News Briefs for May 29, 2026
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Pennhurst State School and Hospital (pictured in 2015) in East Vincent Township was shuttered in 1987 and has been partly replaced by a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facility. Township supervisors rejected a proposal to build a data center on the site, though the applicant plans to appeal.
Photo: Jeff Tripodi (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
PUC alerts consumers to price increases
The cost for electricity is going up on June 1, and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is alerting consumers of the increase in electric generation prices for all PUC-regulated electric utilities. For consumers in southeast Pennsylvania, that means the following:
- The rate for Met-Ed customers will rise 12.951 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) from 12.965 cents, a 7.6% increase.
- The estimated rate for PECO customers will rise to 11.572 cents per kWh from 11.024 cents, an increase of 4.97%.
- The rate for PPL customers will rise to 13.147 cents per kWh from 12.953 cents, an increase of 1.5%.
The PUC said summer electric bills are influenced by two major factors: the market price of electricity and the amount of electricity used during periods of hot weather.
Source: Daily Local; 5/25/2026
Study shows state and local regulations are barriers to homebuilding in PA
Pennsylvania's housing shortage is being worsened by a tangle of regulatory and workforce challenges, according to a recent study from George Mason University’s Mercatus Center. With over 2,600 municipalities each enforcing their own zoning and permitting rules, builders often need approvals from up to 11 regulatory bodies, making a two-year timeline a best-case scenario. Stormwater management requirements are a particular cost driver, sometimes exceeding all other utility and paving costs combined, while the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s one-acre permitting threshold is stricter than the five-acre federal minimum. Zoning restrictions also limit denser housing options like apartments and accessory dwelling units. On the labor side, an aging construction workforce and the loss of over 126,000 immigrant workers between 2024 and 2025 are squeezing capacity further. Read more from the Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Source: Pennsylvania Capital-Star; 5/21/2026
PA ranks 4th in nation for sports tourism
Pennsylvania has been ranked fourth in the nation for both participatory and spectator sports tourism, according to Sports Events & Tourism Association’s "2026 State of the Industry Report," with overnight visitors including sporting events in their trips jumping from 15% to 21% year-over-year. The state is capitalizing on the momentum by hosting a slate of major events in 2026, including the NFL Draft, PGA Championship, FIFA World Cup, and MLB All-Star Game, alongside numerous amateur and youth competitions.
Source: Central Penn Business Journal; 5/14/2026
USDA offers disaster assistance to PA farmers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering technical and financial assistance to Pennsylvania farmers and livestock producers affected by a recent late-season freeze. Options include the Tree Assistance Program for orchardists and nursery growers to replant or rehabilitate damaged trees, the Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program for crops without federal insurance coverage, and low-interest emergency loans for producers unable to secure commercial financing. Producers can find additional resources, including a Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool and Loan Assistance Tool, at the USDA’s Farmers website.
Source: Gettysburg Times; 5/18/2026
NAR applauds HUD best practices to boost building and homeownership
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the State and Local Best Practices for Home Construction Report, which contains guidelines for state and local governments to increase efficiency and ease regulatory barriers to housing construction and affordability. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) applauds the guidelines as a constructive contribution to the national conversation on housing supply. Read more at the NAR website.
Source: NAR; 5/21/2026
Senior living facility proposed in Solebury
Fountainhead Living LLC has proposed a senior living community on a vacant, 20-acre site along Lower York Road (Route 202) near its intersection with Route 179 in Solebury Township, bordering Aquetong Creek. The development would include 142 multifamily apartment units spread across five buildings, 18 two-bedroom cottage units, and a 10,000-square-foot clubhouse. The site is zoned for Traditional Neighborhood Commercial use, which allows long-term residential health care facilities as a conditional use on lots of at least eight acres.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 5/27/2026
Newtown Area Joint Zoning Council to talk data centers
Three townships in the Newtown area — Newtown, Wrightstown and Upper Makefield — are moving to get ahead of the AI data center boom by developing shared zoning regulations through their existing joint zoning council, with a discussion tentatively planned for Thursday, June 4. Officials stressed the importance of acting before any projects are proposed, noting that zoning gaps make it harder to control where such facilities land. Data centers have drawn scrutiny across Bucks County due to their heavy demands on power and water, with several other townships also working on similar ordinances. Separately, Newtown Township approved three zoning amendments at its May meeting: one updating wireless communications rules and limiting standalone cell towers to three designated parcels; one capping billboards at 100 square feet and 16 feet in height; and one allowing elderly housing residents to install backup generators and AC units without worrying about side-yard setback requirements — a measure driven in part by the needs of residents dependent on oxygen equipment.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 5/22/2026
Pennsbury School District budget calls for 3.5% tax increase
The Pennsbury School Board has approved advertising a $278.4 million budget for 2026-2027 that relies on a 3.5% real estate tax increase and a $4.4 million draw from its fund balance to close the gap, with overall expenditures running 5.59% higher than the current year. Salaries and benefits, which make up nearly 80% of the budget, are rising a modest 2.3%, but other costs are climbing far more steeply — specialized disability transportation is up 37%, and debt service tied to the district's new $270 million high school is rising 20.8%. The board is reviewing every line item for savings and has passed a resolution urging the state and federal government to increase funding for special education mandates and infrastructure. On the construction front, the new high school groundbreaking ceremony is set for Thursday, June 4, though nearby residents have already raised complaints about tree removal and wood chipping occurring before proper debris controls were in place. The school is expected to open in September 2029.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 5/23/2026
Newtown Borough manager to retire
Newtown Borough Manager Craig Totaro is retiring on May 31 after two years in the role. Totaro was the first borough manager in the municipality's nearly 60-year history. During his tenure, he modernized borough finances, renegotiated contracts for insurance, landscaping, police and fire services, and secured several significant grants, including a $1.3 million sidewalk improvement grant. Council members praised his largely behind-the-scenes work for leaving the borough in far better shape than he found it. To fill the gap, council unanimously voted to bring on GW Tax and Accounting Services for financial duties starting June 1, and re-engaged the Meyner Center at Lafayette College — the same nonprofit that helped hire Totaro — to lead the search for his successor.
Source: Newtown Patch; 5/21/2026
East Vincent denies data center application at former Pennhurst site
The East Vincent Township Board of Supervisors denied an application from Pennhurst Holdings DE LLC to build a 1.9-million-square-foot hyperscale data center on the grounds of the former Pennhurst Hospital. Having written but then not adopted a data-center-specific zoning ordinance, the township received the application under an overlay zoning district named “industrial mixed use,” which requires an industrial use (the data center) to be accompanied by something like an office or light manufacturing use. Attorney Matthew McHugh, representing the developer, argued that because the plan included data center offices, battery storage and a gas-fired power plant, the site would house multiple uses. Carl Ewald, the attorney hired by the group East Vincent Advocacy, which was granted party status, argued those were all accessories to a single use. The applicant has indicated they intend to appeal the decision in court.
Source: Daily Local; 5/22/2026
Kennett Square council to revisit rental unit local agent ordinance
Kennett Square Borough Council is scheduled to consider a draft ordinance amending local requirements for responsible local agents overseeing rental units within the borough. The proposal would revise Chapter 8, Section 8-107, of the borough code regarding local agent requirements for rental properties. The proposal follows prior discussion by council earlier this year, when a related vote failed, according to April 6 council meeting minutes. Council will hold the public meeting on Monday, June 1, at 7 p.m. in the third-floor meeting room at Kennett Square Borough Building. According to the public notice, council could vote on the ordinance during the Monday, June 1, meeting or at a subsequent June 3 meeting.
Source: Daily Local; 5/21/2026
Penn Township to consider nuisance ordinance on overgrown vegetation
The Penn Township Board of Supervisors is set to consider a proposed ordinance aimed at regulating overgrown vegetation, yard waste and illegal dumping. The proposed ordinance would classify weeds, grass and other vegetation exceeding 12 inches in height, along with dumped grass clippings and yard waste, as nuisances, while outlining enforcement procedures, abatement costs and penalties for violations. The measure also includes limited exceptions and provisions addressing noxious vegetation and dead trees in certain circumstances. The board will consider the ordinance during its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 2, at 6 p.m. at the Penn Township Building.
Source: Daily Local; 5/23/2026
Tredyffrin to install sidewalks at busy traffic corridor
Tredyffrin Township will receive more than $1.3 million to install sidewalks at a busy traffic corridor. About 1,550 feet of sidewalk will be installed along Valley Forge Road and Swedesford Road, providing connections to Valley Forge Middle School, the Gateway Shopping Center and the Chester Valley Trail, officials said. Funding comes from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021, which PennDOT awards to cities and towns. A timeline has not been announced.
Source: Tredyffrin Patch; 5/15/2026
ChristianaCare opens new neighborhood hospital in Aston
Members of Delaware County Council joined officials from ChristianaCare and local leaders for the ribbon cutting of a new neighborhood hospital campus in Aston, marking the first new hospital opening in Delaware County since the closure of the Crozer health system in early 2025. The new ChristianaCare Aston Campus will operate a 24-hour emergency department and include a 10-bed inpatient unit for overnight stays, observation and testing, along with outpatient services, such as primary care, specialty care and imaging. Councilmember Monica Taylor said the facility represents an opportunity to rebuild stable healthcare access across the county following the collapse of Crozer under former owner Prospect Medical Holdings. ChristianaCare plans to open another neighborhood hospital in Springfield next year as county officials continue efforts to restore healthcare access for residents affected by Crozer’s closures.
Source: Delaware County; 5/22/2026
Springfield School Board approves nearly 3% tax increase
Springfield School District property owners are facing a tax increase. The school board approved a 2.95% increase in the real estate tax levy for Springfield Township and Morton Borough, increasing the millage from just under 22.18 to just over 22.83 mills. For Springfield Township residents, the hike comes just weeks after township commissioners approved a new 1% earned income tax that will take effect in July. Township commissioners have vowed to lower the township millage rate by 20%. The school district takes nearly two-thirds of the tax burden of the residents, with the county and the township accounting for the rest. At an April presentation on the budget, it was noted that the school budget for the coming year is $96.7 million with a deficit of nearly $600k. Officials will spend down reserves to cover that deficit. The school district has seen a $61 million or 1.9% reduction in billable property, resulting in a $1.4 million reduction in tax revenue to the district.
Source: Daily Times; 5/20/2026
Haverford school district poised to raise property taxes 3.5%
The School District of Haverford Township is expected to approve a 3.5% property tax increase and a proposed $161 million budget, with officials signaling similar annual increases may continue in future years to address long-term financial pressures. The increase, which is the maximum permitted under Pennsylvania’s Act 1 index, would raise the district’s millage rate from 19.65 to 20.34. During a recent financial presentation, consultants from Public Financial Management advised the district to continue yearly tax increases at the maximum allowable rate, citing slowing enrollment growth, limited new development and rising salary costs as major budget challenges. Analysts projected the district’s fund balance could eventually be depleted without continued revenue increases and operational adjustments, while board members also discussed declining enrollment trends and concerns over the district’s lack of full-day kindergarten.
Source: Daily Times; 5/20/2026
Small IKEA set to open in Middletown
IKEA expects its small-format store under construction in Middletown Township near Media to open mid-summer, a company spokesperson told Patch. The furniture giant is bringing a "plan and order point" store to The Promenade at Granite Run. Far smaller than a traditional IKEA location, the plan and order points allow customers to sit with employees to plan home-furnishing solutions. Staff can arrange for delivery or schedule orders for pickup on a future date. It will be the company's first store in Delaware County. Media's location will be 3,755 square feet, making it one of the smaller stores in the shopping center. But it will offer pick-up, which is not available at all Plan and order points. IKEA Media will be located at 1111 W. Baltimore Pike, Suite K. IKEA's first U.S. store opened in 1985 in Plymouth Meeting. The international corporation only has about 50 U.S. stores.
Source: Media Patch; 5/21/2026
Douglass Township to leave regional planning group
Douglass Township supervisors voted unanimously to begin withdrawing from the Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Committee after discovering that fellow member North Coventry Township had quietly commissioned a study identifying potential data center sites within Douglass Township — without ever notifying Douglass officials. Chairman Joshua Stouch called the move "inappropriate and unprofessional," saying it undermined the collaborative spirit the committee was built on. Though Douglass's current zoning permits data centers — language written before the recent surge in hyperscale facility applications — officials are already working to tighten restrictions around noise, vibration, heat, industrial waste and groundwater protection. The township's zoning officer also suggested Douglass might be better served by forming a new regional planning group with more like-minded neighboring communities, such as New Hanover, Boyertown Borough and Washington Township. Formal withdrawal requires a public hearing and advertisement, which the board has authorized its solicitor to initiate.
Source: Town and Country; 5/20/2026
Lower Salford residents approve open space tax referendum
Lower Salford Township voters approved a 0.25% earned income tax increase by a lopsided 82% to 18% margin — 3,130 yes votes to 680 no votes — to fund the purchase and preservation of the 62-acre Allebach Farm. The board of supervisors placed the referendum on the ballot after reaching a $21.5 million agreement of sale with the Allebach family for the historic property, long considered a scenic landmark in the township. The tax hike raises the earned income tax from 0.5% to 0.75%, costing the average worker about $225 more per year, and is expected to generate roughly $2 million annually earmarked solely for the farm acquisition, additional open space preservation, and related expenses. The tax does not apply to fixed income sources, such as Social Security or pensions.
Source: The Reporter; 5/20/2026
Construction begins on 270-unit Piazza in Ardmore
Construction has begun on the Piazza at Ardmore, a five-story, 548,000-square-foot, mixed-use development that will stretch along Lancaster Avenue from Greenfield to Ardmore avenues in Ardmore, Lower Merion Township. The project, developed by Radnor Property Group after original partner Toll Brothers departed in 2024, will deliver 270 luxury one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments surrounding a 19,000-square-foot private courtyard, along with 30,000 square feet of retail space planned for a mix of food and beverage, health and wellness, and specialty tenants. The building will also include a pool, fitness center, coworking spaces and roughly 480 parking spaces, 108 of which will be open to the public. Replacing a former Acura dealership and IHOP, the Piazza is by far Ardmore's largest apartment complex to date and is expected to open in February 2028, though residential pricing has not yet been set.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 5/21/2026
Norristown working on data center ordinance
Norristown Municipal Council voted 5-0 to advertise a data center ordinance that would regulate the facilities as a conditional use within the municipality's Heavy Industrial District, joining a growing number of Montgomery County communities grappling with the issue. The move, described as preemptive by Norristown’s solicitor, comes as data center proposals have surfaced in nearby East Vincent, Limerick, North Coventry and Plymouth townships, drawing strong public opposition over environmental, energy and quality-of-life concerns. The proposed ordinance — shaped by research into more than a dozen similar laws nationwide and guidance from Chester County and Montgomery County planning commissions — would set standards for building size, aesthetics, noise, electricity use, environmental impact and vibration, and would require a decommissioning plan with financial guarantees to prevent companies from abandoning obsolete facilities. Council members Jasmine Griffen and David McMahon led the effort, and Griffen said she hopes to hold a public forum before the ordinance is finalized.
Source: The Reporter; 5/26/2026
Upper Moreland to require public sewer connections for some Byberry Road properties
Upper Moreland Township commissioners will consider a proposed ordinance that would require five residential properties on Byberry Road to connect to the township's sanitary sewer system. The board will hold a public hearing on the matter at its regular meeting on Monday, June 1, at 7 p.m. at the township building, 117 Park Ave., Willow Grove. The full text of the proposed ordinance is available for public review during regular business hours.
Source: Times Herald; 5/24/2026
Philly’s next budget could double staff at the Fair Housing Commission
Philadelphia City Council wants to double the staff at the city’s Fair Housing Commission, a budget request aimed at clearing a backlog of cases and keeping pace with new ones as its purview expands. The commission, which polices many of the city’s renter protections, currently has four dedicated employees. Lawmakers want to add three investigators and a deputy director, a new position proposed in Mayor Cherelle Parker’s $6.9 billion spending plan. If approved, the commission’s budget would jump more than 50% next fiscal year to roughly $1.2 million. The commission has a long history of being understaffed, and its caseload is expected to increase again after July 1, partly because of new renter protections enacted by city council. Read more at PlanPhilly.
Source: PlanPhilly; 5/26/2026
PHA to develop long-vacant Fairhill lot, benefitting low-income seniors
The Philadelphia Housing Authority is working to bring 74 subsidized homes to a large vacant lot in the Fairhill section of North Philadelphia. The proposed development will utilize city-owned land on the 100 block of East Clearfield Street. It calls for 61 deeply affordable rental units for older adults and 13 houses for low- to moderate-income residents. It is PHA’s first major development in the 7th District, an area where concerns about gentrification and displacement run deep. The project is part of a broader strategy to build mixed-income developments across the city, particularly in neighborhoods where private development pressure is rising or already well established.
Source: PlanPhilly; 5/20/2026
New farm tool library has community gardens covered
Philadelphians tending community gardens can soon borrow gardening tools from the new Agriculture Resource Center in West Fairmount Park. “We want to make sure that folks who can’t afford to purchase these items are able to borrow them and participate in the sharing economy,” said Ash Richards, urban agriculture director in the Department of Parks and Recreation. The center, set to open this summer, is the first capital project in the city’s 10-year plan to support community gardens, farms and food justice in the city. Read more at PlanPhilly.
Source: PlanPhilly; 5/22/2026
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