NEWS UPDATE: Week of JANUARY 26, 2009

GENERAL

Sprawl to crawl on Route 422

With Route 422 at the center of one of the fastest-growing corridors in Southeastern Pennsylvania , land planners and traffic experts warn that without a drastic change in development and commuting habits, even rougher rides are ahead. Planners are soliciting suggestions on ways to smooth out one of the region's toughest commutes. On Feb. 17 and 18, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission will hold open houses in Pottstown and Oaks to solicit input from businesses, municipal officials, community and professional organizations, and anyone else with an opinion of what it would take to improve the Route 422 commuting experience. What the DVRPC gathers from its outreach next month will help shape a $235,000, federally-funded U.S. 422 Corridor Master Plan, which is expected to be complete this summer. The plan will include land-use and transportation recommendations for the 236-square-mile corridor of predominantly single-use, auto-dependent development, which now has few public-transit options. Encompassing 24 municipalities across three counties, the Route 422 corridor is home to an estimated 296,000 residents and 195,000 jobs. With roughly half the land within the corridor still undeveloped, the population is expected to increase 12 percent by 2030, employment by 14 percent. Click here to access the US Route 422 Coalition website for more information.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 1/18/09



Spring-Ford chamber looks at area development

Members of the Spring-Ford Chamber of Commerce gathered recently to gain a better picture of what's happening in their municipalities in the way of development. The inaugural Local Government Series Luncheon, held at Spring-Ford Country Club, featured Spring City Mayor Michael Weiss, Royersford Borough Manager Michael Leonard and Limerick Township Manager Dan Kerr as speakers. Weiss, in his fourth year as mayor of Spring City , a borough of 3,300, said now "is probably the hottest time for Spring City . We have a lot of projects going on." Among the projects are plans for a library as well as an ongoing partnership between Spring City Electrical Manufacturing and Spring-Ford High School that has resulted in new street lamps being installed at the school. A 150-unit housing development is planned on the south side of town that will contribute significantly to Spring City 's tax base. Limerick also has a long-term project at the moment with the possible development of the land adjacent to the Philadelphia Premium Outlets.

Source: The Phoenix ; 1/19/09




BUCKS COUNTY



Water resource planning a hot topic in Bucks

While development and population boomed in the recent past, Bucks County municipalities felt the pinch of water supply and infrastructure services. With the recent slowdown in development, officials across the county are acknowledging the opportunity to prepare for future needs and discuss regional water resource planning. In that vein, the Quakertown Area Planning Committee (QAPC), comprised of officials from six municipalities and the school district, has already discussed regional planning, and may consider projects to safeguard drinking water supplies, wetlands and flood plains, and limit future growth based on water availability. The problem facing QAPC and other similar groups is finding the money for the projects. Grant money is available, such as the state’s Growing Greener environmental investment program, but contributions from the participating municipalities will likely be required.

Source: The Intelligencer; 1/20/09



Doylestown supervisors seek traffic study

Three new development proposals are slated for properties surrounding the intersection of routes 263 and 313 in Doylestown, prompting township officials to seek a comprehensive traffic study for the area. Temple Judea leaders plan to build a new two-story synagogue on 8 acres off Rodgers Road , and Philadelphia developer Joe Grasso has proposed a small shopping center on 6 acres of a 17-acre lot at the southwest corner of the intersection. Additionally, Michael Grasso, father of Joe Grasso, plans to build a shopping center in Buckingham, adjacent to the shopping center proposed by his son. Residents of the area have opposed the developments for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is traffic. Supervisors suggest that Temple Judea and the Grasso’s share the cost of the traffic study.
Source: The Intelligencer; 1/22/09



New Hope-Solebury eyes 7.2 percent tax hike

The New Hope-Solebury School Board unveiled its $33.3 million preliminary budget earlier this week, which included a 7.2 percent tax hike. If the budget is passed, the tax hike will have to be approved by district voters, as it exceeds the 4.1 percent cap set by the state under Pennsylvania ’s Act 1 tax reform law. For the average homeowner in the district, a 7.2 percent increase translates into $314 more per year in property taxes.

Source: The Intelligencer; 1/22/09







CHESTER COUNTY



Schuylkill officials update status of plans for Reeves property development

Pohlig Builders’ proposed residential development of the Reeves property was under review again Wednesday by township supervisors. The generally informal session was the last chance for a public review before the board reaches its final decision. Particular attention was given to one of the latest additions to Pohlig’s plans, the use of an easement on recently purchased property at the base of Philip Drive . The easement is for another access way from the central portions of the property to Whitehorse Road , thereby changing what Philip Drive residents had understood for decades to be a permanent cul-de-sac into a throughway. Barring a deadline extension, the supervisors’ decision on the future of Pohlig’s plans must be made by February 4.

Source: Daily Local; 1/21/09



Local ‘Journal Register’ newspapers out of business

The PA8 weekly newspaper group owned by the Journal Register Co. is now the PA3 with the folding of 5 local weekly papers. Four Chester County papers, including the Oxford Tribune, Coatesville Ledger, Parkesburg Press and Downingtown Ledger, ceased publication last week. The closings also end the combined Classified Section that ran in all the PA8 weeklies. It is expected that the weekly closings are just a beginning for the Journal Registry Company and more closings and consolidations are right over the horizon.

Source: Chester County Press ; 1/14/09



Landfill will stay in London Grove

The SECCRA Landfill, located on Mosquito Lane along Route 41 in London Grove Township , will remain and expand there, but at a price. In a joint release issued by the township and the refuse authority on Monday, the two parties announced that the landfill may operate by right in its present location and will pay the township $13 million in host fees and benefits over the projected 12-year life of the expanded waste facility. The township supervisors approved the agreement on Dec. 29, and the SECCRA board approved it on Jan. 14. The planned expansion of the landfill, called the Willa Expansion, calls for lateral expansion south of the existing 80-acre permitted landfill SECCRA now owns bounded by Route 926, Mosquito Lane , Route 41 and Hood Road . The expansion area is 67 acres, of which 37 will be new disposal areas. The remainder will be used to accommodate services and provide buffer space, the press release said.

Source: Avon Grove Sun; 1/21/09




DELAWARE COUNTY



Radnor hosts ‘ Green Building 101’

Radnor Township's Environmental Advisory Council, in cooperation with the Radnor Conservancy and the League of Women Voters of Radnor Township, invites you to attend ' Green Building 101, ' the kick-off meeting of a new “sustainability series” addressing sustainable living and growth in Radnor. The Green Building 101 program will be held on Thursday, January 29, at 7 p.m. at the Radnor Township Administration Building . The program is designed to provide an introduction to green building and will cover topics including defining sustainability and green building; measuring standards and practices for green building; local and state programs to promote green building; and a case study of the Radnor Township School District 's green building success. A copy of the invitation is available for viewing at www.radnor.com or in the office of the Township Secretary during normal business hours.



Ridley schools OK budget measure

The Ridley School Board recently approved a budget resolution under Act 1, which provides that the school district will not increase property taxes in excess of the index set by the state Department of Education for the 2009-10 school year. The school district believes that it will have sufficient funds under the index to balance its 2009-10 budget. Because the board will be keeping any increase under the Act 1 limit of 4.1 percent, the board will not have to pass a preliminary budget until May.

Source: Daily Times; 1/21/09



Springfield sees plans for supermarket, shops

Despite the downturn in the economy, two new commercial building projects are being proposed for the township. The planning board saw a submission from Kimco Realty, owners of the Springfield Shopping Center , for a 66,000-square-foot supermarket to replace Value City . In addition, a 16,000-square-foot building is proposed next to the existing Staples. Gregory Reed, Kimco assistant director of acquisitions and development for the region, sees this as an opportunity for revitalization in Springfield .

Source: Daily Times; 1/19/09



Notice: Norwood Borough to include interior inspections as part of CO inspection

Effective July 2008, Norwood borough expanded its Certificate of Occupancy inspection requirements to include interior inspections. Click here to access the revised inspection checklist and fee schedule. Additional questions, comments or concerns about the new requirements may be directed to the Suburban REALTORS Alliance at sra@suburbanrealtorsalliance.com.







MONTGOMERY COUNTY



County officials pledge hands-off of municipal code enforcement

Montgomery County commissioners have emphasized they have no intention of usurping the legal authority of municipalities to establish their own fire and building codes. They will, however, provide advice, hoping to avoid another conflagration like the one that destroyed two mid-rise apartment buildings in Conshohocken in 2008. County officials are concerned that municipalities may tighten code requirements and enforcement, in which instance the county will provide constructive advice via technical assistance and educational seminars.

Source: The Intelligencer; 1/23/09



Hatboro-Horsham struggles to balance 2009-2010 budget

Early reviews of the Hatboro-Horsham School District budget for next year reveal a $3 million shortfall in the planned $85 million budget. Without spending cuts, the budget would require a millage rate of 24.82 to balance it; the current millage rate is 23.53 mills. The school board has five months to revise the budget to avoid tax hikes or using the district’s reserve funds to make up for the shortfall.

Source: The Intelligencer; 1/21/09



Norristown area officials go with second sewer plan option

A new sewage treatment plan for Norristown , estimated at $149.4 million, will be constructed 2,000 feet down river from the current location on a 4-acre site. With four options available from Camp Dresser & McKee (CDM) engineers, Norristown, West Norriton and county officials decided on the option “Alternate 2.” Moving the site will free up a lot of space on the waterfront and for Norristown , which could prove vital to local revitalization efforts. The other options include upgrades and a possible new plant in the area of the Jeffersonville Golf Club in West Norriton .

Source: Times Herald; 1/20/09