Newtown Borough Council is weighing a proposal that would require homeowners to install sidewalks, curbs and driveway aprons as a condition of selling their properties, as well as when undertaking new construction or structural additions. The proposal, discussed at a June 3 council work session, would require installation to be completed before closing. During the discussion, the borough solicitor also floated the idea of a broader point-of-sale inspection program, noting that many other municipalities require sellers to verify working smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and other basic safety features before a transaction closes — something the solicitor said would be valuable given the borough’s older housing stock. Several council members expressed openness to both ideas, though some raised concerns about feasibility in cases where only one side of a street has sidewalks or where "substantial improvement" is too loosely defined. The Suburban Realtors Alliance has requested a copy of the draft resolution regarding sidewalk installation. Some aspects of the proposal as discussed by council would not comply with the Pennsylvania Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Act. The proposal did not appear on the June 17 council agenda.
Source: Newtown Borough