Gov. Shapiro to propose $282M in new state money for transit agencies
Gov. Josh Shapiro plans to propose $282.8 million in new state funding for public transit in his upcoming budget, administration officials said, a development that comes as a cash-strapped SEPTA prepares for deep service cuts and a fare increase. Shapiro’s new measure would generate an estimated $1.5 billion over five years by increasing the allocation of sales tax revenue dedicated to supporting commonwealth transit systems. SEPTA would get the largest cut. If enacted, the governor’s plan would establish the largest bump in the state’s share of public transportation funding since landmark legislation in 2013 earmarked $450 million yearly from the Pennsylvania Turnpike. SEPTA is planning for a possible fare increase of about 30% and service cuts of 20% on bus, subway, trolley and Regional Rail service, in case fiscal help from Harrisburg doesn’t arrive in time. Read more here.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 1/28/2024

Statewide eviction filings return to pre-pandemic levels, according to new report
The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania’s Statewide Eviction Report evaluated eviction filing trends in Pennsylvania from 2018 to 2023, analyzing shifts during pre-pandemic, pandemic and post-pandemic periods, with a specific focus on communities where the changes are prominent. The report provides an in-depth analysis of eviction data, offering insights into the issue and allowing users to explore specific county-level data to understand eviction trends in their area.
Source: Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania; 1/30/2024

Spotty cell service caused by rising demand
Customers in the mid-Atlantic region — which includes Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware — experienced on average 10 problems per 100 interactions with their cell phones in the past six months, according to J.D. Power’s latest study of network quality performance. The number is down from last year, when the region’s consumers reported 11 problems per 100 interactions, but higher than the 9 issues per 100 interactions reported in 2022 and 2021. “In all honesty, the network is amazing compared to what it used to be,” said Carl Lepper, J.D. Power’s senior director of technology, media and telecom. But even the major carriers — Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile — “they do get taxed at times. I’ve not seen them get worse. I’ve seen us get more demanding.” Read more about phone coverage in the region here.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 1/29/2024 

Langhorne zoners vote down Toll townhouse proposal
The Langhorne Borough Zoning Hearing Board voted down a proposal by Toll Brothers to build 60 townhomes at the 14.7-acre Woods Services site between Pine Street and Bellevue Avenue. The development proposal has been discussed at zoning hearings for two years. Toll requested the zoners consider the townhomes as structures, not buildings, because the zoning law did not allow for the number of buildings Toll was planning. Toll also requested more than 20 variances to the zoning code for setbacks, driveways and other items. Residents came out in force against the plan, worried about traffic, parking, sewer capacity and quality of life. The borough’s attorney, Barbara Kirk, and attorney Peter Nelson, representing residents, stated that zoning law stipulates that variances can only be made for the least impactful reason and to ease an existing hardship with the property. Toll will decide how to move forward upon receiving the written zoning board reasoning for the denial.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 1/31/2024

Ransomware responsible for Bucks 911 Communications Center outage
Bucks County officials reported that the ransomware “Akira” is involved in crippling its 911 Communications Center. Although 911 phone and radio systems remain operational, the cybersecurity incident caused an extended outage of the Emergency Communications’ Department computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system. The system was restored on Jan. 30 after nine days offline. County officials are sharing the information about the ransomware attack so local, state and federal partners “can have situational awareness and review their own systems.” The county is working closely with public safety and law enforcement partners, as well as third-party experts, to conduct a thorough investigation.
Source: Warminster Patch; 1/29/2024 and NBC10; 1/31/2024

Pickleball courts coming to Falls Township
Falls Township supervisors unanimously approved the installation of four pickleball courts at Quaker Penn Park. The four fenced-in courts will make for a “great addition” to Quaker Penn, said township parks and recreation director Brian Andrews. The courts will be situated near an existing batting cage and should be completed in the summer. They will initially be available on a first-come, first-served basis, but Andrews anticipates a reservation system may be necessary. The park has seen other upgrades and additions in recent years, including new restrooms and a playground.
Source: The Advance; 1/29/2024

Buckingham warehouse plan resurfaces
A plan for the redevelopment of a 58-acre property on Cold Spring Creamery Road is back before the Buckingham Township Planning Commission. The land is commonly known as the DiGirolamo tract. The property is in a PI-2 planned industrial district, which is intended for business, commercial, office and laboratory uses, according to the township’s zoning ordinance. Examples of permitted uses in the district include general farming, agricultural retail, recreational facility, indoor athletic club, veterinary office, outpatient surgical center, auto repair shop, manufacturing, warehousing, fuel storage and solid waste facility. The recent proposal appears largely similar to plans submitted by J.G. Petrucci Company nearly a year ago, which were withdrawn over the summer. Residents have expressed opposition to the plan. A review of the plan is scheduled to take place at the Wednesday, Feb. 7, planning commission meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m. at the township building.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 1/25/2024

Bridgeton Township reviews draft short-term rental ordinance
Bridgeton Township is considering a short-term rental ordinance to regulate AirBNB type properties. The draft ordinance is currently under review by the planning commission. The commission has proposed future discussion of the draft ordinance for the February and March meetings. Detailed information is available on the township website.
Source: Bridgeton Township 

Builders target Chester County for new home construction amid low inventory
With local inventory at historically low levels, homebuilders are eyeing Greater Philadelphia's most affluent and land-rich county for new construction homes, which now account for nearly half of the properties currently available in Chester County. In 2023, applications to build 4,366 new single family, apartment and townhome units were filed with the county planning commission — nearly triple the amount in 2022. West Chester, the county seat, was recently named the nation’s most popular market of 2023 by Zillow. The need for new construction homes is in part due to extremely low inventory. Chester County had just 1.09 months of supply as of December, the third lowest of Greater Philadelphia's 10 counties, according to Bright MLS, and a far cry from the four to five months of supply considered normal for the real estate industry. The average sale price of a home in December was $493,750, up 13.5% from a year before and the priciest in the region. Other factors at play include the larger swaths of land, which are attractive to both buyers and builders, and a low population density.
Source: Philadelphia Business Journal; 1/21/2024

Penn Medicine cancels purchase of Brandywine Hospital
Penn Medicine has canceled plans to buy the Brandywine Hospital campus in Caln Township near Coatesville from owner and former operator Tower Health. The proposed acquisition was intended to be part of Penn Medicine's efforts to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve health care delivery to military veterans. “After an intensive due diligence process, we have determined that we would be unable to build out the infrastructure for the project in the space available on the Brandywine campus,” Penn Medicine said on its website, adding that it is seeking another location to continue its goal of working with the VA. Tower Health closed Brandywine Hospital on Jan. 31, 2022. Jennersville Hospital was also shuttered a month earlier by Tower Health.
Source: Daily Local; 1/28/2024 

PA park officials drop campground plans for Big Elk Creek State Park
A controversial proposal to add a campsite at a new Pennsylvania state park in Franklin and Elk townships has been taken off the table after hundreds of residents petitioned against it. The land that was in consideration for camping was located near neighboring homes, and residents voiced concerns about increased traffic and noise. The pushback has prompted the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to pause any camping considerations. The agency is also creating a new task force of local public officials and other stakeholders to discuss its future plans for the park. DCNR still plans to build a visitor center and restrooms for park visitors.
Source: WHYY; 1/30/2024

West Chester will collect its own property taxes
West Chester Borough will now collect its own property taxes instead of having the Chester County Treasurer’s Office do it. “The borough will save cash and receive tax income sooner by collecting property taxes on its own,” Borough Councilman Bernie Flynn said. The county treasurer is currently contracted to collect property taxes for 23 of Chester County’s 73 municipalities. Property owners paying through a mortgage company will need to forward their tax bills to their mortgage companies. Starting with 2024, property tax bills will be mailed from the Borough of West Chester. All existing exemptions will continue to be honored by the borough, and the process for appealing property tax assessments remains unchanged. More information is available on the borough website.
Source: Daily Local; 1/28/2024

OJR approves full-day kindergarten
The Owen J. Roberts School Board voted to implement full-day kindergarten in fall 2025. The 6.5-hour day will allow deeper dives into content, a slower pace with more time for reteaching and enrichment, as well as more exposure to a wider range of subjects, according to the administration’s presentation made to the school board. Eight out of 12 Chester County districts currently have full-day kindergarten. The one-time capital cost for changes to the elementary schools will be $265,000, and the ongoing increased cost for staffing is estimated at $475,000 per year.
Source: Pottstown Mercury; 1/24/2024

State issues $12.6M loan to sewer authority in northwest Chesco
Pennsylvania will loan the Northwestern Chester County Municipal Authority $12.6 million for sewer system upgrades to serve 723 households in Honey Brook Township and Honey Brook Borough, state Rep. Dan Williams (D-74) announced. Williams said the municipal authority’s wastewater treatment system cannot reach ammonia removal limits during the winter months to meet the requirements of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. The loan, administered through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PennVEST), will pay for the removal of the current system and the addition of a new moving bed biofilm reactor system to break down the sewage in a more efficient manner. The water in the system will be discharged into Brandywine Creek, which is designated as a high-quality waters stream by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Source: Phoenixville Patch; 1/29/2024

PA American Water seeks rate increase
Customers of Pennsylvania American Water could be impacted by the utility’s request for a rate increase that could raise residential water bills by nearly 25%. To give ratepayers an opportunity to weigh in, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will hold several public input meetings, including telephonic meetings. Residents who wish to testify can register in advance with the Office of Consumer Advocate. Pennsylvania American Water serves a population of nearly 37,000 through its Coatesville Water and Wastewater System, including those in Coatesville, Parkesburg, South Coatesville, and portions of Atglen, Caln, East Fallowfield, Highland, Sadsbury, Valley, West Caln and West Sadsbury. For more information, visit the website of state Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-19).
Source: Sen. Comitta’s office; 1/31/2024