1031 Like-Kind exchanges recognized in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Realtors scored a huge advocacy win when Gov. Wolf signed into law legislation that will finally recognize 1031 like-kind exchanges in the commonwealth and provide the tax deferral benefit. House Bill 1342 was approved by the state Senate and House of Representatives as part of the final budget process. Included in the tax code bill is language that will codify the tax deferral benefit of like-kind exchanges beginning in the 2023 tax year. Pennsylvania was the only state in the nation that did not provide for a state tax benefit to like-kind exchanges, which are an important tool for encouraging investment, building wealth and creating jobs. Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 provides that no gain or loss shall be recognized on the exchange of like-kind property held for productive use in a trade or business or for investment. Passage of the legislation will help to ensure Pennsylvania is competitive with all other states. Realtor Magazine published an informative overview of 1031 Like-Kind Exchanges last year.
Source: PAR; 7/8/2022

Towns look to continue weekend street closures begun during quarantine
The pandemic caused people to gravitate even more than usual toward outdoor destinations. West Chester is still closing Gay Street to cars on weekends this summer, even as many people resume pre-pandemic activities. Philadelphia will allow restaurants to operate expanded outdoor dining over top of parking spaces on a permanent basis. In Delaware County, Media’s Dining Under the Stars has been popular for more than a decade, drawing in thousands for al fresco dining every Wednesday in the summer. Phoenixville, which is also looking to continue street closures on summer weekends, is an example of a downtown that has adapted to people’s amped-up preference for the outdoors. “If you come down on a Friday or Saturday night, there are bands everywhere, musicians in the street, kids playing, adults walking around and talking to each other,” Mayor Peter Urscheler said.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 7/11/2022

PA budget boosts education funding, spends billions in remaining stimulus money
The $45.2 billion state budget recently passed by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Tom Wolf boosts education spending by more than $1 billion, creates a new child care tax credit, and squirrels away money for a rainy day. The wide-reaching budget, completed a week after the June 30 deadline, was made possible by higher-than-expected revenues that led to a multibillion dollar surplus. Democrats and Republicans also agreed on a plan to spend $2.2 billion in remaining federal stimulus funds, including $660 million on environmental projects and $375 million on housing. The budget represents a 2.9% increase in state spending over the previous year. Education saw a major investment, with $525 million more appropriated for K-12 schools, $225 million for some of the state’s poorest districts, and $100 million each for special education, school safety and school mental health services. Read more here.
Source: Spotlight PA; 7/8/2022

Bucks County moves ahead with plan to sell sewer authority for $1.1B
Bucks County is moving forward with a plan to sell its public sewer system to Aqua Pennsylvania for $1.1 billion. The Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority (BCWSA) recently voted 3-1 to give Aqua the exclusive right to negotiate a sale for a year. If BCWSA accepts Aqua’s formal offer, it would be the largest privatization ever of a U.S. public wastewater system. The county would receive close to $1 billion in proceeds after the authority’s wastewater system debt is paid off. That amounts to nearly five times Bucks County’s annual tax revenue. BCWSA officials plan a series of meetings to hear what the public thinks about the sale. BCWSA launched a website on July 13 called Bucks Commitment to Communities. Read more here.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 7/13/2022

Toll Mid-Atlantic looks to build townhouses in Langhorne
Toll Mid-Atlantic is seeking about 20 zoning variances in order to build 60 townhomes on property owned by Woods Services in Langhorne. The zoning variances include: allowing the homes to be built in a professional services zone; allowing decks and patios to be considered accessory structures and built in the building setback; and a variance to prevent a merger of lots that don't meet the minimum lot size. The appeal also asks that the impervious surface be allowed to be 54%, where 35% is allowed for homes classified as B4. And it seeks to avoid minimum lot requirements “as lot lines are not proposed for the townhome area.” Toll is planning to build the townhomes with a walking trail, tree plantings and landscaping. The townhome proposal is separate from another zoning request that Woods has before the neighboring Middletown zoners to build a 42-unit apartment building on property it owns on East Maple Avenue.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 7/12/2022

Bristol Township School District selects new superintendent
The Bristol Township School Board will hold a special meeting on Thursday, July 21, at 6 p.m to approve Michael Nitti as the district’s new superintendent. Nitti, a veteran educator with decades of experience in the New Jersey public school system, will replace outgoing superintendent Dr. Melanie Gehrens, who is retiring after seven years at the district. After the meeting, board members will hold a community forum to introduce Nitti and provide details on his role and vision for the district. The school board set up an online questionnaire for residents to submit questions to Nitti and members of the board.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 7/8/2022

New Giant store opens for business in Richboro
The new Richboro Giant at 1025 Second Street Pike officially opened July 1. The 50,340-square-foot store employs approximately 170 full- and part-time team members. The Giant Company is celebrating the store opening by making donations to community organizations like Churchville Nature Center, The Free Library of Northampton Township, Northampton Township Volunteer Fire Company – Station 3, and Warminster Food Bank.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 7/6/2022

Opioid settlement will bring nearly $45 million to Bucks County
As part of an agreement negotiated by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and governments across the country, the opioid settlement agreement with the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors — Cardinal, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen — and Johnson & Johnson was reached earlier this year. Statewide, $1.07 billion is set to come to governments to help cover the impact of the opioid epidemic over the years. As part of the settlement, all Bucks County municipalities, county government and the district attorney’s office each agreed to end their lawsuits against the companies. Bucks County will receive nearly $45 million over the next 18 years. As the county is receiving the first funds from the settlement, the Bucks County commissioners have created the Opioid Advisory Committee to determine how the money will be used. The funds can be used to address treatment for opioid addiction, recovery from addiction, prevention, training, research and emergency responders. Two community forums were recently held by the eight-member Opioid Advisory Committee. Read more about the next steps here.
Source: LevittownNow.com; 6/28/2022

Bristol Borough mourns the passing of Mayor Saxton
Bristol Borough Council members marked the passing of Mayor Joe Saxton at their recent meeting. Saxton, 72, was a resident of the borough since childhood and served as a volunteer firefighter. According to Councilmember Greg Pezza, Saxton was “a really good person” who may have loved Bristol more than anyone. Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe is currently serving as acting mayor. Solicitor William Salerno said the council will have to fill the vacancy within the next month and there will be a special election for mayor in 2024, per the state borough code.
Source: LevittownNow.com; 7/12/2022

Developer plans new office, retail complex in downtown Coatesville
The latest deal in a string of development projects underway in the City of Coatesville was announced recently. Proudfoot Capital plans to build a four-story, 32,000-square-foot office building and retail complex on the corner of Third Avenue and Lincoln Highway in the historic downtown district. Proudfoot acquired the property from the Coatesville Redevelopment Authority (RDA). Proudfoot also purchased an adjacent lot, designed for approximately 70 parking spaces, located on Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard. “Proudfoot Capital has set the standard for smart, economic projects that will be assets to Coatesville,” said RDA chair Joseph DiSciullo. The only city in Chester County, Coatesville is home to 13,100 residents and is undergoing economic and cultural revitalization fueled by four Opportunity Zone tracts. Founded in 1915, Coatesville’s Historic District includes many resources listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The city is home to the nationally recognized Coatesville Invitational Vintage Grand Prix.
Source: Daily Local; 7/10/2022

Historic railroad sees opportunity as regional rail authority holds first meeting
There is still no timeline or a price tag, but the mission to restore passenger rail service from Reading to Philadelphia has finally kicked into gear. The Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA) held its first meeting on July 6. “The first meeting was great. We accomplished a lot. We set the foundation for bringing passenger rail back to Reading, Pottstown and Phoenixville on the route to Philadelphia — and beyond,” said Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz, who is also vice chair of the new authority. The inaugural members of the new authority discussed the basic bylaws of the organization, the creation of a website and bank accounts, the hiring of an executive director, their relationship with Amtrak, and how SRPRA plans on filing for funding from the Federal Railroad Administration. The authority’s creation has renewed hopes of restoring the historic Reading Railroad that once connected Philadelphia with its northern suburbs, before money problems derailed its business more than 40 years ago.
Source: WHYY; 7/11/2022

Westtown School seeks new farmer to take over Pete's Produce land
Pete Flynn, the namesake of the popular Pete's Produce Market on Route 926 in Westtown, is preparing to retire. Flynn, 64, has farmed 110 acres owned by Westtown School since 1996, and he has operated the popular farm market on Route 926 since 2000. The market sells about a quarter million ears of corn annually, from July to October, among many other offerings. “I know where every groundhog hole is and where all those big rocks are,” he said, “and where all the wet spots are, all the different soil spots and where all the weeds grow." On Nov. 12, farm and store equipment will be auctioned off, but the market structure will remain. The Westtown School issued a request for proposals in the spring, seeking a community-minded farmer with retail experience. "The response was strong, and we are in the process of selecting a new partner," a school representative said.
Source: Daily Local; 7/8/2022

Caln homeowners prevail in lawsuit against pipeline company
A Caln couple have successfully sued pipeline operator Columbia Gas Transmission because of stormwater runoff problems and sinkholes they attributed to the reconstruction of a natural gas pipeline through their property. On June 28, a federal jury hearing the case of Scott and Kerstin Marcum returned with guilty verdicts against the pipeline operators for negligence, trespass and violations of the state Storm Water Management Act, and awarded the couple $850,000 in total damages. The couple — who filed the lawsuit in Chester County Common Pleas Court in 2018 after having dealt with the runoff problems for years only to see the company have the case moved to U.S. District Court in Philadelphia in 2019 — have asked the court to award them an additional $142,120 in so-called “delay damages,” bringing the total award involved to $942,000. “It is important for residents affected by pipeline construction to know that the courts will protect them,” said the Marcums’ attorney, Joseph P. Green Jr. The couple’s suit contends that in reconstruction of the pipeline through their rear and side yards in 2015, Columbia destroyed a pre-existing water control feature, increasing the runoff of stormwater and damaging their home.
Source: Daily Local; 7/6/2022

West Chester Area School District budget calls for tax hike
West Chester Area School District officials adopted a $296.9 million budget with a tax increase. The real estate tax rate for Chester County will increase by 0.37 mills to 22.43, an increase of 1.7%, and the Delaware County tax rate will increase by 0.41 mills to 9.93, an increase of 4.4%. The differences in county average assessments account for formula differences, resulting in the differing tax rates. The average tax hike will be $70 per year for Chester County residents and $208 for Delaware County residents. The budget is about $17.5 million, or 6.3%, bigger than the previous year. It includes a planned contribution of $5 million to the capital fund for increased construction costs associated with the Glen Acres renovation project, as well as $500,000 for technology and distance-learning initiatives. The budget also includes a $2.2 million increase in state-mandated pension expenses, and a $1.1 million increase in charter school tuitions, a 12% increase over the current year.
Source: Daily Local; 7/7/2022