Category: Board of Supervisors Minutes
Summary of May 23, 2018 BOS Public Meeting
You may not have the time to download and read the entire minutes from meetings of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS), or the approved minutes may not yet be available on the Township website (here), so I created this summary from the May 23, 2018, public meeting. I also included some links to related information including video clips from meetings. I'll do the same for future meetings. This is not a complete list of items discussed.
Development
First National Bank & Trust Co: Planning Commission Chairman Allen Fidler reported that applicant requesting to extend the time for filing land development plans. First National had internal issues and didn't file the plan in time. The question is when the six month period starts. The Board has the power to extend the time, according to Mr. Fidler.
Pickering Manor: Joe Blackburn, Esq., represented Pickering Manor with respect to its pending land development located on 226 North Lincoln Avenue. Based upon their non-profit status, Mr. Blackburn made a request that the Board consider a reduction in the Parks & Recreation fee-in-lieu amount. It was agreed that the fee-in-lieu amount would be half the amount of $46,570.87. An actual amount would be determined at a later time. Applicant will also pay a traffic impact fee in the amount of $7,020.00. Mr. Calabro put the motion to a vote and the motion carried 3-1 (Mrs. Dix voted "nay").
Villas of Newtown: Certificate of Completion #1- CKS Engineers recommends that the Certificate be approved by the Board in the amount of $51,950.00. The amount of the remaining escrow is $78,119.00. the motion carried 3-1 (Mrs. Dix voted "nay").
Wawa on Bypass: Public comment: Michael Horbal, Newtown, wanted the Board to consider voting against a change on that parcel that would accommodate whatever retail use is proposed. Based on the 2009 Comprehensive Plan, he suggested the Township should look at all potential parcels that could be developed for retail on parcels similar to the proposed Wawa location. He's concerned that a subsequent land owner may request a change to the zoning of their parcel so that it could be developed for a fast food franchise.
[Read "The BrouHaha Over Proposed Wawa".]
More excerpts from minutes regarding development issues...
Environment
Underground Storage Tanks: There was a bid opening for the underground storage tank project on May 1, 2018. There were no discrepancies in the lowest bid submitted by Brightsfield Inc. The base bid was $47,422.75. Mr. Calabro put the motion to a vote and the motion carried 4-0.
More excerpts from minutes regarding environmental issues...
Public Safety
Gun Safety Resolution: Ms. Bobrin received a gun resolution that has been enacted by Solebury Township and is being considered by Yardley Borough. Using the resolution as a guide, she drafted one for Newtown Township to consider. Approving the resolution would support legislators in Harrisburg and Washington D.C. who are working for gun reform.
Police Chief Search: Mrs. Dix made a motion to hire Safe City Solutions to conduct a police chief search at a cost not to exceed $14,150.00. Ms. Bobrin seconded. The motion carried 4-0.
Read More...Posted on 16 Jun 2018, 01:34 - Category: Board of Supervisors Minutes
Summary of May 9, 2018 BOS Public Meeting
You may not have the time to download and read the entire minutes from meetings of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS), or the approved minutes may not yet be available on the Township website (here), so I created this summary from the May 9, 2018, public meeting. I also included some links to related information including video clips from meetings. I'll do the same for future meetings. This is not a complete list of items discussed.
Development
Drive-thru Starbucks: This conditional use application is for the conditional use for an E5 and E6 eating place adjacent to the relocated Bank of America. The motion to approve the application failed 5-0. [Read "Newtown Board of Supervisors Shoots Down Drive-thru Starbucks"]
More excerpts from minutes regarding development issues...
Parks and Recreation
Veterans Park Bleachers: Mrs. Dix motioned to authorize the purchase and installation of eight sets of bleachers for Veterans Park from General Recreation, Inc., through the PA COSTARS program, in the amount of $36,084.00. Ms. Bobrin seconded, and the motion passed 5-0.
Public Safety
Crime Statistics: Police Chief Pasqualini reviewed the calls for service for April 2018: 1,493 total calls, 101 traffic citations, 7 DUIs, 1 underage drinking, 1 aggravated assault, 3 overdoses, 1 Narcan use, 17 fraud/wire frauds/ credit card/ATM fraud, 10 harassments, 12 thefts, 51 accidents, 122 medical emergencies, 32 suspicious circumstances, and 27 disputes/disturbances/civil disputes. There were 260 total calls for service to Wrightstown.
Read More...Posted on 16 Jun 2018, 01:11 - Category: Board of Supervisors Minutes
Summary of April 25, 2018 BOS Public Meeting
You may not have the time to download and read the entire minutes from meetings of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS), or the approved minutes may not yet be available on the Township website (here), so I created this summary from the April 25, 2018, public meeting. I also included some links to related information including video clips from meetings. I'll do the same for future meetings. This is not a complete list of items discussed.
Development
Drive-thru Starbucks: The Commission also recommended the Supervisors not oppose the conditional use application for Starbucks, 2896 South Eagle Road, Village At Newtown West. This application pertained to the function of the drive-thru for an E5 and E6 eating place. This is one of the new buildings approved as part of the comprehensive Village At Newtown redevelopment plan. The Commission is limited with suggesting changes to what had been approved during the subdivision and land development application. Based on demand, the operating hours would be from 4:30AM to 11:00PM, and deliveries would be made after 9:30PM. The restaurant proposes 41 interior and 26 exterior seating which would be accessible from the parking lot.
Concerns were discussed regarding the proposed drive-thru, 10-car stacking lanes, parking, time of operation, and safety of the outside seating area. It was suggested to the applicant that decorative concrete bollards be installed at the perimeter of the outdoor eating area to increase safety from vehicular traffic. The Commission was also concerned about pedestrian traffic cut-thru to Starbucks and suggested signage to promote safety stating “cross at the crossing” and to add decorative fencing to hinder pedestrian traffic cutting through the shopping center parking lot.
[Despite a recommendation for approval of a “conditional use” application for a drive-thru Starbucks cafe by the Newtown Planning Commission, the Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) voted 5-0 against the application at the May 9, 2018, public meeting. Read "Newtown Board of Supervisors Shoots Down Drive-thru Starbucks"]
Good Government
Fair Districting Resolution: Mary Kremser, Doylestown Borough. Jan Filios invited her to speak to the Board about gerrymandering and fair districting. She asked the Board to approve a resolution in support of an independent, non-partisan, citizens’ commission to draw the lines for the legislative districts for US Congress and for the PA General Assembly. In 2016, 80% of the primary incumbents ran unchallenged by anyone in their own party. In the November 2016 elections, 50% of incumbents had no challengers from the opposite party. She believes the reason is that politicians have drawn the districts to make their jobs safe, and resulted in the gridlock in Washington and Harrisburg. Mr. Calabro requested that a draft resolution be added to the May 9, 2018 agenda. [At the May 9, 2018, Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) public meeting, an anti-gerrymandering, PA Congressional Redistricting Resolution proposed by Fair Districts PA was passed by a 4 to 1 vote. Read "Supervisors Pass PA Congressional Redistricting Resolution"]
Public Works
Roadway Improvement: W. Jeffrey Nagorny, Township Engineer. The bid opening for the liquid fuel road program was held on April 13, 2018. A total of 4 bids were received, and it was determined that the lowest responsive bid was received from Harris Blacktopping and it was therefore recommended the base bid and alternate bids #5, #6, #7, #8, #9 and #10 in the total amount of $913,019.75 be awarded. [This project includes 2.8 miles of roads, the parking lot in Helen Randle Park and a mile of line painting.] This project had to be re-bid due to incomplete documentation from some of the original bidders. Mr. Mack made a motion to award the re-bid of the liquid fuel road program to Harris Blacktop in the amount of $913,019.75. Mrs. Dix seconded, and the motion passed 4-0.
Read More...Posted on 11 May 2018, 13:16 - Category: Board of Supervisors Minutes
Summary of April 16, 2018 BOS Work Session
You may not have the time to download and read the entire minutes from meetings of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS), or the approved minutes may not yet be available on the Township website (here), so I created this summary from the April 16, 2018, Work Session meeting. I also included some links to related information including video clips from meetings. I'll do the same for future meetings. This is not a complete list of items discussed.
Good Government
Anti-Gerrymandering Resolution: Public Comment by Jan Filios: Reviewed Congressional district maps are drawn every 10 years according to the change in census population data. Currently the maps are drawn with the 2010 census. The PA Constitution allows political party leaders to reconfigure the maps. This is a conflict in interest. The worse contortions have been in Southeastern PA and Pittsburgh.
Fair Districts PA and the League of Women Voters is supporting two bills in the General Assembly to amend the State Constitution to form an independent citizens' commission to take over the task of redistricting in time for the next census results in 2020. Some Bucks County municipalities that have passed this resolution representing 39% of the population are Lower Makefield, Buckingham, Doylestown Township, Bristol, and Middletown. Mr. Calabro recommended that State Representative Perry Warren should visit the Board of Supervisors and he thanked Ms. Filios for her information. He would like to have both Mr. Warren and a representative from Fair Districts attend a Board of Supervisor meeting.
Permits
Signs: Most of businesses ask for variances for signs due to Newtown's tight restrictions. Mr. Martin Vogt, Zoning Officer, made a collection of frequent types of variance requests including changes and problems he noticed and created a spreadsheet showing this information. Highlighted items on the report were those not discussed at an earlier meeting.
After the Board decides what they want as changes to ordinances, the solicitor may:
- Amend ordinance via the JMZO;
- Spin the sign regulations out of the JMZO for Newtown; or
- Create the Newtown's own standalone ordinance.
The legal question is if there is a request for sign regulations the Board created, where do they go? Is it the Zoning Hearing Board or go directly to the Board of Supervisors. Two attorneys were asked, and there were two different answers. When the review is complete, it will need to be discussed with Township counsel to amend the JMZO or spin it off from the JMZO to make it Newtown only. The Planning Commission could be given authority to continue to review and give recommendations to the Supervisors. They would have to be given some type of authority to make a decision to accept or reject.
Solicitation: Regarding the topic of solicitation in developments, i.e. window replacements, an HOA as a board cannot take a vote to restrict solicitation unless every member signs off that they don’t want solicitation. Anyone going door‐to‐door is required to go to the Township/Police Department where a background check is completed and a permit is given to them. A resident should ask for their solicitation permit. If they do not have one, they have not gone through the process, and report them to the police. Signs in the development stating “no solicitation” cannot be enforced. What doesn’t need a permit is for political campaigning or non‐profit solicitations.
Traffic
Mill Pond Road: This discussion focused around a request made at the Board of Supervisors' March 28, 2018 meeting by James Downey, President of the Board of Directors of the Newtown Crossing Community Association on behalf of Newtown Crossing and Eagle Ridge, to prohibit parking on Millpond Road. Looking at Millpond Road, for example, it would require an outright parking ban entirely - it couldn't just be a vehicle ban as it wouldn’t affect the typical complaints. Residents are basing the no parking ban on aesthetics and that a tow truck is not attractive to look at and is not necessarily a safety issue. Mr. Ferguson suggested that the Board create a set of criteria to use as a benchmark for safety measures that could be used throughout the Township. The Board decided to receive more information from the Newtown Crossing HOA requesting minutes of their meetings to reinforce the request for no parking on Millpond Road. This information can be in an electronic format provided by the HOA. Mr. Ferguson will follow‐up.
Read More...Posted on 10 May 2018, 01:56 - Category: Board of Supervisors Minutes
Summary of April 11, 2018 BOS Meeting
You May not have the time to download and read the entire minutes from the biweekly meetings of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS), or the approved minutes may not yet be available on the Township website (here), so I created this summary from the April 11, 2018, meeting. I also included some links to related information including video clips from meetings. I'll do the same for future meetings. This is not a complete list of items discussed.
Public Health
Medical Marijuana: The Planning Commission also began preliminary discussions of three ordinances, of which was Medical Marijuana Uses in the Joint Municipal Zoning Ordinance. A map overlay showing existing school locations was made available but there has been no determined definition or type of schools to be identified. The statute presented does not define a school. There was discussion on whether it is necessary for each municipality in the Jointure to maintain an inventory of accurate locations of existing schools so if there is an applicant (dispensary), they would have to comply with being located 1,000 ft. from the property line of a school. Presently, the JMZO only indicates it being available in one zoning classification which would be in Upper Makefield.
[Allen Fidler, Chair of Newtown Township's Planning Commission, summarized the Commission's preliminary questions regarding the proposed amendment to the Joint Municipal Zoning Ordinance (JMZO) for new Medical Marijuana uses. Specifically, the Commission wanted to know what is defined as a "school" in the law. Fidler noted that Jerry Schenkman of the Law Offices of Sean Kilkenny, advised the Commission that the state law does not define "school." Listen to his comments in this video clip:
Push Out the Pusher: [Police] Chief Pasqualini mentioned the Bucks County Crime Stoppers program "Push Out The Pusher" signs. District Attorney Matt Weintraub and Chief endorse this program that encourages the public to get involved with this campaign. If you call the drug tip hotline at 215-345-3784 with information on a drug dealer and that information leads to the arrest and conviction of a drug dealer, that tip will lead to an award of up to $5,000.00. Text the word BUCKSDRUGTIPS and your tip to TIP411 (847411), or email drugtips@co.bucks.pa.us. Yards signs are available at www.buckscrimestoppers.org/take-action. Mr. Mack commented that the County raised taxes primarily to fund this program and he asked how many signs were distributed in Newtown. Signs were just starting to be distributed; signs would be available in the future, or can be ordered on the Bucks Crime Stoppers website.
Traffic
Mill Pond Road: Regarding a resident's complaint of parking along Mill Pond Road and requesting the road become a non-parking street, Mr. Ferguson suggested the Board to discuss the matter at the April 16, 2018 Work Session. Staff and the Police Department could develop a list of criteria as a guide for Township-wide thresholds to determine if limiting or eliminating parking is appropriate. Mr. Ferguson also stated, for example, that a Ford F150 pickup truck with landscaping company information on the side of the truck is not a commercial vehicle; it is a vehicle for commercial use.
Read More...Posted on 28 Apr 2018, 01:09 - Category: Board of Supervisors Minutes
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