State program will send millions to Philly region for home repairs and weatherization
The Philadelphia area will receive nearly $40 million from the state to help residents and landlords repair and weatherize their properties. The funding comes from the Whole-Home Repairs Program, the result of bipartisan legislation financed by the current budget. Eligible homeowners can receive up to $50,000. Small landlords can get the same amount as a forgivable loan. State Sen. Nikil Saval (D-1), of Philadelphia, who introduced the legislation, said it will help to keep rents affordable, and allow homeowners to stay in their homes and pass them down to future generations. Individual counties applied for funding through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Philadelphia is slated to receive just over $21 million, by far the biggest allocation in the state. The surrounding suburbs — Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties — will get about $18 million combined. Residents are eligible if their income does not exceed 80% of the area median income. Small landlords must rent out affordable units to obtain a loan through the program. Read more here.
Source: PlanPhilly; 3/30/2023

Baby boomers overtake millennials as top home-buying generation
The National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) latest demographic report states that baby boomers, ages 58 to 76, made up 39% of homebuyers in 2022, an increase from 29% in 2021. Millennials, who are now 24 to 42 years old, had been the dominant homebuying generation prior to 2022 but last year made up 28% of homebuyers, a significant decline from the 43% observed in 2021. Since NAR's 2014 report, millennials had been the top homebuying generation. Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research at NAR, said the shift is likely due to two major trends — first-time home-buying, which tends to be done by millennials, is down, and boomers looking to buy their dream homes have equity built up from previous homeownership to be able to do so. The remainder of 2023 continues to be murky with volatile mortgage rates and tight inventory. View the NAR Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trend Report for more details.
Source: Philadelphia Business Journal; 3/29/2023

Senate passes WOTUS CRA resolution, president vetoes
On March 29, the U.S. Senate passed a joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule by a vote of 53-43, which was passed by the House earlier in the month. Five Democratic senators joined Republicans to support the measure. The WOTUS CRA resolution was then vetoed by President Biden. If Congress votes to override the veto, the resolution would block the WOTUS rule and revert to pre-2015 regulations and guidance. The NAR website explains why the WOTUS rule affects real estate professionals: “The Act will require expensive, time-consuming federal permits to develop private property near most water bodies — not just those which are navigable. In addition, property owners may experience a taking under the regulation without adequate compensation, as prescribed under the 5th Amendment of the Constitution.”
Source: NAR; 3/30/2023

Palisades committee recommends no tax increase for 2023-2024
The Palisades School District fiscal committee is recommending a no-tax increase budget for 2023-2024. The district raised taxes for the 2022-2023 school year by 1.5% — the highest increase since a 1.37% tax hike for the 2011-2012 school year. Palisades has the second-lowest millage rate among the 13 Bucks County school districts, above only New Hope-Solebury. District officials noted that special planning has kept the total tax increases since 2010-2011 at 5.1% while pension contributions have increased by 667%. The district did not foresee the impact that increased charter school expenditures of 316% for the same time period would have on the budget. District officials have called on the state legislature to address the charter funding issue, as well as oversight of charter schools.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 3/30/2023

Preserved Buckingham farm ordered to halt ‘solid waste’ operations
The owners of Froehlich’s Farm and Garden were recently ordered to stop operating as a “solid waste facility” until a full hearing on the case is held on April 18 at the Bucks County Justice Center. The owners were ordered to cease the import of wood waste onto the property as part of a mulching operation. The farm was also ordered to use "best practices" to prevent fire, smoke and smells from the business that are impacting neighbors and a nearby elementary school. Township records identify the property as part of an A1 - General Farming zone that allows for the making of compost from materials on-site only. The farm was preserved through a taxpayer-funded agricultural easement in 1999.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 3/30/2023

Falls supervisors deny zoning change for South Pennsylvania Avenue
Falls Township supervisors denied a request from NorthPoint Development to rezone South Pennsylvania Avenue in the riverfront district (RD-3) to heavy industrial (HI). NorthPoint attorney Michael Meginniss said the rezoning request was prompted by the need to relocate a tenant to South Pennsylvania Avenue so construction could continue on NorthPoint’s multiphase warehouse project undeterred. The denial means NorthPoint will likely have to relocate Harsco, a metal and mineral company, to another location within the 1,800-acre Keystone Trade Center, which may cause a “substantial delay” in redevelopment of the former U.S. Steel site. Supervisors cited public safety and residents’ quality of life as reasons for the rezoning denial.
Source: The Advance; 4/3/2023

Doylestown addressing PFAS in water system
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed the country’s first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six types of toxic PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals” because they do not degrade in the environment. The EPA wants to require two common types of PFAS compounds, called PFOA and PFOS, to be limited to four parts per trillion, the lowest level reliably detectable by current testing. Last year, Doylestown Borough initiated a study of its five wells and, at the time, the community’s wells were below the federal guidelines, then set at 70 parts per trillion. As the EPA looks to reduce those levels to four parts per trillion, the borough said its planning is based on a zero level. Learn more about Doylestown Borough’s plans here.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 3/31/2023

Riegelsville mayor resigns
Riegelsville’s longtime mayor, Gregory P. Stokes, resigned unexpectedly at the beginning of March. In 2021, Stokes was reelected to a new four-year term after running unopposed in the general election. In his letter of resignation, Stokes said he no longer resided in the borough. According to Pennsylvania General Assembly Title 8 documentation, elected borough and township officials are not allowed to hold office if they do not live in their elected municipality. A special meeting was scheduled for March 30 to review candidates for the position.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 3/30/2023

Uwchlan to add property maintenance requirements for hotels, motels and inns
Uwchlan Township supervisors are considering adding a chapter to the municipal code of ordinances on property maintenance for hotels, motels and inns. The proposed ordinance adds Chapter 195, which defines key terms, identifies annual license information, including fees, states penalties for failure to have a valid license, and details township inspections, including notification standards, request for entry and deadlines for the township to provide inspection reports. The proposed ordinance identifies the minimum required operational standards and minimum fire protection system standards. Section 9 of the draft ordinance allows the township code enforcement officer and fire marshall to deny, suspend, revoke or decline to renew licenses. The proposed ordinance outlines the hearing and appeals processes, and confirms a 12-month license expiration date. The draft ordinance is available for review on the township’s Proposed and Recently Adopted Ordinances webpage. A public hearing for discussion and possible enactment of the proposed ordinance is scheduled for Monday, April 10, at 7 p.m. at the township building, 715 N. Ship Road, Exton. Instructions on how to join via Zoom can be found on the Uwchlan Township website.
Source: Daily Local; 4/3/2023

ChristianaCare will open neighborhood hospital at former Jennersville Hospital site
ChristianaCare provided an update on its plans for its West Grove campus, formerly Jennersville Hospital. The health system will open a neighborhood hospital at the site that includes 10 emergency department beds and 10 inpatient beds. The facility will offer emergency care and behavioral health emergency care, and provide diagnostic capabilities, including ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), X-ray and laboratory services. ChristianaCare’s plans for a neighborhood hospital meet the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s requirements for a micro-hospital, which must have a minimum of 10 inpatient beds and 10 emergency department treatment rooms and offer imaging services on-site. ChristianaCare anticipates an opening date in late 2024.
Source: ChristianaCare News; 3/28/2023

$108 million Phoenixville schools budget would raises taxes 1.22%
The Phoenixville Area School Board is mulling a $108 million budget for the 2023-2024 school year that would raise taxes by 1.22% over the current rate of 32.6399 mills. The proposal would increase the annual tax bill for a property assessed at $128,700 — the district median — by $51. Finance director Jeremy Melber said at a March 26 meeting that the budget includes the debt service on the $35 million bond the board approved earlier as a down payment on building a new elementary school on the 29.5-acre Hares Hill Road property, the cost estimate of which has now risen to about $70 million. Construction on the new building is scheduled to begin in October and be completed in August 2025. View the March 27 budget presentation here.
Source: Daily Local; 3/30/2023

Phoenixville to flush hydrants for 5 weeks, water might be discolored
On Monday, April 10, the Borough of Phoenixville will begin its semi-annual fire hydrant flushing program, which will last approximately five weeks. Flushing will begin in the northern portion of the borough and continue south to the Schuylkill Township border. Some discoloration of water may occur during the process. In the event discoloration occurs, the township advises running the cold water tap for a few minutes until the water is clear. Refrain from washing clothes until water runs clear. The borough’s hydrant flushing is an integral part of the overall maintenance of the water system. Anyone with questions can contact Water Distribution at 610-933-8801 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.
Source: Mercury; 4/3/2023

East Caln to regulate chickens
The East Caln Township Board of Supervisors is considering a draft ordinance to amend the municipal zoning code to provide for the keeping of chickens as an accessory use. Previous discussions of the matter had included a quarter-acre minimum lot size. A complete copy of the proposed ordinance may be examined at the East Caln Township Building during regular business hours. The supervisors will consider the draft ordinance at a meeting on Wednesday, April 19, at 1:30 p.m., at the East Caln Township Building, 110 Bell Tavern Road, Downingtown.
Source: Daily Local; 4/3/2023