News Briefs for May 22, 2026

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Washington's Headquarters at Valley Forge, built circa 1773, is located near the Schuylkill River in Upper Merion Township. A developer has submitted plans for eight data centers in Upper Merion.

Photo: Peter Miller (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

General News

PA lawmakers split on data center regulation
The Pennsylvania House has passed four bipartisan bills to regulate data centers, covering energy and water usage disclosure, utility cost protections, clean energy requirements, and a model ordinance framework for townships — but the measures face an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled Senate, where Majority Leader Joe Pittman prefers a broader, more holistic approach rather than individual bills. Meanwhile, Gov. Shapiro has pursued voluntary incentives like expedited permitting for environmentally compliant centers, and the Public Utility Commission has approved a framework requiring data centers to cover infrastructure upgrade costs — though neither is legally enforceable. Environmental advocates largely support the House legislation as necessary community protections, while the Data Center Coalition opposes it, arguing the bills single out the industry unfairly and could deter future development in Pennsylvania. Read more from Spotlight PA.
Source: Spotlight PA; 5/18/2026

State expands on-the-spot birth certificate efforts
The Pennsylvania departments of Labor & Industry (L&I), Health (DOH), and Corrections (DOC) have created an initiative to provide people returning to the workforce from the justice system with on-the-spot birth certificates, helping to remove a significant barrier that can stand in the way of work, training, housing and reentry. The on-the-spot initiative builds on the Shapiro administration’s work to make state services easier to access and help connect more Pennsylvanians to opportunities.
Source: The Chester Spirit; 5/13/2026

Where to find election results
Statewide results from the May 19 primary election can be found at the Pennsylvania Department of State website. For local election results, visit county websites:

Bucks County

Wright farm project in Lower Makefield sold to Toll Brothers subsidiary
A DeLuca Homes subsidiary sold the former Wright farm off the Newtown Bypass in Lower Makefield to a Toll Brothers subsidiary for roughly $20 million in December 2025, and Toll is now developing the site as Oakvale at Yardley — a 47-home luxury community featuring homes over 3,600 square feet starting around $1.7 million. Since Toll is proceeding with the same plans DeLuca received approval for, no additional township planning commission review was required, and the Lower Makefield supervisors unanimously approved the development at their May 6 meeting. The project includes a significant reforestation effort and will have a homeowners association. Nearby residents raised traffic concerns, which the township addressed through a second traffic study conducted during the planning process.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 5/14/2026

West Rockhill reviews battery storage project
Energy Mountain LLC (also doing business as Heritage Meadow) has applied for a special zoning exception to build a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on roughly 21.5 acres at 25 Branch Road in West Rockhill Township — a move that comes as the community grapples with an influx of data center proposals in the area. The residential-agriculture parcels would require an F1 Utility exception under township zoning code, which covers infrastructure such as electrical substations and renewable energy storage. While the Environmental Protection Agency notes that BESS installations help stabilize electrical grids by smoothing out fluctuations from renewable energy sources, the agency also flags legitimate safety concerns around lithium-ion battery fires, including health risks from emissions and disposal challenges. The West Rockhill Township Zoning Hearing Board will hold a public hearing on the request on Wednesday, June 3, at 7 p.m. at the Tylersport Fire House in Sellersville.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 5/20/2026

Northampton adopts wastewater ordinance
The Northampton Township Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted Ordinance 629, amending Chapter 18 of the township code to establish pretreatment requirements aligned with federal EPA standards under the Clean Water Act. The measure addresses the township's split wastewater system — most wastewater flows to a Philadelphia treatment plant, while a smaller portion routes through the Warminster Township Municipal Authority — by ensuring both operate under consistent regulations governing what materials can enter the sewer infrastructure. Supervisors cited past wastewater management issues and Department of Environmental Protection compliance requirements as key motivators, and with no public objections raised, the ordinance passed without opposition, set to take effect five days after adoption.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 5/15/2026

Land slated for treatment plant in Newtown can be sold
The Newtown-Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (NBCJMA) is moving to list for sale a 17-acre parcel along the Newtown Bypass and Lower Silver Lake Road after its planned $128 million wastewater treatment plant was scrapped in November 2025 following significant community opposition. The authority acquired the land through eminent domain in 2024 for $9 million, but was legally required to first offer it back to the original owners, 42 University LLC, at $11.5 million — an offer that went unaccepted. A judge has since authorized the sale, and while a potential agreement was on the authority's May 12 agenda, the board moved the discussion into executive session and tabled the matter publicly until its June 9 meeting. The parcel is zoned Office Research District, permitting by-right uses including offices, research facilities, single-family homes, and municipal buildings on a minimum of 15 acres.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 5/15/2026

Perkasie to consider North 7th Street parking restrictions
Perkasie Borough Council is considering a draft ordinance that would create new parking restrictions along North 7th Street. The proposed changes would establish weekday no-parking windows near residential driveways at 149 and 120 N. 7th St., as well as permanent no-parking zones within 20 feet of both entrances to Davis Feed Mill on the west side of the street. If adopted, the ordinance would take effect immediately upon the mayor's signature; the full text is available for review at borough hall during normal business hours. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 26, at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall, 620 W. Chestnut St.
Source: NorthPennNow; 5/20/2026

Chester County

Unionville-Chadds Ford school board hears updates on budget, middle school plan
Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board members had a brief update on the middle school plan, reviewed the proposed final budget for next school year, and considered some facility upgrades. The district’s director of facilities said the updated timeline for replacing C.F. Patton Middle School includes incorporating a CMA — construction manager as an advisor — and some of the early phases planned for 2028 will likely need to be pushed back to 2029, though the building start would remain as 2031. The board also voted to approve the proposed final budget for the 2026-2027 school year. The budget calls for revenues and expenses to be nearly $111.3 million, with millage rates at 34.95 for Chester County property owners — an increase of 3.07% — and 20.21 mills for Delaware County property owners, an increase of 4.99%. A final vote for the adoption of the budget is scheduled for the board’s June 15 meeting.
Source: Chadds Ford Live; 5/12/2026

West Chester Iron Hill to become Magerk’s, as Exton, Phoenixville sites remain vacant
Following the recent bankruptcy of the Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant chain, the West Chester location is slated to reopen as a Magerk’s Pub & Grill while the Exton and Phoenixville properties remain vacant and available for lease. The former West Chester Iron Hill closed in September before the property owner purchased the brewery’s assets and secured a new tenant for the downtown site, while the 19,500-square-foot Exton taphouse and production facility continues to be marketed because of its unusually large footprint. The Phoenixville location, which closed in October 2024, also remains empty as brokers seek new operators for the former restaurant spaces. Iron Hill had accumulated about $20 million in debt, prompting the closure of locations across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware before a new ownership group led in part by cofounder Mark Edelson began reopening select restaurants this year.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 5/20/2026

Transit agencies seek focus group members in Chester County
DVRPC and SEPTA are conducting focus groups to understand the transit habits of people who live, work and travel in Chester County. They are asking members of the public to fill out an interest form to participate, and those who are selected will receive a stipend of $150 based on attendance at an assigned focus group.
Source: Chester County; 5/2026

Rebates available for homeowners who ‘catch the rain’
Chester County Water Resources Authority is accepting applications for the 2026 Catch the Rain Program, which supports practices that reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality. Homeowners may qualify for a Catch the Rain rebate to help protect aquatic habitats, reduce drainage issues and localized flooding, and strengthen local biodiversity by implementing green infrastructure practices on their property. Eligible projects include rain gardens, conservation landscaping, shade tree or riparian buffer plantings, and de-paving or permeable pavement retrofits. Landowners are eligible for rebates covering 50% of project costs up to $2,500.
Source: Chester County; 5/2026

Delaware County

Delaware County moves forward with human relations commission
Delaware County is continuing to move forward with the creation of a countywide human relations commission and is screening potential candidates to serve on it. The second round of the screening, which just finished, involved a written response to hypothetical questions. In December, the council unanimously passed an ordinance establishing the Human Relations Commission, which would focus on acts of discrimination in four sectors: housing, employment, public accommodations and health care. The commission is anticipated to have seven to 13 members, who will serve three-year terms with staggered terms for the first commission. Protected classes include race, ethnicity, color, religion, creed, national origin or citizenship status, ancestry, sex, including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, relationship or association with a disabled person, source of income, age, veteran status, use of guide or support animals or mechanical aids, or domestic or sexual violence victim status.
Source: Daily Times; 5/18/2026

Marple Newtown proposed 2026-2027 budget would see property tax rise 3.5%
The Marple Newtown School Board is looking at a 3.5% property tax increase in its proposed 2026-2027 budget. The $119.3 million proposed budget, which would raise the millage rate from 12.47 to 12.91, was passed unanimously at the school board’s April 28 meeting without any additional public discussion from school board members. Passage of the final budget is scheduled for the Tuesday, June 16, meeting. The district expects to bring in $96.8 million from local revenue, including more than $88.2 million from current real estate taxes. Other sources include $1.4 million in earnings on investments and $2.9 million from tuition. The state would contribute about $19.5 million, including $3.8 million in basic education funding and $1.8 million in special education funding. Federal contributions account for roughly $1.5 million, including $1 million from the school-based access Medicaid Reimbursement program.
Source: Daily Times; 5/15/2026

Residents of Aston, Marcus Hook, Lower Chichester and Trainer mixed on $85 ambulance fee
The Aston Ambulance Authority (AAA) began serving the municipalities of Aston, Marcus Hook, Lower Chichester and Trainer in April. The AAA, which is backed by Aston Township and operates from the new Aston Township Building on Concord Road, provides 24/7 Advanced Life Support services that were previously covered by the now closed Crozer Health System. Residents of the four affected municipalities received a post card in the mail from the AAA, which described its services and read, “Your first annual bill from the Aston Ambulance Authority will arrive by mail soon.” The $85 annual fee will be imposed on every household in the four communities. According to the Pennsylvania Municipalities Authorities Act, municipalities have the right to impose a fee for such services. Nonpayment of the fee can result in a lien being placed on the property. Some residents are not happy with the fee and have questioned why they weren’t informed beforehand. Aston Township Fire Department issued a statement explaining that their department is not affiliated with the AAA.
Source: Chester Spirit; 4/29/2026

Media Iron Hill still vacant as other locations in region set to reopen
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant locations are heading in different directions months after the regional brewery chain filed for bankruptcy, with some locations set to reopen or be reimagined. The longtime Media restaurant remains vacant and actively marketed for lease. The 9,300-square-foot property, which operated for 24 years on State Street, is being pitched to larger restaurant operators because of its nearly $29,000 monthly rent and lack of dedicated parking, according to leasing agent Tim Henry, who said the site will likely require extensive renovations after brewery equipment was auctioned during the bankruptcy process. The closures are part of the fallout from Iron Hill’s September shutdown, which left more than a dozen empty brewpubs across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware before a new ownership group led in part by cofounder Mark Edelson began reopening select locations this year.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 5/20/2026

Marple Township updates fees
Marple Township recently adopted a resolution updating the fee schedule for services. Several fees, including the rental license and vacant building fee have been updated. The full schedule is included on Page 6 of the May 11 township meeting agenda.
Source: Marple Township; 5/2026

Montgomery County

Developer files eight data center proposals days ahead of Upper Merion enacting stricter regulations
A real estate developer backed by Brian O'Neill — the same figure behind a previously withdrawn and now-revived data center proposal in Plymouth Township — has submitted eight data center projects totaling more than 4 million square feet in Upper Merion Township. All of the proposals were filed days before the township enacted a stricter data center ordinance, potentially giving the developer a regulatory loophole. The projects, spread across Renaissance Boulevard, Horizon Drive, Swedeland Road and River Road, will go before the township planning commission on May 27. Critics, including a bipartisan coalition of residents and state legislators, cite concerns ranging from noise, water and energy consumption, and property value declines, to the broader question of who actually benefits from AI infrastructure. Adding another dimension, emails obtained through a Right to Know request by the advocacy group Concerned Citizens of Montour County revealed that O'Neill had been lobbying the Shapiro administration to require opponents of data center projects to post bonds worth double a project's cost — a move that would effectively price most residents out of the appeals process. Read more in the Norristown Patch.
Source: Norristown Patch; 5/18/2026

Data centers drive a wedge in regional planning group, Douglass Township wants out
Douglass Township is poised to withdraw from the eight-municipality Pottstown Metropolitan Area Regional Planning Commission after North Coventry Township secretly commissioned a $4,000 study analyzing Douglass's zoning suitability for data centers — without ever notifying Douglass officials. The study, which concluded that roughly 250 acres in Douglass were suitable for data center development, contained significant errors that Douglass says it could have corrected had anyone simply asked, since several identified properties are deed-restricted farmland, under contract for senior housing, or already approved for townhouses. When the study surfaced publicly, Douglass residents flooded township offices with concerns, sparking a contentious regional planning meeting and prompting Douglass to cut off all communication with North Coventry pending a Right to Know request. A Douglass exit would be doubly damaging: it would strip the remaining seven towns of the zoning protection that Douglass's data center designation currently provides them, and it could derail a nearly completed regional comprehensive plan that took months to draft and requires unanimous adoption by all member municipalities.
Source: Pottstown Mercury; 5/14/2026 & 5/19/2026

Souderton to review code enforcement policies
Souderton Borough Council used a recent work session to revisit local code enforcement policies following the retirement of longtime officer Steve Toy and the transition to a new contractor, Barry Isett & Associates. Zoning specialist Rich Roberts led a discussion on whether current ordinances and fines are practical, covering a range of specific violation types: snow removal timelines, grass and weed height standards, nuisance vehicles, trash disposal, rental property inspections, and communication challenges posed by language barriers. Among the changes under consideration are more flexible enforcement timelines that account for individual circumstances like illness or travel, adjustments to violation fees, and a color-coded tag system to distinguish first, second and final notices. The borough manager will retain some discretion in handling violations case by case, and council is expected to use the work session's takeaways to potentially rework existing ordinances.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 5/13/2026 & NorthPennNow; 5/20/2026

Montco recorder of deeds debuts texting option
Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds Jeanne Sorg launched a text messaging line on April 1, giving residents a new way to reach her office without making a phone call. In its first month, the service handled inquiries from 48 customers, ranging from basic questions about office hours and obtaining deed copies to more detailed questions about recording requirements and the REV-183 form. The line — which can be reached at 267-355-3404 — is monitored Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with after-hours messages answered the next business day. Residents can also reach the office by phone at 610-278-3289 or online.
Source: Pottstown Mercury; 5/19/2026

Lansdale to end free public EV charging
Lansdale Borough is ending free public EV charging, shifting to a paid system with idle fees and a ban on overnight parking at charging stations. Drivers will need to download the Tesla mobile app, create an account, and put a credit card on file to use the borough's Level 2 chargers. Fees and any penalties will be billed automatically after each session. Vehicles left connected after charging is complete will incur idle fees after a five-minute grace period, and the borough says regular enforcement will accompany the new rules to ensure turnover. Specific rate and fee amounts have not yet been publicly announced.
Source: NorthPennNow; 5/20/2026

Philadelphia

Judges order Sheriff Rochelle Bilal to fix deed problem
Philadelphia judges are threatening to appoint a “special master” to oversee sheriff sales in the city if Sheriff Rochelle Bilal does not resolve ongoing delays in processing deeds of properties won at auction. A court order requires Bilal to submit a detailed accounting of every sheriff sale since she took office in January 2020, as well as a plan for “promptly” handling post-sale payments and delivering deeds to the winning bidders. Bilal or a representative from her office must also appear at a public hearing before a judge in July to demonstrate why a special master, title agent or someone with similar expertise in real estate should not be brought in to oversee the auctions and help clear out an extensive backlog of unprocessed sales.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 5/13/2026

Philly voters approve ballot measures on retirement savings program and youth ombudsperson
Philadelphia voters have approved two ballot measures that create a new retirement savings program for some city residents, and make permanent an office to protect and deliver services for at-risk young people. The first measure amends the city’s Home Rule Charter to launch a retirement savings program for residents who do not have retirement plans through their private-sector employers. Set to be overseen by the Philadelphia Retirement Savings Board, the program makes Philadelphia the first major city to create such a plan. Those eligible to participate will be able to create defined-contribution plans, similar to a 401(k) or individual retirement account, into which they can deduct 3% to 6% of their paychecks. No contribution matching is provided, and there is no cost to employers. The second measure makes the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson permanent. Established through an executive order by former Mayor Jim Kenney in 2022, the office works to monitor safety and service delivery for minors in the care of the city, such as those living in foster care, behavioral health residential care facilities, and the juvenile justice system.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 5/19/2026

Renter who faced eviction after organizing tenants wins landlord retaliation case
A Germantown renter facing eviction has won the right to remain in her home following a protracted battle with her corporate landlord. Philadelphia’s Fair Housing Commission, in a first-of-its-kind decision, ruled that RAM Partners violated city law when it refused to renew Kadi Ashby’s lease at Alden Park Luxury Apartments, where the 37-year-old press operator has lived since June 2023. The ruling followed a pair of hearings rooted in the city’s rental code, which bars landlords from terminating a lease in retaliation for “the joining of any lawful organization, or any other exercise of a legal right” — in this case, the right to form a tenants’ association at Alden Park. Ashby is part of the association’s leadership, and she alleged that she was targeted by management as a result. Tenants formed the association last February in response to the living conditions, which city inspectors deemed unsafe.
Source: PlanPhilly; 5/7/2026

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