Pennsylvania’s historic preservation incentive received a huge boost this summer
Early this summer, the Pennsylvania legislature gave a boost to developers of historic buildings by increasing the annual size of the state's historic tax credit from $5 million to $20 million. The policy is meant to provide resources to developers to renovate buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but its popularity has been limited by its small size. The 12-year-old program allows developers working on the renovation of historic buildings to apply for a credit against their state income tax once the project is completed. There is still a $500,000 cap per project, so for major projects the overall expansion of the program million still won’t make a huge difference. But for smaller developments, typified by apartment or retail projects in less affluent areas, the bolstered program will be a boon.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 9/2/2024

State funds available for mixed-use projects
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency has issued a request for proposals for projects to build or rehabilitate mixed-use properties that are seeking financial support. Funding will be provided through the Community Revitalization Fund Program. Mixed-use projects combine residential and retail/commercial space in the same building and often serve as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization. The deadline for proposal submission is Friday, Nov. 1, at 2 p.m.
Source: Central Penn Business Journal; 8/27/2024

NAR submits comments on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's duty to serve plans
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) submitted comments to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) regarding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's (government sponsored enterprise, or GSEs) Duty to Serve Plans. FHFA requires the GSEs submit plans in three-year increments about how they are going to serve traditionally underserved markets, especially for rural housing, manufactured housing, and very low-, low- and moderate-income consumers. The proposed plans align closely with NAR policy, and NAR thanked FHFA and the GSEs for continuing to explore and execute plans to help underserved markets. NAR especially applauded the dedication to multifamily housing in rural communities, dealing with issues surrounding heirs’ property, energy efficiency upgrades and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) investments. NAR suggested that FHFA explore ways that the GSEs can provide funds for condominium complexes that have significant deferred maintenance. Such a move would help to not only preserve and strengthen current housing stock, but also repair complexes and bring them into compliance with GSE lending standards, which would create safer housing while also making more complexes open to conventional lending. Read the letter here.
Source: National Association of Realtors; 8/29/2024 

Reminder: New Britain Borough’s new guidelines for residential and rental use and occupancy
In July and August, New Britain adopted changes to the borough’s residential resale and residential rental laws. Ordinance 428 created a program requiring occupancy permits upon sale of residential properties, with an inspection prior to issuance. The ordinance is in compliance with the Pennsylvania Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Act, as amended by Act 133 of 2016, allowing occupancy, temporary occupancy or temporary access permits, as well as a minimum 12-month time period for code-related repairs to be completed. Ordinance 429 added an inspection component to existing rental property registration requirements. According to the ordinance, relying on “complaint-based” inspections was an inadequate means to ensure the safety of rental housing. New Britain Borough has posted the new Residential Use and Occupancy Permit and Residential Rental Registration Form on the Forms, Fees and Applications page of the borough website.
Source: New Britain Borough

Bucks County held $800K in tax sale proceeds for years
Bucks County Treasurer Kristian Ballerini was elected to her post in 2020, and in the fall of that year, the county commissioners moved to make Ballerini the director of the tax claim bureau as well. The tax claim bureau had previously answered to the county finance department. The bureau is the county agency responsible for tax sales of properties with at least 18 months of delinquent taxes. Any money left over after the taxes, mortgage and other liens are paid is returned to the original property owner, or the next rightful owner. After taking over the tax claim bureau, Ballerini learned of two bank accounts that had been holding proceeds from tax sales — and earning interest — for nearly 20 years. The money could have been returned to property owners years ago, Ballerini said. For three years Ballerini spent time in the tax claim bureau's warehouse, reviewing handwritten sale books that dated back to 1998, to determine the sources of funds that sat in the two accounts, which at their peak totaled more than $800,000. She attempted to reconcile the accounts, matching funds to sold parcels, identifying parcel owners that had not been paid and tracking down the correct recipients of the funds. The treasurer was left with $326,000 with no identifiable source. That money is now being distributed to school districts and municipalities, with judicial approval. The treasurer's office has created new policies to ensure that the same oversight does not happen again. Read more from the Bucks County Courier Times.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 9/1/2024

Dublin Borough to consider requiring street numbers, business names on nonresidential buildings
Dublin Borough is considering a proposal to amend Chapter 4, Buildings, of the municipal code to require street numbers and business names on nonresidential buildings. The proposed ordinance requires owners of new and existing commercial buildings to have the street number and business name displayed and visible from the right of way. In addition, for commercial buildings having more than one exterior door, the proposed ordinance would require the business name and street number to be displayed on each exterior door. A copy of the proposed ordinance is available for review at Borough Hall during normal business hours. The borough council will consider the proposal during a public hearing at Borough Hall, 119 Maple Ave., on Monday, Sept. 9, at 7:30 p.m.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 8/28/2024

New Hope looking for volunteers to seat an environmental advisory council
New Hope Borough Council created an environmental advisory council (EAC) in July. The council will advise borough officials, agencies and committees on matters dealing with the protection, conservation, management, promotion and use of natural resources, including air, land and water resources. The EAC will also study and make recommendations for the adoption of ordinances and regulations to promote and protect the borough's natural resources and to study the local impacts of climate change and other environmental factors that affect the health of New Hope residents. Council is seeking five residents to serve as volunteer board members. Interested residents can complete an application and submit it with a letter of interest to Borough Manager Peter Gray.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 8/29/2024

Long-awaited truck restrictions coming in Morrisville and Falls
PennDOT plans to ban trucks weighing more than 10 tons from traveling on South Pennsylvania Avenue in Falls Township and Morrisville Borough. The prohibition follows years of dialogue between residents, local governments, trucking companies, the Keystone Trade Center and the Waste Management landfill to mitigate the roadway’s use by heavy trucks. Truck drivers are supposed to use Tyburn Road, but many use South Pennsylvania Avenue as a shortcut. Once the signs are placed, truckers will need to take Route 1 to Route 13 to Tyburn Road to the port area, or risk being stopped and fined. PennDOT hopes to have the signage in place as early as Halloween, with “full confidence” it will be in place by Thanksgiving.
Source: LevittownNow; 8/28/2024 & Bucks County Courier Times; 8/29/2024 

New Garden Township’s plans for preserved property remain unclear
In December 2021, after several years of negotiation, New Garden Township acquired 305 Penn Green Road to be preserved in perpetuity and be accessible to residents. Shortly after the acquisition, a “no trespassing” sign was placed across the driveway, and the open space has remained inaccessible to the community. The property, which encompasses eight acres along the White Clay Creek, was to be an item for discussion at a recent meeting, but it was removed from the agenda. The former property owner, Cindy Hiles, addressed the board of supervisors, expressing her frustration that the vision of utilizing the existing structures on the property to create an arts/heritage/nature center has not come to fruition. Read more in the Chester County Press.
Source: Chester County Press; 8/28/2024

Uwchlan welcomes new township manager
Uwchlan Township supervisors have appointed Robert “Bobby” Kagel as township manager. Originally born and raised in the Bronx, Kagel has been a township resident for more than three decades. He worked for the County of Chester for 22 years, mostly in the Department of Emergency Services before being promoted in 2018 to become the county’s chief administrator.
Source: Uwchlan Township; 8/12/2024

Chesco planning commission releases ‘Agricultural Landscapes Design Guide’
The Chester County Planning Commission released the Agricultural Landscapes Design Guide, which supports planning principles and design within the county’s agricultural landscape. The new guide is the sixth and final installment of the Landscapes Design Guide series. It includes information on protecting agricultural activity and farmland, balancing development with the county’s rural character, protecting and restoring the environment, preserving open space, and maintaining interconnected greenways, wildlife and other natural corridors.
Source: Chester County; 8/22/2024

Historic Railroad Explorer gives digital access to old railroad maps
The Chester County Historic Railroad Explorer — a project by the geographic information systems (GIS) team in the Chester County Department of Computing and Information Services — is now available to the public in digital format. The GIS team scanned 250 historic railroad maps and geo-referenced them into the background of a map of Chester County’s railroads. According to surveyors from Chester, Lancaster and Berks counties, the maps are not available anywhere else, including the National Archives.
Source: Chester County; 8/29/2024

West Chester Borough unveils new parking app
West Chester Borough is slowly transitioning away from parking meters and is installing new kiosks. Two new payment options are now available — the Flowbird mobile app and pay-by-text. The Flowbird App allows patrons to pay for parking from their mobile devices, receive text notifications when parking time is about to expire, and extend their time without having to visit a parking kiosk. The app features a map-based user interface, integrated with Waze and other navigation systems, to guide users to their preferred parking location. Pay-By-Text is a web-based solution that allows drivers to pay for their parking session without creating an account or downloading an app. Users text a parking code — which is posted on a street sign — to 727563, and Flowbird will respond with a secure payment link.
Source: West Chester Borough; 8/30/2024