7 March 2022 Meet Mack Monday Meeting Summary

The following is a summary of selected discussions from the March 7, 2022, Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting. Ten Newtown Township residents attended this 90-minute meeting. See a detailed summary at the end of this post or download the PDF version.

As part of the registration process, I asked which topics people were interested in. The following chart summarizes the results from 23 registrants.

Love is Love

LOVE is LOVE is a phrase meaning that the love expressed by an individual or couple is valid regardless of the sexual orientation or gender identity of their lover or partner. Each year around this time, I celebrate/commemorate the March 11, 2020, passage of Newtown Township's "Love is Love" Resolution in support of LGBTQ + minority youth (read "Newtown Township Passes Revised Love is Love Resolution").

This resolution was inspired by State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, who attended this meeting and informed us that he is in the process of getting a state grant that will help fund the Rainbow Room in Doylestown AND bring a NEW Rainbow Room into our area – probably in Lower Makefield. ecall that the Rainbow Room in Doylestown was started seven years ago by Planned Parenthood as a resource and meeting place for LGBTQ+ youth. Listen to his comments:

Newtown Gun Show

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.). 

What’s Next?

According to the Feb 28 – Mar 4, 2022, Weekly Codes Report – which provides schedules of hearings regarding code violations – the property owner has filed an appeal to the Newtown Township Zoning Hearing Board. The next ZHB hearing is scheduled for April 7, 2022. However, according to Codes Report, there is no hearing currently scheduled. An “indefinite” extension of time to hold the hearing has been granted to the NAC/owner.

Toll Plan Update

At the February 23, 2022, BOS public meeting, Gregg  Adelman, Toll Bros attorney, presented an overview (video) of the settlement plan to build 45 single-family homes on approximately 158 acres of the All Saints Cemetery property located along Twining Bridge Road near its intersection with Durham Road (S.R. 413). After his presentation and comments from supervisors (video) and several residents (video), the BOS approved the settlement by unanimous vote. More details...

Wawa Plan Update

A plan for a Wawa convenience store with fueling stations on the Newtown Bypass at Lower Silver Lake Road is expected to be reviewed by the Newtown Township Planning Commission on April 5, 2022. In the meantime, the Township consultants have reviewed the plans.

Pedestrian Safety is a Concern

In January, 2022, the Bucks County Planning Commission reviewed the proposal and sent a letter of recommendations in January to the Newtown supervisors who will ultimately decide on the project. Chief among their consideration is pedestrian safety for those walking to the convenience store along or across the busy, high-speed Newtown Bypass. Download the meeting summary for more details.

Environmental Concerns

Jan Filios – a Newtown Township resident and member of the Newtown Environmental Advisory Council – spoke about her concerns the impact of Super Wawa (gas station + convenience store on Newtown Bypass) on the environment. Listen to her comments: 

Arcadia Update

Arcadia at Newtown Holdings, LP, (Arcadia Holdings) has been approved to develop a 60-unit single-family home residential community (known as the “Wynmere-Karr Residential Development”), located on the southwest corner of the intersection of the Newtown Bypass (S.R. 0332) and Buck Road (S.R. 0532) in Newtown Township.

Peter Ancona, VP of the Newtown Crossing Community Association, noted that the developer submitted a revised Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) application for a U-turn at the Buck Road and Millpond Road intersection. In this recording Mr. Ancona describes an alternate to the U-turn option, which PennDOT said it preferred. This is the “2C option.” [For background, read “Controversy Regarding Proposed Arcadia Newtown U-Turn Option”].

Mr. Ancona also discussed his efforts to get elected officials – State Sen. Steve Santarserio and Rep. Perry Warren – to help “advocate for reconsideration” by PennDOT of the 2C Option. If PennDOT approves the U-turn HOP it will be “game over,” said Ancona. Listen to his comments...

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.