Application for Newtown Welcome Day.

Summary of Findings

The March 2026 data indicates a township experiencing steady commercial growth and rigorous residential oversight. The high volume of road opening permits and the targeted cleanup of the Old Open Road Permit Project suggest a priority on finalizing infrastructure documentation.

Concurrently, the proactive removal of illegal signage and the issuance of Notices of Violation for unpermitted work demonstrate an incisive approach to maintaining township code standards and zoning integrity.