Registration open for PAR public advocacy training
The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors® (PAR) is offering advocacy training for members, including two sessions in the Philadelphia region. Attendees will learn how to tell their stories to elected officials and decision-makers to affect change in Harrisburg and their local communities. The training sessions will cover PAR’s advocacy efforts and simulate a day on the Hill with other Realtors. The half-day training sessions are free and open to any PAR member, although space is limited and registration is required. Visit PAR’s website to register for a training near you.  Local sessions include: 

• Wednesday, April 20, 1 to 4 p.m. — Radisson Philadelphia Northeast, Trevose (Bucks County)
• Thursday, April 21, 9 a.m. to noon — The Desmond Hotel, Malvern (Chester County)

Source: PAR; 3/2022

PA opens public comment period on PFAS limits
Pennsylvania’s Environmental Quality Board is accepting public comment on proposed maximum contaminant levels for two types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, the toxic compounds commonly known as PFAS. PFAS chemicals led to a mass shutdown of public drinking water wells in Horsham, Warminster and Warrington in 2016 after extremely high levels were detected. The board approved a plan in November that proposed limiting the two most common types of PFAS, known as PFOA and PFOS, at no more than 14 and 18 parts per trillion, respectively. Comments may be submitted to the board through the Department of Environmental Protection eComment system, via e-mail at RegComments@pa.gov, or by mail to Environmental Quality Board, P.O. Box 8477, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477. Each comment must include a subject heading of the proposed rulemaking, and the name and address of the person submitting the comment. The comment period is open until April 27. The board will also hold five virtual hearings on the rulemaking. Click here for more information.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 2/28/2022

Pandemic relief assistance available to homeowners
The Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF), administered by Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, provides financial support for homeowners struggling to pay mortgages, utility payments and other housing costs. The money comes from the federal Homeowner Assistance Fund and is available through Sept. 30, 2025. The program was established to support homeowners facing pandemic-related hardships, such as job losses, a decline in income, or costs to care for an ill family member. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s website lists other pandemic-relief resources that are still available:

• Help for Homeowners details relief options for people struggling to make mortgage payments and steps for those exiting forbearance.
• Rental Assistance Program links to federal, state and local government offerings to help with housing expenses and avoid eviction.
• Help for Landlords directs property owners to resources to help if they’ve seen a drop in rental income due to the pandemic.

Source: Realtor Magazine; 2/23/2022

Settlement paves the way for million-dollar homes in Newtown Township
Newtown Township supervisors signed off on a settlement agreement with Toll Brothers that brings to an end a court battle over the developer’s right to build homes on a 158-acre tract. Toll Brothers purchased the land from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The land was described by the archdiocese as “excess acreage” for the All Saints Cemetery off Durham Road. In 2019, the township denied Toll’s right to build because the land is in a conservation management district, and the developer sued. Toll redesigned plans for the community to cluster the houses closer together, allowing for more land to be conserved and for less impervious surface that would contribute to stormwater-management problems. As part of the settlement, Newtown Township will receive 99 acres of open space. Toll Brothers plans to build 45 single-family homes on 20,000-square-foot lots. The homes will be 3,000 to 4,000 square feet and will sell for more than $1 million. Construction will not begin for at least a year.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 2/25/2022

Neshaminy to complete $13M upgrade to athletic fields
Middletown Township supervisors unanimously approved the preliminary and final land development proposal for a multi-field and stadium project by Neshaminy School District. The $13 million project will upgrade some fields “that have not been touched for 60 years,” according to Assistant Superintendent Paul Meehan. The district plans to replace the grass fields with artificial turf at the high school’s Harry E. Franks Stadium, as well as the baseball, softball and football practice fields. A new field house will be built for the stadium complex, with new ticket windows, concession stands, and home and away lockers, plus new lavatories for the public. Also, the high school tennis courts will be expanded from six to eight. Last month, the township supervisors approved a new $35 million elementary school for the district.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 2/23/2022

Silverdale publishes community survey results
Results from Silverdale Borough’s first survey from the Community and Economic Development Committee have been posted to the borough website. The community survey asked questions about likes and dislikes in the borough, opinions on housing, shopping, traffic and more. A second set of results from a focus group meeting, as well as an age comparison of the results, is also available. A second survey is slated to be mailed in March 2022. 
Source: Silverdale Borough; 2/2022

Falls Township to renovate aging municipal complex
Falls Township supervisors voted to hire Grace Construction to manage the renovation of the 60,000-square-foot municipal complex that houses the township’s departments and several private businesses. The plan is to transform the building for municipal use — which was not the use the structure was built for years ago. Grace Construction will help design the project and procure bids. The cost of the renovation is still unknown. Falls Township approved construction of a new municipal center next to the existing building in 2016, but the plan was shelved after the costs came in higher than expected.
Source: LevittownNow.com; 2/24/2022

Prospective hospital buyer fails to post bond
The prospective buyer of two Chester County hospitals has failed to post a $1 million bond that was necessary to continue the process of purchasing the facilities from their current owner, Tower Health. Tower shut the hospitals down recently, leaving a hole in the county’s medical services. The bond was required of Canyon Atlantic Partners within 10 days of Judge Edward Griffith’s Feb. 14 order granting a preliminary injunction and resetting the purchase of Brandywine Hospital and Jennersville Hospital. Tower Health announced in December that it was canceling a proposed sale of the two hospitals to Canyon, citing financial and regulatory problems encountered during the transfer process. Griffith ruled that by doing so Tower had broken its contract of sale with Canyon and ordered the parties back to square one in the sale process. But he said that for Canyon to continue, it would have to post a $1 million bond with the court within 10 days. He gave the two sides three months to work the transfer out. “We are terribly disappointed that Canyon Atlantic Partners failed to meet the deadline to post a $1 million bond, and would seem to lack the financial wherewithal to complete the purchase of Jennersville and Brandywine hospitals,” the Chester County commissioners wrote in a statement. “This on-again-off-again sale has cost precious time in our efforts to return emergent care, acute care and behavioral health services to these locations.”
Source: Daily Local; 2/27/2022

East Goshen solidifies virtual option for public meetings
The East Goshen Township Board of Supervisors are broadcasting their public meetings live via Zoom. The township’s main public meeting room has been upgraded and will allow residents and business owners to not only watch live on Zoom, but to participate with remote conferencing abilities. People accessing remotely can ask questions and interact with the board as if they were in the room. Zoom will be the only way to view live meetings, though the recordings will be posted on YouTube later. Zoom links will be available on the township website and meeting agendas. Information related to remote public comment procedures during meetings may be found here.
Source: East Goshen Township  

New Garden approves Thompson Road subdivision plan
New Garden Township supervisors gave final approval to the construction of a 51-unit development on the western side of Thompson Road that will feature three- to four-bedroom single-family residences between 2,800 and 3,200 square feet in size, each with an attached garage. The homes are valued at a beginning cost of $650,000. Short Brothers, a West Chester-based developer, is expected to break ground on the construction of the development in early to mid summer, with an anticipated completion date of between two and three years. “It has been a rather lengthy road of approval, but we are pleased to report that the township consultants have been satisfied with the changes made to the plan,” said attorney John Jaros, who introduced an additional four waivers that were granted as part of the preliminary plan approval.
Source: Chester County Press; 3/1/2022

Colligan picked to head Department of Community Development
Chester County commissioners have appointed Dolores Colligan as director of the county’s Department of Community Development. Colligan, a 32-year veteran of county government service, succeeds Patrick Bokovitz, who has transitioned to lead the county’s Department of Human Services. Colligan had served as deputy director of the Department of Community Development since 2007. As director, she will now be responsible for the administration of federal, state and local resources for the planning, management and development of affordable housing, community services, economic development and revitalization of the county’s urban centers.
Source: Daily Local; 2/27/2022

Pilot project to address affordable housing hits delays and opposition
A pilot program aiming to increase affordable housing in Philadelphia has hit some snags, with the developer reducing the proposed number of affordable units and neighbors expressing skepticism. The project, on a city-owned lot in the Hawthorne neighborhood, would be a new experiment with what is known as a “land trust,” an arrangement in which the city leases the land to a redeveloper long-term instead of selling it outright, in order to ensure affordability requirements are honored. The site, at 13th and Bainbridge Streets, has sat empty for decades. Last year, the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority began talks with Benchmark Construction Group to build a 45-unit apartment complex called “The Parker” that would reserve a portion of its units for tenants earning 60% of the area median income or less. But plans for the mixed-income development have already changed. To make financing work, Benchmark bumped plans to keep 35% of units affordable down to 30%, which still satisfies city demands. And now the project remains on hold as the redeveloper considers adding parking to the project amid neighbors’ concerns. Experts say the saga showcases how stymied any development can be, especially a proposal that includes affordable housing and requires some creativity to finance. Read more here.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 3/1/2022

Alarms raised after hundreds of trees removed from city-owned Cobbs Creek Golf Course
Neighbors, park users and environmental advocates are raising the alarm about the removal of hundreds of trees by the private foundation that’s leasing the land from the city to renovate it into a PGA event-ready public golf course. The city has approved permits for the Cobbs Creek Foundation to clear “some, but not all” trees from a quarter — or close to 90 acres — of the 350-acre property, said Philadelphia Parks and Recreation spokesperson Maita Soukup. Two permits to remove additional trees from some steep slopes on the property are pending a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing. As of Sunday, nearly all trees had been cut down between Indian Creek, Cardington Road and a section of Cobbs Creek near the center of the property, many right along the waterways. The 30-year, renewable lease agreement the city finalized with the Cobbs Creek Foundation in December aims to expand and improve golfing opportunities at the course, which closed in 2020 over safety concerns, after erosion and flooding damaged its greens and fairways, and a 2016 fire destroyed the course’s historic clubhouse. A new nine-hole course, a short course and an 18-hole championship course capable of hosting PGA Tour events are expected to open to the public in 2024. The foundation plans to restore the course to its 1916 design. To do this, the foundation must remove “several hundred trees” to reconfigure the course, according to the lease agreement. Read more here.
Source: WHYY; 3/1/2022

City council to property owners: Get rid of the rats
Amid an ongoing development boom, Philadelphia City Council has passed a bill that backers hope will reduce the number of residential rat infestations near building sites. Passed unanimously, the measure requires property owners to prepare and execute a rat abatement plan before demolishing or fully rehabbing a building. The new rules would also apply to new construction that requires excavation work. “We’re hearing with increasing frequency from homeowners complaining that rats are materializing whenever there are property demolitions or excavations or new developments in their neighborhood,” said Council President Darrell Clarke, whose office drafted the legislation. The legislation also requires owners of vacant lots to pay for yearly inspections and rat remediation by a licensed pest control company. Records for both must be filed with the city within seven days of completion.
Source: PlanPhilly; 2/24/2022

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