EPA announces rollback of limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water
The Environmental Protection Agency announced it plans to weaken limits on some so-called forever chemicals in drinking water that were finalized last year, while maintaining standards for two common ones. The standards for the two common types of PFAS, referred to as PFOA and PFOS, will remain at 4 parts per trillion, effectively the lowest level at which they can be reliably detected. The EPA will now give utilities two extra years — until 2031 — to comply and treat for the chemicals. Limits on three types of PFAS, including so-called GenX substances found in North Carolina, will be scrapped and reconsidered by the agency, as will a limit on a mixture of several types of PFAS. Read more here.
Source: AP News; 5/14/2025

NAR participates in U.S. Treasury home insurance roundtable
The Federal Insurance Office at the U.S. Department of the Treasury hosted a roundtable discussion focused on opportunities to address the cost and availability of homeowners insurance. The roundtable included representatives from various sectors, including insurers, reinsurers, state regulators, resilience and consumer groups, and academics. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) was represented by Austin Perez, senior policy representative for insurance issues. NAR highlighted a critical issue — home buyers are increasingly encountering insurance issues as a last-minute surprise during or after real estate transactions. Learning about the true insurance costs too late can cause buyers to walk away from the closing table or experience buyer’s remorse afterward, if they don’t know to expect double-digit annual rate increases in the future. Specific examples of insurance cost and availability issues were provided based on a member survey reporting from around the country. Read more here.
Source: NAR; 5/9/2025

First draft of tax reform bill ‘very positive’ for real estate
Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee released the full draft text of their portion of tax reform legislation. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) advocacy team secured its top tax priorities in the draft bill, including an enhanced small business tax deduction, a strengthened state and local tax (SALT) deduction, and protections for the mortgage interest deduction. The bill also makes the current lower individual tax rates permanent and increases the child tax credit, moves that could help increase homeownership access for more American families. Read more about the draft and NAR’s tax priorities here.
Source: NAR; 5/12/2025 

Pennsylvania primary election is May 20
The 2025 Pennsylvania primary election will be held on Tuesday, May 20, and in the weeks before as voters cast ballots by mail. In Pennsylvania, residents can only vote in a party’s primary election if they are registered to vote with that party — not if they are registered as independent. Voters can check their voter registration status on the state’s website by entering their name, zip code and date of birth. They can also direct questions to county election officials. Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on election day.  

Visions vary for Regal Barn Cinema parcel in Doylestown Township
The Regal Barn Cinema at the Barn Plaza is slated for demolition and redevelopment — but the vision held by municipal planners for outdoor restaurant seating may differ from what developer Brixmor Development Group planned to propose. Three mixed-use buildings totaling more than 40,000 square feet are planned. Judy Hendrickson, chair of the Doylestown Township Planning Commission, said some commission members would like to see a different design for outdoor dining. The rear of the property backs up to a branch of the Neshaminy Creek, and at the suggestion of the planning commission, the developer joined them for a site visit to tour the property. “The view of the creek and the woods there is really quite nice,” said Hendrickson, “It would be a shame to just put dumpsters there.” Hendrickson believes the developers were receptive to the planning commission’s vision. Brixmor is expected to come before the planning commission “in a month or so” with a sketch plan.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 5/12/2025

Langhorne Borough looks to advertise rental housing registration ordinance
Langhorne Borough Council is scheduled to vote on the advertisement of a residential rental housing registration program ordinance. Borough officials have discussed the enactment of several housing and building related ordinances since January. Meeting minutes from March 12 have Interim Borough Manager Mary Zimmerman asking council to consider adopting three separate ordinances: an owner’s rental property registration ordinance; a use and occupancy (U&O) ordinance; and a safety/fire inspection ordinance. The ordinances would allow registration, U&O inspections, and fire inspections to be developed separately. Council directed solicitor Barbara Kirk to start with the development of a rental housing ordinance. The Suburban Realtors Alliance is following the progress of the proposal.
Source: Langhorne Borough; 5/2025

Upper Makefield allows spill recovery wells to be drilled
Upper Makefield Township supervisors unanimously approved two agreements with Sunoco that will allow the oil company to drill wells to remove the jet fuel that has leaked under the Mount Eyre neighborhood causing residents’ private wells to be contaminated. Three recovery wells will be drilled on Glenwood Drive, where the leak was first discovered, with another eight monitoring wells also planned, though their locations have not been announced. The clean-up operation also includes monitoring of private wells in the area. Township Supervisor Braun Taylor said the agreement gets the recovery project going and gives the township some control over expenses, such as road repaving costs. Sunoco will be required to patch 50 feet on each side of the recovery well, with some extra depending on well location, and pay the township $2,500 per year for use of the streets. The next meeting with Sunoco’s parent company, Energy Transfer, will take place online on Thursday, May 29, at 7:30 p.m. The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will also host a meeting. The date will be published on the township website.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 5/8/2025

Croydon warehouse sells for $37M in Bristol Township
Bucks County property records show New Jersey-based Greek Real Estate Partners has purchased a more than 141,000-square-foot warehouse on a 10-acre lot along the Delaware River in Croydon. The site at 120 Phyllis Drive has about 3,000 square feet of office space, 20 tailgate doors, one drive-in door, 36-foot clear height, and 260 parking spaces and 31 trailer parking spots. It was sold by Pennwood Investment Management, the same company that developed the site in 2023. The vacancy rate in Greater Philadelphia’s industrial market has been inching up after hitting record low vacancy of around 3% in 2022. According to Colliers’ most recent quarterly market report, the industrial vacancy rate in the area is 7.7%.
Source: Philadelphia Business Journal; 5/12/2025

Last undeveloped parcel of Bristol Township industrial park gets state boost
A $2 million state grant will go toward redeveloping an industrial property in Bristol Township. The funding, announced by Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office, was awarded through the Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites Program (PA SITES) and will be used for site preparation activities on the last undeveloped 6.9-acre parcel of the Crownwood Industrial Park. The PA SITES Construction Grant provides gap financing for strategic sites needing financial assistance to reduce development risks for businesses, aiming to enhance the state’s competitiveness for expanding and relocating businesses, officials said. State Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and state Rep. Tina Davis (D-141) advocated for the funding.
Source: LevittownNow; 5/6/2025

Master plan submitted for Exton Square in West Whiteland
Abrams Realty and Development, the owner of the 75-acre Exton Square property, has submitted a master plan for redevelopment of the mall property. The plan proposes multiple uses of the land, including retention of Boscov's and the east parking garage at current locations, and relocation of Main Line Health. It adds new office space, commercial space for new retailers and restaurants, and 619 new dwellings. Master plan approval is the first step of the township review process. The planning commission reviewed it for the first time on March 18 but took no action due to a number of outstanding concerns. The developer is in the process of revising the plan for a second review by the planning commission. When the planning and historical commissions are satisfied, the developer will present the plan to the board of supervisors. The township website contains a condensed version of the 51-sheet plan set that was submitted. Read more at the township website.
Source: West Whiteland Township; 5/7/2025

London Grove considers open space acquisition
London Grove Township supervisors are considering acquiring a property at 200 East Avondale Road for open space. According to Chester County property records, the land — identified as Tax Parcel No. 59-11-19.1 in the township’s legal notice — is nearly 0.66 acres and is adjacent to township-owned land. The township scheduled a May 14 public hearing to inform residents and receive public comments about the potential purchase, which would be made using funds from the open space earned income tax. More information about the township’s preservation efforts can be found on the open space committee webpage.
Source: Daily Local; 5/6/2025

New water pipes being installed in Coatesville and Caln
Pennsylvania American Water is replacing 21 miles of water mains that have been in the ground for 100 years in the City of Coatesville and Caln Township. The $35 million project has been underway for about a decade and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. “These investments will ensure reliable water service for more than 35,000 residents in the area,” said John Keleman, manager of external affairs for Pennsylvania Water.
Source: Daily Local; 5/8/2025

Chesco leaders engage with congressional leaders to defend county funding allocations
Chester County government leaders are ramping up efforts to safeguard critical federal funding that supports essential services. Chester County commissioners and executive leadership have held discussions with senior staff from the offices of U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and David McCormick (R-PA). Commissioners Chair Josh Maxwell and county CEO David Byerman also traveled to Washington, D.C., for in-person meetings with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D, PA-6) and national organizations like the National Association of Counties and the International City/County Management Association. “Federal dollars account for more than $68 million of Chester County’s $730 million annual budget, and recent unilateral freezes and rollbacks have placed this funding at risk,” Maxwell said.
Source: Chester County; 5/7/2025

Malvern surveys community on zoning and land development priorities
Malvern Borough’s Zoning and Subdivision and Land Development Task Force is gathering thoughts from residents to help guide future improvements in the borough. Residents can take the survey here by May 31.
Source: Malvern Borough; 4/25/2025