John Mack Newtown
 
I hope you find the following summaries of local topics and issues of interest. The insights, notes, and opinions expressed here are solely mine and do not represent the opinions of any other person or entity. 

During a 75-day "Due Diligence" period, the buyer - DeLuca Newtown LLC - and its employees, agents, and contractors have the right to study and investigate the property — including the survey and title commitment — to determine whether the property is suitable for the buyer’s contemplated use. Meanwhile, the seller (NBCJMA) agrees to keep the property off the market (not advertised for sale) during this period.

The agreement also anticipates possible Township involvement during the due diligence period. During due diligence, the buyer may:

  • Submit a Sketch Plan.
  • Request a meeting with Newtown Township's engineer, staff and township professionals.
  • Submit a list of proposed variances, including ordinance citations and explanations of why the variances are required.
  • Request a meeting with the Newtown Township Planning Commission.

 
Comments:

The due diligence process may provide an early indication of what the buyer hopes to do with the property and what zoning relief it believes it will need.

A Sketch Plan and a proposed variance list could therefore be among the most informative documents to watch for.

   

The September 23, 2026, Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting focused heavily on public concern regarding two major local developments:

  • Preserving Chandler Hall's Mission
  • The potential residential development of the Newtown Water and Sewer Authority property on Lower Silver Lake Road
  • Bills List Approval
  • Conflict of Interest Allegation
  • Conditional Use Approval of La Scala Fire restaurant
  • Engineering & Infrastructure regarding the Linton Hill Road paving project
  • Environmental Afvisory Council Reorg?

   

The Newtown Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Wheelchair Safety Initiative is bringing residents together to address dangerous crossings, gaps in sidewalks and pedestrian infrastructure, bicycle safety, wheelchair accessibility, and opportunities to obtain state funding for safety improvements.

Here, we will dive into the unofficial January through August 2026 voting record of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) to uncover how local government operates behind the scenes.

 
Key Takeaways:
  • Infrastructure deficiencies: Several high-risk areas have been identified, including Silo Drive, Chandler Hall, and the Newtown Bypass.
  • Funding opportunities: Advocates are urging Newtown Township to take greater advantage of PennDOT grants that can fund traffic and pedestrian safety improvements.
  • Administrative concerns: Residents expressed frustration over delays in engineering work, project preparation, and access to information.
  • A permanent safety committee: Participants discussed re-establishing a standing Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Committee to provide a formal mechanism for resident input and professional oversight.
Related Content:

To stand at the southern end of State Street in Newtown Borough today is to witness a landscape of neglect that many residents have come to view with a mix of resignation and resentment. While the northern heart of the borough thrives, the southern end has long felt like the town's "stepchild," as one resident poignantly put it at the September 22nd Borough Council meeting.
 
The current reality is gritty: the deteriorating shell of a former Safeway, a "horrendous" vista of collapsing outbuildings, and a charred structure that resembles a "burned-out barn" where trees have begun to grow inside the ruins.

 
Comments:

The updated vision for the Liberty Centre Development includes several major changes following pushback from the Newtown Borough Council and months of work with a council subcommittee.

The River Crossing YMCA’s Newtown Branch has been more than a gym; it has been the heartbeat of the community at 190 S Sycamore Street for many years. But as the “transition of seasons” arrived this September 2026, members were met with a chilling blast of reality that far outweighs the typical autumn chill.

A sudden real estate deal - i.e., the sale of its landlord, Chandler Hall - has left this local staple scrambling for survival, turning a routine facility update into a high-stakes race for a new home

 
Comments:

How does a community staple maintain its identity and the loyalty of its people when its physical space is suddenly taken away?

For now, the members of the Newtown Branch must wait for the “near future” when the Y is finally ready to reveal where its new home will be.

This Audio Overview focuses on the specific intergovernmental agreements and shared funding decisions that caused split votes among the Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) in the period from January through August 2026.

The contentious votes involved Fire Services Agreement with Newtown Borough and Opioid Settlement MOU with Bucks County. Battlegrounds emerge when the township is asked to share its money or services with questionable payback.

 
Key Takeaways:
  • Fire Services Agreement with Newtown Borough: When the resolution to formally approve the intergovernmental agreement   was voted on on April 22, 2026, Phil Calabro cast a dissenting (Nay) vote, while Supervisors Merriman, Merk, and Snyder  voted Yea. More...
  • Opioid Settlement MOU with Bucks  County: On June 24, 2026, the Board voted  on a motion to remove from the table and execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) committing the Township's opioid settlement funds to Bucks County. Both Phil Calabro and Kyle Davis voted Nay, opposed  by the remaining three supervisors who approved the measure. More...
  • Voting Context: Phil Calabro recorded the most opposition on the Board in 2026 with 9 Nay votes, followed by Kyle Davis with one Nay vote, whereas the other three supervisors logged zero Nay votes.