News Briefs for June 12, 2026
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Franconia Township has a tentative agreement to purchase the historically significant Rising Sun Inn, which was constructed circa 1730s, briefly housed the Liberty Bell and served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. The township will acquire the 11-acre site and the inn’s liquor license for about $1.25 million.
Photo: Google Streetview
PA extends property tax/rent rebate deadline
Pennsylvania has officially extended the deadline to apply for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program to Dec. 31. Eligible residents have extra time to claim relief on property taxes or rent paid in 2025. The program is open to homeowners and renters 65 and older, widows and widowers aged 50 and older, and people with disabilities aged 18 and older. The program is income-capped, with an income limit of $45,000 for homeowners and $35,000 for renters. Eligible claimants can receive a standard rebate ranging from $380 to $1,000. Supplemental rebates and bonuses may increase the final payout depending on individual income brackets.
Source: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 6/2026
Court ruling could reshape stormwater funding across PA
A recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling on stormwater fees could have significant financial implications for municipalities across Pennsylvania that rely on stormwater authorities to fund federally mandated drainage, flood mitigation and water-quality programs. The court determined that stormwater charges are a tax rather than a fee, potentially exempting tax-exempt properties like universities, hospitals, churches and government facilities. As municipalities face federal requirements aimed at protecting streams and mitigating flooding, some have created fee-charging dedicated stormwater authorities. Ten municipalities in the Philadelphia region, including Philadelphia, Norristown and the City of Chester, are among 90 Pennsylvania towns that have them.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 6/4/2026
Gov. Shapiro requests additional funding for public transit systems
Gov. Josh Shapiro is requesting $300 million in additional public transit funding in the state's 2026-2027 budget, drawing from the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Trust Fund backed by sales and use taxes. The bulk of the funding — roughly 87% — would flow to the state's two largest systems, with SEPTA in the Philadelphia region slated to receive more than $1 billion and Pittsburgh Regional Transit getting at least $500 million. The remaining funds would be divided among more than 30 smaller, fixed-route systems statewide — with SRTA/Rabbittransit, serving York, Lancaster and Lebanon counties, receiving an estimated $60 million to $90 million, the largest amount outside the commonwealth’s two major metros. Shapiro frames the proposal as a long-term solution for sustainable transit funding, noting that 65% of Pennsylvania's public transit riders have no other transportation option.
Source: PhillyBurbs; 6/8/2026
Local news outlets form PA Independent News Association
The Pennsylvania Independent News Association (PiNA) was officially formed by publishers of roughly two dozen local digital news outlets across Pennsylvania. Based in Harrisburg, the organization aims to strengthen independent local journalism, advocate for modern press policies, and build sustainable revenue models. A top priority is reforming the state's outdated public notice laws, which currently bar digital outlets from publishing legal notices — a restriction PiNA argues unfairly benefits legacy print newspapers. The group has already engaged state legislators and reports broad support for its position, which draws on similar reform legislation passed in Virginia in 2024.
Source: LevittownNow; 6/2/2026
DART service to expand into Warminster
Pennsylvania House Reps. Brian Munroe (D-144) and Tim Brennan (D-29) joined Doylestown Area Regional Transit (DART) and Bucks County Transit officials at a June 4 press conference to announce the expansion of DART into Warminster Township. The expansion was made possible by new state funding secured through PennDOT and SEPTA as a permanent budget line item. The new DART South-East route will connect stops including Ann's Choice, Warminster Heights, the Warminster SEPTA station, Centennial Station, Center Point Shopping Center and other community landmarks, with fares remaining at $1 per ride and free for riders 65 and older. Officials said the expansion aims to improve independence and access to jobs, healthcare, shopping and essential services for seniors, workers and people with disabilities. A soft launch is expected in the fall with a full opening planned for late 2026.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 6/8/2026
Pennsbury breaks ground on new high school
Pennsbury School District officially broke ground on a new $269.5 million high school in Falls Township, marking the start of construction on a nearly 500,000-square-foot campus expected to open in fall 2029 and serve up to 3,000 students. District leaders described the project as an investment in the future after years of planning and public debate over costs. The new school will replace the current East and West campus buildings to create one comprehensive high school. The facility will feature modern security, collaborative learning spaces, a 1,000-seat theater, a 3,000-seat gymnasium, a pool, an outdoor courtyard and continued hosting of the district’s prom. Officials said the Class of 2030 is expected to be the first graduating class in the new school. According to a 2023 study posted on the district website, taxes for the average home assessed at $28,000 are expected to rise by $2,476 over 10 years to pay for the project.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 6/5/2026
Hilltown approves age-restricted community
Hilltown Township supervisors have granted final approval for a new residential development by Hallmark Homes that will bring 84 housing units to nearly 43 acres off Swartley Road near Route 309. The project includes 73 age-restricted townhomes for residents 55 and older, along with 11 single-family homes open to buyers of any age, plus a clubhouse for the townhome community. With approvals secured, the developer can move forward with land development and construction planning. The proposal succeeded without requiring zoning changes, unlike earlier, larger age-restricted projects proposed for the site by Lennar that were ultimately withdrawn after failing to gain traction.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 6/5/2026
Urban Outfitters announces new facility in Falls Township
Urban Outfitters' parent company URBN announced a $150 million investment in Pennsylvania that will bring 600 new jobs to a new facility in Falls Township by 2033, plus 450 additional jobs at its Philadelphia Navy Yard headquarters. The expansion centers on Nuuly, URBN's subscription-based clothing rental service launched in 2019, which already employs 1,300 people in Bucks County. The new facility, expected to be completed by 2028 near the intersection of Penn Valley Road and Route 13, will grow Nuuly's local workforce to well over 2,000. Gov. Josh Shapiro celebrated the expansion, noting the company's deep Pennsylvania roots since its founding near UPenn's campus in 1970, a legacy reaffirmed by CEO Dick Hayne, who said he has no plans to leave the state.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 6/10/2026
Bensalem pauses all data center development to rewrite zoning rules
Bensalem Township Council unanimously voted to pause all data center development for six months while it rewrites its zoning rules, responding to growing resident alarm over the facilities' impact on electric grids, water usage, air quality and property values. About 25 residents attended the meeting demanding tough regulations, independent monitoring, and requirements that data centers supply their own power — though officials noted a full ban is off the table since state law prohibits exclusionary zoning. The urgency is compounded by a lack of legal clarity: Bensalem's zoning code doesn't even define a data center. There are 18 bills pending in Harrisburg to address the issue but only one has cleared committee. The council set a Sept. 1 deadline to produce a draft ordinance, aiming to get ahead of developers before one can force a facility on the township without proper oversight.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 6/10/2026
Park construction at long-embattled Tredyffrin property begins
A new park is coming to 355 Chase Road in Tredyffrin Township, the former home of the Picket Post facility, with completion expected in late 2026. The five-acre property had long been abandoned and was at the center of legal disputes in the township. Three years ago, a developer demolished a barn on the property that was built in 1890. The developer had purchased the property hoping for a zoning change that would allow for upscale condos on the site. But the township denied the zoning change, keeping it zoned for rural conservation. Tredyffrin supervisors seized the property through eminent domain last year.
Source: Tredyffrin Patch; 5/27/2026
Phoenixville school district now charges residents a fee to use high school track
Phoenixville Area School District residents must now pay a fee in order to use the public high school track. The district's new track access pass program requires a payment of $10. A district spokesperson cited a "continued series of security and vandalism concerns." The district said Washington Field had been damaged, and that there had been confrontation between competing groups wishing to use the field. The track will only be open for a very narrow window of time each day. In the summer, the hours will be 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. School year hours will vary daily. Only residents within the district's borders, including the borough and East Pikeland and Schuylkill townships, are able to buy passes. Neighboring Spring-Ford also now charges residents to use the track.
Source: Phoenixville Patch; 6/2/2026
Questions remain after PA Supreme Court decision in West Chester case
West Chester residents face continued uncertainty over how a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling will affect the borough's stormwater "stream protection fee," which the court deemed a tax in a case involving West Chester University. Any funds collected through the fee were supposed to be directed for specific purposes, including constructing, operating and maintaining the stormwater system, debt service and costs related directly to the stormwater system. West Chester Borough argued that stormwater that flows from West Chester University and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) property into the West Chester stormwater system, so both entities benefited from the stormwater system and were subject to a stormwater charge. West Chester University and PASSHE filed an objection, claiming the amount charged “is not reasonably proportional to the value of any product or service provided” to them by the borough, thereby effectively rendering the fee a tax. They were maintaining, also, that it was a tax because the services benefited the general public at large. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court affirmed a Commonwealth Court decision that the stormwater charge constituted a tax. It’s uncertain if there’s a legal difference between the Borough of West Chester, which is a municipality, and the Stormwater Authority of Chester, which is an independent authority, with regards to the collection of fees.
Source: Daily Times; 5/30/2026
Westtown to consider comprehensive plan amendments
The Westtown Township Board of Supervisors will consider amendments to the township’s 2019 comprehensive plan that would update sections related to open space, parks, recreation, trails, future land use and housing. The proposed changes would reflect voter approval of an open space referendum supporting acquisition of the Crebilly Preserve, clarify recommended future uses for a two-acre parcel at the intersection of Routes 202 and 926, and provide additional guidance for land surrounding the Westminster Presbyterian Church property. A public hearing will be held on Monday, June 15, at 7:30 p.m. at the Westtown Township Building, 1039 Wilmington Pike, West Chester.
Source: Daily Local; 6/1/2026
Realtors report continued delays in Upper Darby use-and-occupancy process
The Suburban Realtors Alliance (SRA) continues to hear reports from Realtors experiencing delays and challenges during the use-and-occupancy (U&O) process in Upper Darby Township. Many members have recently cited a lack of responsiveness from the township. The SRA has been in contact with township officials, and we are pressing for systemic changes to fix the widespread issues. Realtors who are experiencing issues with U&O inspections, permit reviews, certificate issuance or other transaction-related delays in Upper Darby are encouraged to contact the SRA. We will provide updates as additional information becomes available.
Upper Darby School District looking at 3.95% tax increase
Upper Darby School District is planning a 3.95% real estate tax increase for 2026-2027. A home assessed at $100,000 would see a $105 increase. The final budget is expected to be voted on at the Tuesday, June 16, school board meeting. The tax increase would bring in $4.5 million in additional revenue. The district fund balance will cover a $6.1 million gap to balance the budget.
Source: Daily Times; 6/4/2026
Collingdale hopes new 1% EIT leads to property tax relief
Collingdale Borough Council unanimously approved the enactment of an earned income tax (EIT) of 1%, which will apply to both working residents and nonresidents who work in Collingdale. The tax is effective July 1, and a letter informing affected residents and nonresidents will be mailed out over the next couple weeks. Although the EIT will provide the borough of about 9,000 residents with much needed revenue, the primary use of the new tax will be to provide property tax relief. “Collingdale Borough has been largely revenue anemic by accounting and budgeting standards for most of its existence,” said Borough Manager Joseph Papaleo. “Its lack of a mercantile tax, its relaxed approach to licenses and inspections and code enforcement, and sluggish property value growth have held Collingdale back and forced prior councils to rely solely on a single system of revenues.” He noted that the existing funding formula has led to the borough having one of the highest property millage rates in the county. The EIT will be administered by Keystone Collections Group.
Source: Chester Spirit; 5/27/2026
Concord receives new plan for retail site
Concord Township Council accepted for review an updated plan for a controversial shopping center at Route 202 and Ridge Road. There was no formal presentation, and only a few residents from Chadds Ford addressed council on the matter. Introduction of the plan restarts the formal 90-day review process. Councilman John Gillespie said the 90-day process might receive extensions to give the applicant time to address concerns brought up by the various professionals, such as the township engineer, fire marshal and land planning consultant. Gillespie also said there are some conditional use issues, such as a proposed car wash, that need to be considered. Those issues will have to go for a conditional use hearing before they can be approved. With the introduction of the revised plan, an older plan for the Shoppes at Concord is withdrawn.
Source: Chadds Ford Live; 6/3/2026
Franconia Township reaches tentative agreement to buy historic inn
The historic Rising Sun Inn in Franconia Township has permanently closed. To preserve the 1730s-era property and prevent possible demolition, the township has reached a tentative agreement to purchase the 11-acre site for about $1.25 million, including its liquor license, with officials expecting to take possession by the end of June pending due diligence. The inn holds significant historical importance, having briefly housed the Liberty Bell's relocation during the American Revolution in 1777 and serving as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Township leaders say preservation plans are still being developed and dismissed online rumors that the site could become a water treatment plant. The owners of the inn cited retirement and ongoing economic pressures facing small businesses as key reasons for the decision to close, and encouraged residents to continue supporting local businesses that help define community character.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 6/4/2026
Pottstown approves amendments to residential rental ordinance
After a Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled unanimously in December 2025 that Pottstown's rental inspection program was unconstitutional — finding that its use of administrative warrants without probable cause violated the state constitution's stronger privacy protections — the borough has been navigating how to preserve housing oversight while complying with the ruling. Pottstown is appealing to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, but as a fallback, borough council adopted an amended ordinance allowing landlords to hire qualified third-party inspectors instead of borough officials. The ordinance also requires landlords to notify prospective tenants of the borough’s inspection requirements before leasing a unit and establishes a formal appeals process for rental license non-renewals, with the new rules taking effect Sept. 1 and full enforcement beginning Jan. 1, 2027. The Institute for Justice (IJ), the law firm that won the original ruling, has pushed back on that workaround, too, arguing that outsourcing the inspections to private parties doesn't make them constitutional. The borough is standing firm, calling the inspections a routine public safety measure, while IJ has suggested less confrontational alternatives, such as tenant anti-retaliation protections used by other Pennsylvania municipalities.
Source: Pottstown Borough; 6/2026
Lansdale starts data center ordinance discussion
Officials in Lansdale are preparing to discuss zoning rules for data centers, with borough staff and the planning commission expected to review a model ordinance from the Montgomery County Planning Commission as a starting point for possible local regulations. Although no data center proposals have been submitted in the borough, officials said the issue has gained urgency as neighboring communities adopt restrictions and the state advances new standards and incentives. During a recent code committee meeting, residents voiced strong opposition, citing concerns about environmental impacts, energy use, noise, land consumption and limited job creation compared with smaller businesses. Borough officials said a total ban is unlikely under zoning law, but regulations could potentially make locating a data center in Lansdale more difficult through restrictions, such as noise standards and location limits.
Source: The Reporter; 6/8/2026
Limerick eyes more restrictive zoning for data centers
Limerick Township supervisors have unanimously advanced proposed updates to the township’s data center zoning ordinance aimed at making future projects more restrictive and protective of nearby residents. The proposed changes would not apply to the two hyperscale data center proposals already filed in the township. The revisions would tighten standards by shrinking the allowable development area, reducing maximum building height from 129 feet to 80 feet, increasing setbacks from homes to 1,000 feet, lowering noise thresholds, and requiring annual sound studies. New provisions would also mandate water-saving closed-loop cooling systems, drought and wastewater plans, emergency management measures, decommissioning funds, and protections against electric rate impacts on residents. Officials cautioned that regulations cannot be so restrictive that they effectively ban data centers and risk legal challenges. The proposed ordinance will now undergo county and township planning review before a public hearing and possible adoption later this summer.
Source: Pottstown Mercury; 6/3/2026
Norristown Area School District passes budget with 1.5% tax increase
The Norristown Area School Board has unanimously adopted a $235.3 million budget for the 2026-2027 school year that includes a 1.5% tax increase and funding for 52 new positions, literacy supports and expanded after-school programming amid ongoing concerns about student achievement. The budget raises the district’s millage rate to 40.1899 mills and closes a projected $4.9 million deficit. District leaders said staffing and programming remain contingent on the final state budget, but the plan includes five reading specialists, four literacy coaches and $300,000 for after-school programs in response to community calls for stronger academic support as the district works to improve literacy and math outcomes. Superintendent Christopher Dormer said the investments reflect the district’s commitment to students and future growth.
Source: Pottstown Mercury; 6/5/2026
‘Turn the Key’ program launches 22-home project in Tioga
Nearly two dozen homes are being built on a string of vacant lots in Tioga, marking the first Turn the Key project in the 8th Council District. Construction on the first set of homes began in April. The development on West Venango Street is expected to create 22 opportunities for first-time homebuyers. The homes are being built on city land that was transferred to Civetta Property Group. The cost of the properties is expected to start at about $280,000. Eligible buyers can receive up to $75,000 in mortgage buydown assistance, as well as up to $10,000 from Philly First Home, a grant program for first-time homebuyers. City officials said those subsidies can reduce monthly payments on a three-bedroom home to about $1,400, below the average rent for a comparable apartment. According to the Philadelphia Land Bank, 494 Turn the Key units have been completed, sold or placed under contract. Another 200 are under construction, and 1,118 more units have been approved for development.
Source: PlanPhilly; 6/2/2026
City council reluctantly agrees to borrow $200M to buy police HQ building
Philadelphia City Council members passed a measure out of a key committee allowing the city to borrow $200 million to purchase the North Broad Street tower where the police department is headquartered, a move that came after lawmakers initially threatened to derail the acquisition. The city has been leasing the property for about $15 million a year from developer Bart Blatstein. Officials warned that the rent was set to nearly double this year if the city did not exercise a one-time option to buy the building. Under the terms of an agreement that the city inked with Blatstein in 2017 under former Mayor Jim Kenney, in order to buy the building, the city is required to assume the roughly $200 million worth of debt on the property associated with a massive renovation. Officials from Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration told council’s finance committee that the tower itself is appraised to be worth $21.5 million. The city will issue bonds to buy the debt and will pay roughly $15 million a year in debt service.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 6/4/2026
Philly plans to install 800 electric vehicle chargers in next decade
On average, Philadelphia residents live within a half-mile of a gas station, but they live 1.4 miles away from the nearest public electric vehicle charging station. Most of the estimated 200 public chargers are concentrated in Center City, leaving other neighborhoods out of the electric vehicle charging loop. In some neighborhoods, EV owners have dangled electrical cords out of garages and windows and snaked them across sidewalks. City officials plan to improve that access through ChargePHL, a 10-year partnership with two businesses that would install and maintain over 800 publicly available EV charging stations across the city. Under proposed legislation, two companies will tap their own money and federal grants to cover installation costs. The legislation would also amend the traffic code so that people cannot stand in or park a non-EV in a charging space. In addition, someone charging a car would have to drive away from the space within 20 minutes of finishing. Violators would face penalties of $150 to $300. Officials estimate an overnight charge will cost users approximately $13, providing a competitive alternative to gasoline. Planners anticipate the first chargers will be installed by early 2027.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 6/4/2026
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