Data centers raise questions about PA seller disclosure law
Data centers are becoming a major land-use issue in Pennsylvania, and they are starting to raise questions about whether the seller disclosure law requires disclosure about existing or planned data centers. There are no specific questions about data centers, and they do not create a new, stand-alone disclosure obligation under Pennsylvania law. That said, they might generate facts that fall within existing duties to disclose known material defects of the property. Understanding the underlying purpose of the law and how it has been interpreted by the courts is critical to figuring out what a seller does, and doesn’t, need to disclose. Read more in the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors JustListed blog.
Source: PAR JustListed; 8/28/2026

NAR focuses on two key insurance issues
The National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) fall 2026 legislative priorities include two key insurance issues: long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) program. NAR urges Congress to reauthorize both programs to help maintain insurance availability and provide certainty for real estate markets. NAR also supports full funding for critical HUD programs that support fair housing education, enforcement and homebuyer preparedness in communities across the country. View all legislative priorities on the NAR website.
Source: NAR; 8/7/2026

PA Health Department provides report of school immunization rates
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has published a school immunization rates interactive table that includes self-reported immunization data from schools in Pennsylvania. The data show schools that reported at least one student enrollment in one or more of the required grades, including kindergarten, 7th and 12th, and home school students in those grades. Home school data are included in the rates of the school a student would attend if not home educated. If a school is not included in the data, it is because they either did not report any students enrolled in one of the identified grades at their school or because they didn’t submit an immunization report to the PA Department of Health for the 2025-2026 school year.
Source: PA Department of Health; 8/2026

PAR advocacy training session focuses on local action

The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors (PAR) will host an advocacy training session titled “Grassroots Advocacy & Getting Involved at the Local Level” on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 10 a.m. Realtors can learn how to effectively champion and shape policies that impact the real estate industry. Register for the webinar on PAR’s website.
Source: PAR; 9/2026

September is National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month, and Pennsylvania has put together a helpful guide covering the different types of emergencies residents might face, along with practical steps for building emergency plans and kits for homes, vehicles and workplaces. The guide also includes special guidance for those with unique needs.
Source: Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency; 9/1/2026

Wrightstown to allow home burials on properties with 10 acres
Wrightstown Township supervisors have passed an ordinance allowing home burials of immediate family members (spouses, parents and children) on residential lots of 10 acres or more, while also permitting the scattering or interment of cremated remains on any residential property regardless of lot size, as long as ashes don't reach a stream, waterway or stormwater system. Property owners must obtain a home burial permit from the zoning officer by submitting a plot plan and a recorded declaration of eligible family members and visitation rights, notify the township of the death with a death certificate and written burial plan, keep the grave at least 100 feet from adjoining property lines, install a permanent marker within 60 days, and comply with all state laws on burial depth and handling of remains. Burial is barred if the deceased was infected with a contagious disease near the time of death. The ordinance, which amends Chapter 10 of the township's zoning code, took effect immediately.
Source: The Reporter; 8/30/2026

West Rockhill still revising data center ordinance
West Rockhill Township is drafting a third version of its data center ordinance, incorporating input from its newly formed Data Center Citizens Advisory Committee. Any changes will be made ahead of a Wednesday, Sept. 16, supervisors meeting, where the draft will be opened for public comment before review by the township planner, county commissioners and planning commission. Expected revisions cover water effects, energy management, noise, emergency management, financial security, and remediation/decommissioning rules. Township solicitor David Keightly said Gov. Josh Shapiro's Aug. 18 executive order regarding date centers would have no effect on West Rockhill's ordinance.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 8/25/2026

‘Obsolete’ dam set for removal in Tyler State Park
Starting Sept. 8, Pennsylvania officials will begin removing the 225-foot-long, 9-foot-tall Spring Garden Mill Dam on Neshaminy Creek at Tyler State Park because the dam no longer serves a purpose, impedes fish passage, provides no flood control, and creates a dangerous "boil" current at its base that can trap paddlers and anglers. The $1.3 million project, funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, is expected to take several weeks. The park will stay open, though a nearby trail section will close temporarily. Threatened red-bellied turtles will be relocated from the work zone before dam removal begins. The separate Neshaminy Weir Dam elsewhere in the park will remain standing.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 9/1/2026

Warminster to borrow $25M for golf course improvements
Warminster Township supervisors recently approved a $25 million, 20-year loan from the Delaware Valley Regional Finance Authority to fund a new clubhouse and other improvements at the township-owned Five Ponds Golf Course. Officials say the financing will save more than $1.3 million in interest and fees compared to other options and that project costs will be covered by golf revenues rather than taxpayers, aided by the township's strong rainy-day fund and consistent budget surplus. The plan, aimed at making Five Ponds a more modern, year-round destination, centers on a redesigned, two-story, 30,000-square-foot clubhouse featuring an expanded banquet hall, a redesigned pro shop, four golf simulators, and a new bar and grill, while separating golf operations from event spaces to boost private bookings and revenue.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 8/25/2026

Lower Makefield reminds residents that flooding can happen anywhere
Lower Makefield Township is reminding residents that flooding can happen anywhere and urges homeowners not to wait until they are affected to secure insurance coverage. In a recent social media post, the township pointed residents toward FEMA's updated flood insurance pricing tool, which lets homeowners walk through different scenarios with no obligation to purchase, offering a clearer picture of the factors now used to calculate policy rates. The township also highlighted FEMA's Flood Insurance Basics training as a resource for answering common questions about coverage. Residents interested in learning more about whether their property is in the flood zone can reach out to the township for guidance.
Source: Lower Makefield Township; 8/2026

Controversial East Whiteland data center project gets second stop-work order
The developers of a controversial 1.5-million-square-foot data center have again been ordered by East Whiteland Township officials to stop work, this time over a lack of “clear documentation” showing the project will have sufficient water to operate the facility. The stop work order tells the developers to “immediately cease work” on preliminary construction, such as concrete pads, footings and a control house that has been partially completed. It is the second time in recent months that the township has told the developers to halt work at the Foote Mineral Superfund site. In July, township officials had directed the developers to stop any work that moved earth while the township sought “greater clarity” on the soil and health and safety plans. The order came amid concerns from residents that the Superfund site had not been sufficiently remediated. Work resumed by the end of the month. Under the latest stoppage order, work at the proposed data center site will not restart until developers Green Fig LLC and Sentinel Data Centers provide the township with confirmation from Aqua, the water utility company, that “sufficient water is available and committed to this project and the Developer’s commitment to move forward with ensuring sufficient water is brought to site.” The township supervisors will next meet on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 8/27/2026

New Marsh Creek visitor center opens
A new 5,300-square-foot visitor center has opened at Marsh Creek State Park in the Downingtown area. The new facility is part of a $7.5 million investment by park officials aimed at achieving net-zero energy usage. The building features a geo-exchange heating and cooling system, a high-performance envelope, and other sustainable features. If it receives LEED Gold recognition, the structure will be the 19th LEED-certified building of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The facility includes visitor services spaces, park administration offices, a multipurpose room and an education porch.
Source: WXTU; 9/1/2026

Uptown Worthington property in East Whiteland lists for sale
A Wegmans-anchored, mixed-use development in East Whiteland Township with room for additional development is up for sale. The 90-acre Uptown Worthington property could fetch at least $200 million, according to industry sources. The listing for Uptown Worthington includes 225,000 square feet of retail space, 253 apartment units and 46,600 square feet of medical office space. A 92,000-square-foot Target store has a separate owner and is not part of the offering. The Uptown Worthington development, just off Route 202, has been in the works for more than two decades and still has 22.5 developable acres remaining. The fund that invested in the property is nearing its expiration, leading to the property being listed for sale. The Uptown Worthington property could be sold as a single property or divided into pieces with certain assets sold separately.
Source: Philadelphia Business Journal; 8/26/2026

Willistown acquires 12-acre historic site through federal program
Willistown Township announced the acquisition of the 12-acre historic Nike Site through the National Park Service Federal Lands to Parks program. The properties, an important site of Cold War history, will be added as township parkland and open space. The Nike Site, located along Delchester Road across from Okehocking Preserve, served as the command and radar control area for the missile launch site located in neighboring Edgmont Township. It was part of a ring of anti-aircraft missile launch sites conceived in the 1950s to protect Philadelphia from Soviet attacks. The township plans to establish trails and add historical signage to the property for residents and visitors to enjoy as a public park in perpetuity.
Source: Willistown Township; 8/26/2026

Kennett Square looking for feedback on comp plan update
Kennett Square Borough is updating its comprehensive plan, a 10-year roadmap for housing, transportation, infrastructure and the environment. Feedback on the draft plan can be submitted via an online survey until Sept. 25. 
Source: Kennett Square; 8/2026

New head of Chesco’s economic council looks to balance growth, preservation
Mike Grigalonis, the new CEO of the Chester County Economic Development Council, is focused on balancing economic growth with the county’s commitment to open-space preservation. Grigalonis, who joined the council 27 years ago, said the organization has grown from six employees to more than 40. He said the council will continue supporting agriculture, redevelopment of brownfields and Superfund sites, along with efforts to revitalize Coatesville, while acknowledging concerns about declining commercial, industrial and institutional construction, high construction and borrowing costs, and the future of suburban office space. Grigalonis said data centers could bring construction jobs and tax revenue but should be developed thoughtfully, and he expressed continued support for QVC as the company navigates bankruptcy.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 8/30/2026