11 April 2022 Meet Mack Monday Meeting Summary

Items on the agenda included: Wawa Land Development, 5G Wireless Ordinance, Hybrid/Live Streaming of BOS Meetings, Single-Use Plastics Ordinance, Pension Fund Divestiture of Russian Stocks, Newtown Gun Show

The following is a summary of selected discussions from this meeting. See my notes embedded at the end of this post or download the PDF version for details of each agenda item.

As part of the registration process, I asked which topics people were interested in. The following chart summarizes the results from the meeting registrants.

Wawa Land Development

I discussed the Newtown Planning Commission’s review of the latest Wawa Land Development Plan and specifically focused on issues raised by the Bucks County Planning Commission in a letter to the township, including orientation of the buildings, traffic issues, and pedestrian safety.

I also mentioned that the E30 ordinance gives the Newtown Board of Supervisors the option to limit the hours of operation if there is a residential use with 750 feet of the Wawa site. In this case, where the site is at the intersection of the Bypass and Lower Silverlake Road, there is a residence within 750 feet. The question is: Must there be a complaint from this resident in order to limit the hours of operation?

The BOS will review the Wawa plan at its May 11, 2022, public meeting.

Live Youtube Streaming of BOS Meetings

The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors will begin live streaming regular meetings via YouTube Live beginning April 13, 2022. The dedicated link for the live stream can be found on the home page of the Township’s website.

Public comment will be taken via e-mail during the course of the meeting only. All public comment must contain the commenter’s name and confirmation that the commenter is a Township resident or taxpayer, and should be as succinct as possible. Emailed comments will be read aloud. Comments may be addressed to:  Comments@newtownpa.gov

Obviously, this is NOT a truly “hybrid” meeting that allows actual attendance live or via Zoom, but it does give residents without cable (e.g., many older residents who cannot afford the fees) the ability to watch the meetings and the ability to participate at least via email

At the August 25, 2021, Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, Newtown Friends Home & Village Board Chairman Terry Christiansen asked the township to implement hybrid Board of Supervisors meetings so that disabled people such as himself as well the elderly can attend & participate remotely.

Newtown Gun Show

Recall that this “Proposed Use” is not currently permitted under the existing Certificates of Occupancy for the NAC Training Center and on January 24, 2022, a Notice of Violation was sent to the owner of the establishment (Newtown Racquetball Assoc.). 

NAC has filed an appeal to the Newtown Township Zoning Hearing Board. However, an “indefinite” extension of time to hold the hearing has been granted to the NAC.

That’s about all I can say due to the fact that this is a matter of potential litigation. However, as reported in the April 5, 2022, issue of the Bucks County Courier Times, Jim Worthington was reported to have said “We’re working with the township to come up with a resolution.”

I can say my take on this is contrary to the headline of the article that stated the gun show “could make a return.” My personal hope is that there will never be a gun show permitted in Newtown and if and when this comes before the BOS, that will be my position on this.

My Detailed Notes

Embedded below are my notes that I prepared before the meeting. It includes links to background information and other details. You can also download the PDF file.