News Briefs for May 31, 2024
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Penn's Park General Store Complex in Wrightstown Township, also known as the Gaines Property, dates back to 1810 and includes a farmhouse, store building, a frame bank barn and six outbuildings. Wrightstown is one of the Bucks municipalities with the lowest blight risk, according to a recent study.
Photo: Shuvaev (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Since 2020, 55 million square feet of warehouse space has sprung up in Philly region
Tens of millions of square feet of warehouse space have sprung up in the Philadelphia region in recent years to meet the insatiable demand for online shopping. It is altering the workforce, reshaping communities by devouring farmland, channeling truck traffic to country roads, creating environmental worries — and, more recently, sparking pushback from neighbors who say they’ve had enough. Just since 2020, about 55 million square feet of warehouse space has been built or is under construction in the nine-county Philly region, including New Jersey suburbs. The region has 188 warehouses larger than 20,000 square feet, which is slightly bigger than a suburban Walgreens. Industrial real estate analysts say warehouse construction might have peaked, at least for now. “While debt was cheap, there was a big outlay of new construction projects [and at the same time] it looked like supply almost was never going to catch up with demand,” said Adam Gorodesky, vice president of Colliers’ industrial brokerage for the Philadelphia area. “The fundamentals are definitely still strong, but it looks like supply is definitely going to outpace demand for a while.” Numerous proposals are pending before local land use boards, and in some communities, residents are fighting against them. Read more in the Inquirer.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 5/28/2024
How does the SEPTA Bus Revolution impact you?
SEPTA is overhauling its bus network for the first time in six decades. The aim of SEPTA’s “Bus Revolution” is to shorten and simplify routes to provide a more frequent and reliable service. The transit agency says the changes are needed to survive. In the six years before COVID-19, buses shed 20% of their riders, and the pandemic only deepened the decline. The plan has now been approved by SEPTA’s board, bringing a more than three-year-long process to a close. The final version features 108 bus routes, down from the current 125. Forty-three of the routes will offer frequent service, defined as a maximum time between bus runs of 15 minutes, as compared to 33 currently. The Philadelphia Inquirer has an interactive tool to show how SEPTA’s Bus Revolution changes will affect riders based on their location.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 5/29/2024
Bucks County releases blighted property study
Bucks County hired a consultant in April 2023 to study blight in the county, and a report was released in February. The first phase report of the Bucks County Comprehensive Blighted Property Study, created by The Gulotta Group, draws on a variety of sources to examine blight and draws conclusions about the levels of blight risk in individual municipalities (Page 21) and the challenges municipalities face. The municipalities with the lowest scores and highest blight risk were Bristol Borough (74.8), Quakertown Borough (125.9) and Morrisville Borough (135.6). The municipalities with the lowest blight risk were Upper Makefield Township (723.8), Solebury Township (613.4) and Wrightstown Township (566). Bucks County overall had a score of 308.3. Read more in the planning commission’s May newsletter.
Source: Bucks County Planning Commission newsletter; 5/2024
Solebury acquires land for open space
Solebury Township supervisors voted unanimously at a May 21 meeting to use open space funds to acquire the former 80-acre Roeser tract at Upper Mountain and Street roads, and several parcels along Route 202 near Reeder Road, the largest adjacent to the former New Hope Diner. The land was purchased under the Open Space Act, which states it cannot be disposed of unless township voters approve. The supervisors will not sell or transfer any of the properties unless “their use is restricted to open space or township voters approve such a sale.” Read more in the Bucks County Herald.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 5/23/2024
Doylestown Township to ban single-use plastic bags
Doylestown Township supervisors voted 4-1 on May 21 in favor of banning single-use plastic bags. Supervisor Nancy Santacecilia cast the lone dissenting vote, voicing opposition to the 5-cent fee businesses would be required to charge for a recycled or reusable bag, if one is needed. The ordinance includes several exemptions: packaged bulk items, such as produce, nuts, candy or grains, bags for meats, seafood, prepared foods or bakery items are excluded, as are bags used to contain live animals sold at pet stores, bags sold together in packaging by a manufacturer, laundry and dry cleaning bags, and newspaper bags, according to the ordinance. Doylestown Township uses approximately 6.5 million plastic bags a year, which creates about 72,000 pounds of plastic waste, according to advocacy organization PennEnvironment, which helped draft the legislation. Doylestown Township is the 30th municipality in Pennsylvania to pass a plastic bag ban.
Source: WHYY; 5/24/2024 & Bucks County Herald; 5/22/2024
Council Rock eyes 2.6% tax increase, full-day kindergarten
The Council Rock School Board discussed a real estate tax increase of 2.6% during a special finance committee meeting in May. If approved, a home with an assessed value of about $46,000 would pay an additional $166 per year. A recording of a May 29 budget forum is available on the district’s YouTube page. The district has also hired a third party — Hanover Research — to survey district families and staff to gauge interest in full-day kindergarten. Residents can complete an online kindergarten interest survey through June 2, and attend a kindergarten information session on Tuesday, June 4, at 7 p.m. at Holland Middle School.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 5/21/2024
Tinicum Township to consider warehouse ordinance
The Tinicum Township Board of Supervisors is considering amending the township zoning ordinance “to provide for a warehouse use and definitions,” according to a legal notice. A public hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 4, at 7 p.m. in the township building, 163 Municipal Road. A copy of the draft amendment can be viewed at the township building.
Source: Tinicum Township; 5/21/2024
Chester County awards $6.7M for 16 open space projects
Nearly $6.7 million in open space preservation and park improvement grants were announced by the Chester County commissioners. The grants are made available through Chester County’s Preservation Partnership Program, which offers funding to municipalities and nonprofit land preservation organizations. A total of 16 grants are included this year, ranging from $11,533 to East Coventry Township for environmental restoration of the East Coventry Nature Preserve to $2 million to Natural Lands to expand the William Penn State Forest in Wallace Township. See a full list of the 16 grant recipients here.
Source: Daily Local; 5/23/2024
Ground broken for Kennett’s Birch Street Transformation Project
More than 50 elected officials, community leaders and residents attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the Birch Street Transformation Project in Kennett Square on May 18. The $3 million streetscape improvement project will modernize a quarter-mile stretch of the street — from South Walnut to South Broad — and include ADA-compliant features, stormwater management, new sidewalks and crosswalks, traffic-calming measures, and comprehensive beautification. The upgrade will complement the businesses that have transformed a once underappreciated section of the borough into one of southern Chester County’s chief destination points. “It is exciting to bring the community together to see firsthand the reimagining of Birch Street as a hub of residences, arts, culture and gathering space all coexisting together in what is arguably the worst road in town, but not for long,” said Bob Norris, Kennett Square Borough Council president.
Source: Chester County Press; 5/22/2024
East Goshen Municipal Authority says sewer rate increases are necessary
East Goshen Township’s Summer 2024 newsletter includes an explanation of expected sewer rate increases from the municipal authority. The East Goshen Municipal Authority (EGMA) completed a 10-year financial plan and determined that investments in maintenance, capital improvements and ongoing capital replacements, as well as historically low sewer rates, have strained the financial stability of the authority and led to a funding gap. The authority’s goals of maintaining the system, complying with regulations and providing customer service “can only be funded through ongoing rate increases rather than sell to a large water utility company and relinquish management of both service and rates.” Read the full article on Page 18 of the township newsletter.
Source: East Goshen Township; Summer 2024
355 volunteers have benefitted from county tax rebate program
Hundreds of volunteer first-responders and administrative members of emergency services companies have successfully applied to recoup some or all of their Chester County property taxes as part of the Active Volunteer Real Estate Tax Rebate Ordinance passed by county commissioners last year. The 355 applicants represent 60% of the total number of individuals eligible for a 2024 county tax rebate, as identified by their respective first responder agencies. The combined estimated property tax rebate for all 355 applicants is more than $167,000, the county said.
Source: Daily Local; 5/28/2024
Radnor advances 2024-2025 school budget with 3.95% tax increase
The Radnor Township School Board unanimously approved a 2024-2025 budget proposal with $120 million in expenditures that includes a 3.95% tax increase. Under the state’s Act 1 index, the school district could have increased taxes by up to 5.3%. Board Member Lydia Solomon said she would support the budget with its tax hike but hoped it would come in lower before final passage. The proposed increase would raise the millage rate from 14.6329 to 15.2109. A property with the average assessed value of $730,613 would have a 2024-2025 bill of $11,113, an increase of $422.
Source: Delco Times; 5/23/2024
Years of payments to Chester stormwater board members may have been illegal, receiver says
Hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments to board members of the Stormwater Authority of Chester may have been made illegally during the past eight years, according to the city’s bankruptcy receiver, and they may have to pay the money back. The receiver’s office, which has petitioned U.S. Bankruptcy Court to order the Stormwater Authority of Chester to turn over financial documents, also said the agency may have violated state law by accepting a $40,000 loan from its executive director, Horace Strand, and his church. Strand said the receiver’s demands constitute “a political hit job” aimed at an authority that was formed during the previous mayoral administration and whose stated mission is to manage the discharges of rainwater and melted snow and ice and control flooding. Strand estimates that annual pay for the six board members ranges from $12,000 to $24,000. The receiver’s office said the city solicitor found no evidence that the council ever approved the salaries. Read more in the Inquirer.
Source: Inquirer; 5/28/2024
Haverford Township considers slight reapportionment of political districts
The Pennsylvania Constitution requires local governing bodies to examine their district lines after each decennial census. With a total of 50,430 residents in Haverford Township, the average population of the nine wards was 5,603. The highest deviation from average, 10.6%, was in Ward 4. As a rule of thumb, no ward should deviate by more than 10% from the average population. The township hired CH Planning to perform data collection and analysis, leading to a short report summarizing its findings and setting forth three options for consideration. All three options include a reapportionment of a small portion of Ward 4 to Ward 3. Residents can share feedback on the proposed redistricting solutions via an online survey until May 31.
Source: Haverford Township; 5/2024
Chadds Ford Zoning Hearing Board considers short-term rental request
A property owner who recently appeared before the Chadds Ford Township Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) asked for permission to use her family home as an Airbnb rental. The property owner had been using the home at 126 Ridge Road as an Airbnb rental since 2016, but the township zoning code does not specifically allow for such short-term rentals beyond a standard bed-and-breakfast. So, she sought a variance. The ZHB held a hearing on May 28, and now the members have 45 days to announce their decision. Several residents expressed concerns about traffic, parking and noise, even though there have been no complaints from neighbors in the eight years that the home has been listed as an Airbnb. Attorney Ernie Angelos represented the township’s interest in the hearing. He said the township was not objecting to the variance, but wanted some conditions: that there be two forms of egress from the property, no off-street parking, life safety inspections must be performed, stays limited to no longer than 180 days, and $500,000 worth of liability insurance. The zoning board is expected to render a decision at the next meeting.
Source: Chadds Ford Live; 5/29/2024
Chester City councilman takes issue with mayor’s background checks
Chester City Councilman Fred Green took issue with Mayor Stefan Roots doing a background check on a person he wanted to give a proclamation, while Mayor Roots said it’s a matter of ensuring reward recipients are of good character. The issue stemmed from Green wanting to present a proclamation to a former city employee and longtime youth volunteer. Roots noted that individuals considered for a Chester City proclamation should be of good standing with the city government and community, and he added that proclamations will likely not be issued to individuals with large sums of outstanding city taxes, unpaid permits, active criminal warrants or other issues deemed as unsuitable character for one to be issued the highest honor given to a citizen by the city’s elected officials.
Source: Delco Times; 5/24/2024
Montgomery
North Penn budget proposal includes 4.49% tax hike
North Penn School Board members voted unanimously on May 16 to advertise a $322 million budget proposal with a 4.49% tax increase. The tax increase is under the 5.3% Act 1 index set by the state, though that index is the highest it’s ever been. The 4.49% jump in taxes would equal a $197 increase for a home assessed at $150,000. A final vote to adopt the budget is expected at the board’s June 20 meeting, ahead of the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.
Source: The Reporter; 5/24/2024
Natural Lands acquires 22 acres in Lower Frederick, Limerick townships
Nearly 22 acres of forested land in Lower Frederick and Limerick townships are now preserved forever thanks to the efforts of its owners, longtime conservation advocate Phil Smith and his wife, Gail Gosser-Smith. The property, now under a conservation easement held by Natural Lands, can be viewed from both Gerloff and South Ryanford roads. The land is directly adjacent to 38 acres of open space owned by Limerick Township, which itself is connected to 486 acres of State Game Lands, 52 acres of open space owned by Lower Frederick Township, and Natural Lands’ 101-acre Meng Preserve. Collectively, the region is known as the Stone Hill Conservation Landscape, an expanse of nearly 7,000 forested, boulder-strewn acres that are essential habitat for myriad plants, animals and insects.
Source: Natural Lands & The Reporter; 5/14/2024
‘Engage Montco’ offers residents a tool to participate in ‘2050’ comprehensive plan
The Montgomery County Planning Commission has launched Engage Montco, an interactive tool that offers a way for residents and visitors to provide insights and stay informed of the county’s progress on the county comprehensive plan. The kickoff marks the next phase in the development of Montco 2050: A Comprehensive Plan for a Changing World. During the first phase of Montco 2050, the planning commission received public input on housing, traffic, roads, trails, open space, flooding and more. Commission staff finalized 10 concise online background and trend reports and created an online map hub with additional data as a companion site. Read more at the county website.
Source: Montgomery County Planning Commission; 5/14/2024
Elmwood Park Zoo nears completion on development’s first phase
Construction is coming to a close on the first phase of the Elmwood Park Zoo’s new welcome center, plaza and veterinary hospital. The zoo plans to partner with the nearby Central Montco Technical High School to launch a vet-tech program, according to zoo’s executive director, Al Zone. Established in 1924, the Norristown-based zoo has around 300 animals, with visitors ranging from 800,000 to 1 million people each year. Following completion of the development’s first phase, additional plans include an overall campus expansion across the creek, the construction of a pedestrian bridge, as well as Asia and South America exhibits. Norristown Municipal Council authorized the advertisement of two ordinances during its May 21 meeting related to the zoo’s ongoing development. “The proposed ordinances are to aid the Elmwood Park Zoo’s expansion project by streamlining the zoning process for two pieces of their plan (impervious coverage and fences),” according to a statement from Norristown public information officer Kevin Tustin. “Planning officials have worked with the project developers and the municipal engineer to encourage development for this one specific use — the zoo — while not hindering environmental or safety concerns to the community.”
Source: The Reporter; 5/28/2024
Montco invites public to help shape future of Lorimer Park
Montgomery County Parks, Trails and Historic Sites invites the public to an open house to discuss the new master plan for Lorimer Park in Abington Township. The event will feature a series of exhibits and interactive activities, including a review of an evaluation of the existing site conditions and ideas that may be considered for the site based on data collection efforts. Lorimer Park dates back to 1938 and is Montgomery County’s oldest county park. The 230-acre park is noted for its variety of landscapes and features, including the “Council Rock” outcropping, vast forested areas, open meadows, and two tributaries of water — the Pennypack Creek and Harpers Run. The open house will take place on Monday June 3, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Rydal East Elementary School, 1160 Huntington Pike, Huntington Valley. All age groups are invited to attend to learn about the project and share opinions on the park’s improvement.
Source: Montgomery County; 5/22/2024
City council advances bill to make Philly’s Eviction Diversion Program permanent
The city’s mandatory Eviction Diversion Program, which requires landlords to try to resolve disputes with tenants outside of court, sunsets at the end of June. Philadelphia City Council’s Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless advanced a measure that would make the diversion program permanent. Housing advocates say the pandemic-inspired initiative is still needed in a city that continues to experience an affordable-housing crisis, where thousands of residents are cost-burdened by rising rents and there is a limited supply of affordable units. Since 2020, more than 7,000 landlord-tenant pairs have participated in mediation during various versions of the program, according to the city. Approximately 70% of them have reached an agreement without an eviction filing. While eviction filings have returned to pre-pandemic levels in cities around the country, that has not happened in Philadelphia, largely because of the diversion program, now considered a national model. “When coupled with rental assistance, the Eviction Diversion Program is one of our city’s most effective anti-displacement programs ever,” said Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who co-introduced the bill in April. “We cannot standby and let the eviction floodgates reopen.”
Source: WHYY; 5/22/2024
Northeast residents say land was meant for public park, not deer hunting
Nearly a decade ago, the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department told neighbors that a vacant woodland in Somerton would be transformed into a public park. Instead, the 17-acre parcel nestled between housing developments is slated to become the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s first bow-hunting grounds within Philadelphia’s borders, hosting licensed hunters who will kill deer from perches high in the trees this fall. The bow grounds were proposed after Fort Washington-based real estate group Westrum donated the grounds to the Game Commission — a deal that neighbors say they had little input in before it was finalized late last year. Chris Bordelon, president of the Somerton Civic Association, strongly opposes the Game Commission’s plan, which would allow up to five hunters at a time to participate in a series of two-week-long hunting periods between September and January. Game Commission officials said hunters shooting downward from tree stands, instead of horizontally, minimizes the risk of stray arrows. Game Commission officials said the neighborhood is overpopulated with deer, leading to unsafe scenarios for drivers who risk striking them on the roads.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 5/23/2024
Group proposes a ‘welcoming district’ to revive Market East
A group of Philadelphians have an idea they think can lift Market Street East, the central commercial corridor that’s suffering under the triple weight of vacant stores, empty offices and vanished foot traffic. They want to make it the site of a “welcoming district” for immigrants, the people whose steady arrival is fueling job and population growth in Philadelphia. The idea has the backing of groups like the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation and the Welcoming Center, an immigrant-support agency. Such a district could centralize services in housing, health care, employment and language access, while cementing Philadelphia’s status as a city that embraces newcomers from around the world. At the same time, the flow of new people could help support existing businesses in Market East, which lost customers and commuters amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 5/29/2024
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