Livestream real estate legislation signed into law
Legislation amending the Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act was signed into law on Monday as Act 25 of 2022. This law permanently allows real estate education courses to be conducted via livestream methods. The Act was House Bill 1849, sponsored by PA Rep. Todd Polinchock (R-Bucks), as it made its way through the Pennsylvania General Assembly.  For the past several months PAR has worked closely with Polinchock, strongly encouraging the General Assembly to approve the bill. Licensees and pre-licensing students have benefited from the ability to take livestream courses live – on platforms such as Zoom – since the start of the pandemic. And, providing the option to continue taking education courses in this format was a major priority for PAR. Livestream education courses must follow identical rules and regulations as in-person real estate education courses, but licensees and pre-licensing students will now have more flexibility and options when obtaining their education credits. Prior to passage of Act 25, real estate education courses could be conducted via livestream methods due to a temporary waiver that was first put in place at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The temporary waiver was extended several times since 2020, with the latest extension set to expire tomorrow on June 30. With the passage of Act 25, real estate licensees and pre-licensing students can continue to take their education classes via livestream methods permanently. Act 25 takes effect immediately.
Source: PAR JustListed; 6/29/2022

HUD issues new memo on use of Criminal Record Screening by Housing Professionals
On June 10, HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity issued a memo entitled Implementation of the Office of General Counsel’s Guidance on Application of Fair Housing Act Standards to the Use of Criminal Records by Providers of Housing and Real Estate-Related Transactions. The memo reviews the principles of the 2016 guidance and sets out some best practices for housing providers who may be concerned about potential liability relating to the use of criminal background screening information on applicants or tenants. Read the memo here.
Source: Housing Equality Center; 6/28/2022

NAR support letter regarding remote online notarization
On June 23, 2022, the National Association of REALTORS®, along with 19 other housing and real estate organizations, signed a letter thanking US Reps. Pallone (D-NJ), McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Schakowsky (D-Ill) and Bilirakis (R-FL) for including H.R. 3962 in the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce hearing on May 26, 2022. H.R. 3962, the Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic (SECURE) Notarization Act, is being spearheaded by Reps. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) and Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), and now enjoys the strong, bipartisan support of over 100 cosponsors. The SECURE Notarization Act would allow for the immediate nationwide use of remote online notarization (RON) technology, with appropriate safeguards to ensure strong nationwide consumer protections. RON allows businesses and consumers the ability to execute critical documents using two-way audiovisual communication. Current requirements for a signer to physically be in the presence of a notary are often impractical and sometimes impossible due to social distancing constraints resulting from COVID-19, as well as other barriers including military service or work travel. Forty states have already recognized the benefits of remote online notarization and passed legislation authorizing its use. Notarizations are used extensively in real estate transactions, as well as in a variety of other important areas including affidavits, powers of attorney, living trusts, and advance health care directives, among others.
Source: Nar.realtor; 6/24/2022

Average home price rises in county
The median sale price of a home in Bucks County increased 8.6% from March 2021 to March 2022 for a median price of $412,500, according to a localized analysis by the USA Today Network using data from Realtor.com. The number of houses sold rose by 2.8% - a total of 437 houses were sold countywide in March 2022, while a year earlier, 425 single-family homes were sold. The median home sale price is the midway point of all the houses or units sold over a period of time and is used in this report instead of the average home sale price because experts say the median offers a more accurate view of what's happening in a market. In calculating the average price, all prices of homes sold are added and then divided by the number of homes sold and this measure can be skewed by one low or high price. Read more here.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 6/27/2022

Plumstead to amend stormwater management regulations
Plumstead Township Supervisors will conduct a public hearing to discuss proposed stormwater management regulations on July 12, 2022 at 7 p.m. at the Plumstead Township Municipal Building, 5186 Stump Road, Plumsteadville. The proposed ordinance would repeal Chapter 26, Part 1, "Stormwater Management," in its entirety and replace it with amended regulations. The amended ordinance would: add new definitions; require compliance with 25 Pa Code Chapter 102 as a prerequisite for exemption from stormwater management plan submission requirements; provide for volume control in all watersheds; amend stormwater control standards in the Neshaminy Creek Watershed; amend collection system standards related to pipe materials; require erosion and sediment control plans for earth disturbance of 5,000 feet or greater; require riparian buffer easements in subdivision/land developments that encompass a riparian buffer; amend prohibitions on discharges; provide for cumulative penalties for violations of the Stormwater Management Ordinance; and make other changes. Copies of the full text of the proposed ordinance are available at the township offices during normal business hours. All members of the public are invited to attend and participate in the hearing.
Source: The Intelligencer; 06/24/2022

Solebury bans single-use plastic grocery bags
Solebury supervisors unanimously adopted an ordinance that bans the use of free store-provided plastic grocery bags and sets fines for violations. The board gave a 90-day notice to township supermarkets and stores that they will first be warned, but after that they will be fined $250 for the first violation of providing free plastic bags. Further violations within 12 months will cost them up to $500 each. The ban does not include produce bags, laundry or dry-cleaner bags, or bags containing newspapers for home delivery. As for customers, they can pay 10-cents each for a store’s recyclable paper bags or they can use their own reusable bags. After 180 days, commercial establishments will be banned from providing single-use plastic straws or Polystyrene food containers.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 6/23/2022

New Garden clears way for future development on Routes 41, 7
Change is coming to the southern portion of Landenberg on its western edge. Last week, the New Garden Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to amend the municipality’s Unified-Development Ordinance Zoning Ordinance. These guidelines impact hundreds of acres of undeveloped land and establish specific new allowances and requirements for future development on Route 7 and Route 41. A public hearing was held prior to the vote. Due to previous revision, the ordinance no longer impacts Toughkenamon. Tom Comitta, township planner, discussed changes in the ordinance and addressed concerns and questions raised previously by the public and a few recommendations from the county. Comitta said the plan called for “good functional development.” The ordinance impacts land on Route 41 and Route 7 from the Delaware State Line, in an area which also borders Kennett Township, northbound to Newark Road. After the hearing, the board unanimously voted to approve JP Morgan Chase’s request for an extension on its plan to develop White Clay Point. The development would span 200 acres at the corner of Route 41 and Sunny Dell Road. JP Morgan Chase is calling for 309 high-density houses off Sunny Dell Road. JP Morgan Chase has not yet submitted to New Garden an environmental study of the 200 acres that would be impacted by the development.
Source: Daily Local; 6/27/2022

Funding awarded for state-of-the-art firehouse in Berwyn
Berwyn Fire Company will receive an additional $500,000 in state funding for a new, state-of-the-art firehouse, bringing the total state investment for the project to $2 million. The funding, awarded through the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, will support the construction and development of the main fire station located on the company’s existing footprint on Bridge Avenue in Berwyn. The new station will replace the more than 90-year-old existing structure to allow firefighters and company personnel to respond faster and more safely to fire and EMS emergencies in the growing region. The state funding will assist in Phase 1 of the project, replacing the old station. Berwyn Fire Company is currently in the midst of a capital campaign to raise funding for the new station, as well as a new permanent sub-station in Tredyffrin. Founded in 1894 the Berwyn Fire Company is a non-profit organization that provides fire suppression, rescue, EMS, and fire prevention services for the people who live, work, and travel through Tredyffrin and Easttown Townships. Its combined 70 volunteers, 10 full-time employees, and 28 part-time employees respond to more than 2,150 ambulance calls and 900 fire calls annually.
Source: Daily Local; 6/27/2022

Chester County recognized among nation’s healthiest communities
Chester County has been recognized as one of the 500 healthiest counties in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in collaboration with CVS Health. Chester County ranks number 92 overall, based on 10 categories that drive community health, and is a top county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. There are more than 3,000 counties and county equivalents across America. This accolade follows news in April of Chester County’s number- one health ranking in Pennsylvania as determined by the University of Wisconsin and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation County Health Ranking report. Commenting on the U.S. News & World Report national health ranking, Chester County Commissioners’ Chair Marian Moskowitz said, “The commitment of our Health Department leadership and staff, our healthcare providers, hospitals, clinics, social service-related nonprofit organizations, and our environmental stewardship and recreational resources all add up. They are partnerships that reap so many benefits for our residents, and I thank them all for their contributions.” Chester County also ranked in the Top 100 High Performing Urban Communities nationwide, scoring in the top 10 percent in the “Economy” category. The 2022 U.S. News & World Report Healthiest Communities Report is available here.
Source: Daily Local; 6/27/2022

OJRSD budget raises taxes 2%
The Owen J. Roberts School Board adopted a $137.4 million final budget for the 2022-23 school year. The final budget carries a 1.98 percent tax hike, raising the district millage by 0.6587 mills, from 33.2712 to 33.9299. According to the budget summary prepared by the district, the average property assessment in the school district is $184,112, meaning the 1.98 percent tax hike would increase that tax bill by $121. Local taxes comprise roughly 78 percent of all the school district’s income with the state’s share getting smaller every year. Revenue from other funding sources for the school district – an earned income tax and real estate transfer tax – are up by a combined $1 million over the previous year, according to the summary.
Source: The Mercury; 6/22/2022