A monthly collection of important township meeting summaries and curated content focused on topics and decisions of interest to local Newtown area residents. The insights expressed here are those of John Mack and do not represent the opinions of any other person. Subscribe here, if you are not yet a subscriber.
At the 29 April 2024 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting, several attendees discussed the plan by Chick-fil-A to build a drive-thru restaurant at the northwest intersection of the #NewtownPA Bypass and Newtown-Yardley Road.
Afterward, Donna Serdula, one of the attendees launched an online petition drive against the proposal, cited traffic issues as one to sign her petition. “It's on Newtown-Yardley Road and Upper Silver Lake Road,” she noted, “and Newtown-Yardley Road can't handle the existing traffic. If there's a Chick-Fil-A there, you're not even going to be able to make a left onto the bypass. It's going to become impossible.”
BREAKING NEWS (5/10/2024; 9:04 AM): The #NewtownPA supervisors were notified that – at the request of Chick-fil-A – “the Township has granted an indefinite extension for the Chick Fil A zoning hearing application. The application will not be scheduled for review unless the applicant notifies the Township of its intent to proceed with the application."
Is this a ploy to "bypass" strong public opposition - waiting for the dust to settle?
At the April 24, 2024, #NewtownPA BOS meeting, Peggy Driscoll, Chair of the Planning Commission, expressed surprise that a potential historic structure - the Twining farmhouse - was demolished without input or approval by the Joint Historic Commission or the supervisors. The farmhouse was located on property owned by Toll Brothers, which plans to build a housing development at that location at the intersection of Twining Bridge Rd and Durham Rd.
Supervisor Mack informed her that the demolition was sanctioned by the BOS within the settlement agreement that allowed Toll to development the property.
Specifically, the settlement agreement specified that “Prior to offering the Township dedication of the Open Space Parcel, the Developer shall demolish the existing house on the Open Space Parcel, remove it from the Property, and grade the Property to the satisfaction of the Township Engineer.”
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission met recently and heard from residents near the Washington Crossing bridge, which the Commission is considering replacing due to age, function and condition.
Washington Crossing residents crammed into the commission meeting, telling officials that replacing the narrow, metal bridge with a bigger span would destroy the bucolic setting of one of America's most historic and sacred historic sites.
"The reality is this bridge is historic. It's a historic symbol. We need to maintain Washington Crossing for Washington Crossing. Not for transporting cars, all kinds of cars, across a bridge," said a resident.
Recall that #NewtownPA's plastic bag ban recently went into effect. Unless a temporary exemption is granted, retail stores must stop supplying customers with non-recyclabe plastic bags and offer paper bags instead for which they can charge a fee of up to 10 cents per bag.
Recently I stopped by McCaffrey's in #NewtownPA and had a paper bag issue. As I explained on FB: "I got this recyclable paper bag from McCaffery's yesterday for 10 cents. Wanting to save 10 cents, I put all my 3 small items in the bag - including a cardboard container in the bottom containing Swedish meatballs and gravy. Unfortunately, the gravy leaked through the cardboard box AND the bag. Next time I am going to have go to the produce department and put the hot food box in a plastic bag, which are still available!"
Now, I know you are going to tell me to have bags in my car and me of all people should know that.
Read more about what type of bags retailers should provide to shoppers and how much they can charge customers for these bags here...
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