News Briefs Archive February 21, 2022
General News
Read NAR’s federal advocacy agenda for 2022
The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) advocates for policies that promote and protect a dynamic U.S. real estate market and foster homeownership and investment opportunities for qualified purchasers of real property. In the 117th Congress, NAR will focus on improving access to homeownership, enabling a quick recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring fair housing for all, and building strong and resilient communities and businesses. A document outlining the entire NAR 2022 advocacy agenda can be found here. Read more on individual topics here.
Source: NAR.realtor; 2/10/2022
More Realtors are volunteering; nominate one for a Good Neighbor Award
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), more than two-thirds of Realtors volunteer in their community regularly. “To see statistics like this just shows how much Realtors impact and uplift their communities,” said Sara Geimer, manager of the Good Neighbor Awards for NAR. “Realtors are super involved and invested in their communities, they know everyone, they know what is going on, they tend to be people who like being around others and problem-solvers. Whether it’s joining an existing effort, like a food drive or collecting coats, or starting their own effort, they are there.” NAR annually recognizes Realtor volunteers with their Good Neighbor Award, now in its 23rd year, but they recently launched Realtors Are Good Neighbors, which will recognize Realtors year-round for their volunteer efforts, Geimer said. Applications are now open for the annual Good Neighbor Award.
Source: PAR JustListed; 2/10/2022
Bucks County
Townships working together to avoid ‘eyesore’ communication towers
Wrightstown, Upper Makefield and Newtown township officials are working together to prevent wireless communication poles from becoming “eyesores” in their towns. The municipalities are all part of the Newtown Area Joint Municipal Zoning Council that allows them to handle zoning issues collectively. Each municipality is considering amendments to the existing wireless communication section of the Joint Municipal Zoning Ordinance. Recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court decisions designated certain wireless communications providers as public utilities. The primary impact of that change is that 5G carriers can now place communication poles in any right of way, according to Chester Pogonowski, chairman of Wrightstown’s supervisors. The ordinance amendments will attempt to provide reasonable design requirements for these installations. Each municipality is reviewing proposed changes to the ordinance amendments. Once the proposed amendments have been agreed upon by all three townships, the proposed ordinance must be publicly advertised and approved by each township.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 2/10/2022
Falls would see a bump in revenue under proposal to expand landfill
Waste Management recently confirmed the purchase of 64 acres of land next to its existing landfill in Falls Township. The company has operated landfills in Falls and neighboring Tullytown for over 40 years. According to Waste Management spokesman John Hambrose, the current disposal area is about 60% full and has an estimated remaining life of about six years. The new land will allow the landfill to remain an active site for an additional four or five years. The expanded landfill would border the proposed NorthPoint project, being developed on the 1,800-acre site that formerly housed U.S. Steel in Falls. Officials in Falls Township said they welcome the expanded landfill. The township collects about $16.8 million in host fees from the landfill annually and expects to collect $14.8 million from the deposits of trash in 2022, according to its township budget. Falls last raised municipal property taxes in 1992.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 2/11/2022
Middletown approves new Neshaminy elementary school
Middletown Township supervisors approved the construction of a new elementary school in the township. The school will be on the same campus as Maple Point Middle School, 2250 Langhorne-Yardley Road in Langhorne, and is a part of the Neshaminy School District. Neshaminy Superintendent Dr. Rob McGee said building a new school made more financial sense than attempting to upgrade the Pearl S. Buck Elementary School, which opened in 1968. The project will be 119,000 square feet and two stories, and is modeled off Tawanka Elementary School, which opened in Langhorne a few years ago. The new building will hold 800 students and is slated to be completed by September 2023.
Source: Lower Bucks Times; 2/14/2022
Bucks County Courier Times provides municipal tax information
Bucks County has 54 municipalities, and about 12 of them raised municipal property taxes for 2022, three lowered them and the remainder stayed the same. According to county tax map parcel data, about half of the 40,000 homeowners who are subject to a tax increase of anywhere from 1.25 to 3.1 mills will pay about $75 more in annual property taxes. A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of a property's tax assessed value. A home valued at $20,000 at a rate of 5 mills would owe $100 in taxes. The Bucks County Courier Times published a full municipal tax rundown (paywalled), including the highest to lowest tax increases in the county, average home values, a chart of all rates and how the paper compiled the data.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 2/15/2022
Chester County
Judge: Tower Health must stick to Brandywine and Jennersville Hospitals sale agreement
A Chester County judge ruled that Tower Health was wrong when it unilaterally canceled the sale of Brandywine and Jennersville hospitals to Canyon Atlantic Partners last December. Tower then closed Jennersville on Dec. 31 and Brandywine on Jan. 31. Court of Common Pleas Judge Edward Griffith, effectively reinstating the sale agreement, ordered Tower to maintain the shuttered hospitals in their current condition and gave Canyon 90 days to figure out what it and Tower need to do to complete the transaction. Closing can happen after the 90 days, the judge said. In granting a preliminary injunction against Tower, Griffith showed little patience for Tower’s objections. “Tower Health finds itself in the position it is in because of its own conduct. Given this history, Tower cannot now be heard to say that an injunction against it is unjust,” Griffith wrote. What’s clear is that it will cost Canyon far more money to reopen the hospitals than it would have to buy them while they were still in business. The hospitals have to go through a costly relicensing process. Hiring a new staff is far more expensive than assuming one that is already in place. If it gets to the point of reopening, it’s not clear who would be responsible for that extra cost, Canyon or Tower. Health care experts say it is rare for hospitals to reopen. Now it would be even harder, given the widespread labor shortages in health care. The facilities employed hundreds. The order represents another abrupt twist in the saga of Brandywine and Jennersville Hospitals, which Tower acquired in 2017 as part of a $423 million purchase of five hospitals from Community Health Systems Inc.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/14/2022
Penn Township officials discuss Chester Water Authority and a proposed bikeway
Penn Township Supervisor William “Radar” O’Connell gave a brief update on the status of the proposed sale of Chester Water Authority by the City of Chester to Aqua. Having seen the sale of the Penn Township sewer system to Aqua result in escalating bills for residents, the supervisors have been following the struggle by the CWA board to stop the sale of the nonprofit water system and the Octoraro reservoir to the for-profit water company. Penn Township is served by the CWA, and its supervisors support the fight against the sale being waged by Save CWA. The City of Chester is in receivership, and funds from the sale would help the city find its way out of debt. A draft agreement of sale has been uncovered through “right to know” requests by Save CWA. “They [Chester] blew their own money. If they get these millions, they’ll blow it, too,” Penn Township Supervisor Victor Mantegna said. In other news, the board of supervisors is giving its support to the concept of a bikeway along Baltimore Pike that would connect Kennett Square to Nottingham.
Source: Chester County Press; 2/7/2022
Plans call for new Aldi supermarket in West Goshen
The West Goshen Township Board of Supervisors approved a final land development plan to construct an Aldi supermarket at the Spellman Building, the former home of the West Chester Area School District administrative offices, at 829 Paoli Pike. A roughly 26,000-square-foot grocery store would compete for shoppers with the nearby Acme. Also slated for the 17-acre lot are a 2,454-square-foot restaurant with drive-through service, and a 3,500-square-foot retail/restaurant building. Goose Creek runs through the north side of the property and regularly floods Montgomery Avenue to the west. The property owner has considered gifting about 10 acres, which includes floodplain and wetlands, to the township. Supervisor Ashley Gagne said the tract behind the proposed store location is “unusable” and can’t be built upon. Chris Bashore, township manager, said that while nothing is set in stone, the property might be used for a “potential remediation project” to address flooding on Montgomery Avenue. If the land gift is accepted, the township could be on the hook for the cost to clean up any contamination. Gagne said the board has received positive feedback from residents about an Aldi market at the site. The property is in a C-2 Commercial Shopping Center Zoning District. The plan calls for 167 parking spaces and a traffic signal upgrade at the Paoli Pike/Turner Lane intersection.
Source: Daily Local; 2/15/2022 and West Goshen Township; 2/15/2022
Amtrak eyes Reading-to-Philadelphia bus service, expanded suburban rail options
While the region waits anxiously to see if passenger rail between Reading and Philadelphia will be re-established, Amtrak is making plans to provide express bus service between the two cities. The company, which has announced plans to explore a return of passenger rail and received a sizable portion of the infrastructure bill, plans to establish an express bus route that will make Pottstown the only stop between 30th Street Station in Philadelphia and Franklin Street Station in Reading. “Amtrak is starting a planning process with local and state officials, including PennDOT, to study the possibilities of bringing Amtrak passenger trains to Reading, Phoenixville and Pottstown,” according to a statement provided by Jason Abrams, Amtrak’s public relations manager. In March, before the infrastructure bill was even passed, Amtrak released a long-term capital expansion plan that calls for providing passenger service from Reading to Philadelphia three times a day.
Source: Daily Local; 2/14/2022
Delaware County
Upper Darby offers first-time homebuyer program
As part of Upper Darby Township's goal to sustain neighborhoods, the township operates a First-Time Homebuyer Program that offers a maximum of $6,000 to eligible homebuyers. Eligible applicants must meet income guidelines set by the federal government and can not have owned a home within the past three years. The income guidelines are the same as those applied to the township’s Home Improvement Code Compliance Program. The total purchase price of the home may not exceed $150,000. The sole purpose of the property must be for owner-occupied homeownership, and the property must be located in Upper Darby Township. The program is funded by Community Development Block Grant Funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Source: Upper Darby Township
Group says Aston area pays higher water rates
Chester Water Authority (CWA) Board Chair Cynthia Leitzell says that residents in Aston Township’s Second Ward have paid an estimated $3.5 million more for water service than their neighbors. The water in that area, which is approximately 7% of the township, was privatized in 1995 and is owned by Aqua Pennsylvania. The remaining 93% of township residents are also receiving CWA water, but are paying lesser CWA rates. “Municipal systems don’t fall under the jurisdiction of the Public Utility Commission, and therefore may not be transparent about their replacement costs and any of their capital and other spending details,” Leitzell said. Today the disparity between what Aqua charges and what CWA charges is about $400 per year for the average customer, according to Save CWA, a group opposing the sale of the CWA to Aqua. According to the CWA, Aqua’s customer rates include charges for their company’s state and federal income tax.
Source: Chester Spirit; 2/9/2022
Concord dealing for goats
What do you do with 42 goats, three sheep, and a pony on a farm that’s been sold so a 100,000-square-foot warehouse can be built? Owner Jonathon Tropea and Concord Township Council are considering a deal to house the animals on township property. The animals are being displaced because the farm on Conchester Highway in Upper Chichester they resided at is being sold. The deal currently being discussed is for Tropea to keep ownership of the animals but for Concord to house them on township property. The township would use the goats to help manage the grounds on Concord’s various properties. Tropea would still be free to lease his goats out to other property owners for similar work. Tropea contacted Concord with the idea after hearing of the township’s other preservation efforts. Councilmember John Crossan said, “As we preserve more land in Concord Township, our manager, Amanda Serock, always reminds me to think about the cost and work to maintain it. So, this was a perfect win-win.” Concord’s council expects to vote on an agreement during its March meeting. If approved, the lease would be for one year. Concord would keep the animals near the old dog park on Bethel Road.
Source: Chadds Ford Live; 2/2/2022
Media Borough seeks artists for traffic-calming street murals
Media Borough invites all Media-area artists 21 and older to submit a design for a street mural — literally a mural painted on the road surface — at the intersection of Third and Monroe streets. It will be the borough’s second street mural, co-sponsored by the borough, Media Arts Council and Transition Town Media. The first one was installed at the intersection of Third and Jackson streets last fall. View a time-lapse video of that mural here. Painting the street mural will be a community event, scheduled for Saturday, May 14. Designs should be submitted to ktlux@mediaborough.com by March 1 at 4:30 p.m.
Source: Media Borough
Montgomery County
Montco is experiencing lack of affordable housing options, officials say
Housing in Montgomery County is becoming more and more expensive, and county officials say it is creating a shortage of affordable housing options. According to Kayleigh Silver, administrator for the Montgomery County Office of Housing and Community Development, rents in Norristown are up nearly 4% from 2019, and in other areas of the county they are up 12% to 17%. As a result, Silver said, more than half of the county is paying more than 30% of their income toward rent if they are renters. Silver also acknowledged that the county’s public housing units “have a very, very long wait list.” The lack of affordable housing has been compounded by the increased cost of living, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and a large number of residents displaced by Hurricane Ida. During the annual Point-in-Time Count of homelessness conducted in January, county volunteers asked people experiencing homelessness questions about their circumstances with hopes of better understanding its root causes. “We all need to come together from a local level, municipal level, business level, planning, county, state level to intentionally develop communities welcoming those that want to live here, preserving housing stock for those that are already here, and intentionally developing our communities to be inclusive and provide opportunity for all,” Silver said.
Source: The Reporter; 2/14/2022
Amtrak eyes Reading-to-Philadelphia bus service, expanded suburban rail options
While the region waits anxiously to see if passenger rail between Reading and Philadelphia will be re-established, Amtrak is making plans to provide express bus service between the two cities. The company, which has announced plans to explore a return of passenger rail and received a sizable portion of the infrastructure bill, plans to establish an express bus route that will make Pottstown the only stop between 30th Street Station in Philadelphia and Franklin Street Station in Reading. “Amtrak is starting a planning process with local and state officials, including PennDOT, to study the possibilities of bringing Amtrak passenger trains to Reading, Phoenixville and Pottstown,” according to a statement provided by Jason Abrams, Amtrak’s public relations manager. In March, before the infrastructure bill was even passed, Amtrak released a long-term capital expansion plan that calls for providing passenger service from Reading to Philadelphia three times a day.
Source: Daily Local; 2/14/2022
Upper Merion appoints Tri-State Financial as tax administrator
Tri-State Financial Group has been appointed by Upper Merion Township to act as the tax administrator for the township in matters of tax compliance for the business privilege/mercantile, local services and amusement taxes. Tri-State Financial Group is authorized to represent the township in the investigation, assessment and collection of taxes, interest, penalties and fines. All information obtained by Tri-State Financial Group through this work will be confidential and used for official purposes only as provided by law. The due date for the 2022 Mercantile License and/or Business Privilege Registration was Jan. 31. Starting with the 2023 license period, the due date will change to coincide with the Business Privilege and Mercantile Tax return and will be due on April 15. A copy of Upper Merion Township’s resolution, as well as the 2022 tax forms and business application, are available on Tri-State Financial Group’s website.
Source: Upper Merion Township; 2/11/2022
North Penn superintendent to retire
North Penn School District Superintendent Curt Dietrich has announced his plans to retire from the district in June. Dietrich is the district’s longest-serving superintendent and will have served 12 years at the end of his contract. According to the district, Dietrich led the district’s efforts to provide one-to-one technology for all students, implemented a full-day kindergarten program, and maintained a strong commitment to inclusion and diversity. On the operational side of his duties, he is largely responsible for North Penn’s involvement in self-insured health care, saving millions of dollars over the years, overseeing building renovations at eight district buildings, and developing safety plans and security protocols.
Source: The Reporter; 2/15/2022
Two major road construction projects begin in Lower Merion
Drivers using two major roads in Lower Merion face major construction projects that are expected to last more than a year. PennDOT announced that a road improvement project would begin on about a one-mile stretch of Wynnewood Road in Wynnewood on Feb. 14. The four-lane road will be reconfigured to have one lane in each direction and a center left-turn lane. Bike lanes will also be added along the roadway. A second project beginning the same day involves work at the intersection of Conshohocken State and Spring Mill roads in Gladwyne. Both projects are expected to be completed by the spring of 2023.
Source: Main Line Times; 2/14/2022
Philly voters may be asked whether to place term limits on city council
Proposed legislation could place term limits on members of Philadelphia City Council. If passed, voters would be asked via ballot measure whether council members should be limited to four four-year terms starting in January 2024. The bill requires a referendum because it seeks to change the city’s charter. “I believe that if we’re truly going to be a progressive city council, we owe it to everyone we represent in the city to finally adopt term limits,” said Councilmember Allan Domb, who introduced the bill and wants the ballot measure to go to voters during May’s primary election. Domb, a two-term lawmaker, added that term limits — encouraging turnover on council — would increase voter engagement because it would offer residents the opportunity to consider “fresh candidates on a regular basis.”
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/10/2022
West Philly rental dispute erupts after new owner’s family moves in with tenant
A two-story house in Cobbs Creek is now a stage for a dispute over two conflicting lease agreements — one that entitles the renter to rights over the entire property, the other only to an upstairs bedroom. The previous owner sold the house that has been rented by the tenant in West Philadelphia since 2019. But since the deed changed hands, the new owner’s family began moving in — with the tenant still in the property — and things quickly turned hostile. Since last Sunday, the landlord-tenant conflict has escalated, drawing an alleged assault, numerous visits from police, intervention from City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, and a phone call to Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw. The feud highlights tensions within the city’s cutthroat real estate market, where buyable houses and affordable rentals are in hot demand. Data on illegal evictions are scarce, but city officials say they’ve heard more claims about the problem in recent months as rental assistance funds run dry. The city’s Landlord-Tenant Court is packed. The Fair Housing Commission has more than 525 open cases, with more complaints filed in the first half of the current fiscal year than in all of 2020. About a third of those cases involve a lease termination or a notice to vacate. By law, property owners must honor all rental agreements signed by the previous owners, and provide 30 days’ notice for termination. Read more here.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/13/2022
Philly is exploring cryptocurrency to boost revenue
Philadelphia officials confirmed they are in “very early internal discussions” about donation-generating cryptocurrencies that other cities are adopting to boost revenues. The city is in talks with CityCoins, a decentralized nonprofit that sets “tech friendly” cities up to receive 30% of earnings on coins mined in their name. Miami became the first big municipality to launch its own coin last year, and similar city-based coins have since surfaced in New York City and Austin, Texas. Philly’s chief information officer, Mark Wheeler, said Philly is “ready” to adopt the currencies, but officials say there is no hard commitment yet. “The city is curious to understand the implications of fundraising or gift-agreement programs using a cryptocurrency as basis for donation in U.S. dollars,” said Labonno Islam, spokesperson for the Office of Innovation and Technology. Should the city proceed, a Philadelphia-based coin could become tradable in crypto markets worldwide and provide some passive revenue back to the city, but experts raise questions about risks, rewards and transparency. After Miami Coin hit the market in August, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez estimated coin revenues could net $60 million in their first year, and the city has since made its first withdrawals, putting the proceeds toward a city rental assistance program.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/16/2022