Attend the Newtown Board of Supervisors Meeting on August 12th

On Monday night, August 12th, at 7:30 PM at the Township Building, Newtown Township Board of Supervisors will hold their regularly scheduled meeting.  Having just held a Special Meeting to conduct a Public Hearing on their proposed C-R zoning amendment during many residents' summer vacation, they are continuing their tradition of ensuring that controversial and important items are on the agenda for Monday’s meeting. Here are some of those items:

Dunwoody’s proposal to create a zoning category is on the agenda.  This is important because Dunwoody proposes to build 40 additional units and to provide a right-of way/easement for a bypass road to Rte. 252.  At the July Planning Commission meeting it appeared as though Planner Len Altieri tried to downplay the proposed right-of-way with a seeming “don’t worry about this plan” attitude.  It seemed he and other Township officials are making it seem as though this road may not ever be built.  I’d like to suggest that if you believe this, then there is a bridge I can sell you(and maybe even Gradyville which has been postponed even longer—you will not likely see the Gradyville Bridge back in operation until late 2014 as the construction bid notices have been delayed another 2-3 months).  It is more likely that this road will be built and those who are concerned about this should,I believe, make sure your voices are heard.

Equus/BPG is on the agenda to propose a zoning change so that now Apartment/Office can be built to 65 feet.  They also propose a plan for part of their property that has units closer to the Quaker Meeting House than was previously proposed as well as a reduced amount of open space and buffer to rte. 252 than was in the original plan for the area.  Again, if you are concerned about this development(closest neighborhoods to this development are residents on Goshen Road and in Echo Valley),then attending this meeting is important for you.

Once again, Newtown is asked to change zoning.  Once again, Newtown’s Planners and Supervisors having not made an update of the Comprehensive Plan a priority, are faced with individual developers wanting zoning changes made that will change the look and character of Newtown Township with no updated Comprehensive Plan to guide them.

The Springhouse Walking Trail is back on the agenda after months of questions as to what had happened to that proposal.  I guess they were just waiting until the Summer months, hoping that no one would notice, so that they can take the money and take away this open space.

At the Special Meeting in July, Joe Catania said that he would be at a wedding and would not be attending this meeting.  That leaves, Ross Lambert, John Nawn, Ed Partridge and George Wood to vote on these very important township issues.  Will they make decisions on these issues that reflect what is best for all township residents?  Or will they just say yes to developers’ requests?