GENERAL INFORMATION
Route 422 corridor proposals revisited
The daily traffic volume crossing the Schuylkill River on Route 422 is 100,000 vehicles. As such, 45-minute traffic delays during the morning and afternoon commute on Route 422 are routine. Local officials and organizations are working out ways to fund and improve the corridor that keeps life moving in the tri-county area. Montgomery County planners and a coalition from Chester and Bucks counties, SEPTA, the state Department of Transportation, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Norfolk Southern Railroad and Greater Valley Forge Transportation are exploring alternative funding for Route 422 traffic improvements and presented their ideas again last week. Click here to read more.
Source: Daily Local; 3/30/09
Regional leaders meet to discuss stimulus strategy
Officials from Montgomery , Bucks, Delaware and Chester Counties joined Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter in Philadelphia last week to discuss regional cooperation in spending federal stimulus money. The meeting focused on the region’s anticipated economic recovery and on developing regional strategies to leverage federal dollars appropriated for the region. Mayor Nutter made several suggestions on how to foster cooperation, including combining federal dollars for regional projects. County officials attending the meeting included: Montgomery County Commissioners Joe Hoeffel, James Matthews and Bruce Castor; Bucks County Commissioners Charles Martin, James Cawley and Diane Marseglia; Chester OCunty Commissioners Terence Farrell, Carol Aichele and Kathi Cozzone; and Delaware County Councilors Linda A. Cartisano and John Whelan.
Source: The Times Herald; 3/30/09
State expects 2nd tax cut from slots revenue
Pennsylvania officials have announced that they expect property tax reductions from slots revenue to be about the same this year as it was last year. Approximately $613 million in property tax relief from gambling money will be disbursed in 2009-2010, according to Susan Hooper in the Governor’s Budget Office. The final figure will be certified on April 15, and school districts should know by May how much money to expect. Statewide, last year’s reductions ranged from $54 in the Dallas School District near Wilkes-Barre to $623 in the Chester-Upland School District . Currently, there are seven gambling facilities open across the state with an additional seven in various planning stages.
Source: The Intelligencer; 4/3/09
BUCKS COUNTY
Bucks to get $1M in stimulus for homeless
The Department of Community and Business Development in Bucks County will receive almost $1 million in federal stimulus money for homelessness prevention. A plan for how the money will be allocated must be finalized by September. In response to the tight deadline, a hearing will be held on April 23 to take public comment about how the money could help local residents at risk of losing their homes. The hearing is set for 1:00 p.m. at the planning commission’s Almshouse building in Doylestown Township . According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the money can be used for financial assistance, housing relocation, financial counseling and data collection. Most of the money – 60 percent – must be used in the first two years, with the remaining 40 percent by year three.
Source: The Intelligencer; 4/3/09
Lower real estate taxes in store for Trumbauersville residents
Trumbauserville Borough officials expect real estate taxes to drop as much as 23 percent next year because of money saved by paying off a 20-year loan six years early. The real estate rate would drop from 3.25 mills to 2.5 mills, saving the average homeowner $22.50. By paying off the loan early, the borough saved $50,000 in interest for the 1,100 residents of the 0.4-square mile borough.
Source: The Intelligencer; 4/3/09
Pennsbury welcomes residents to public budget meetings
Pennsbury School Board officials are encouraging residents to participate in at least one of three open forum discussions on next year’s district budget. The district seeks input from residents and stakeholders on how to save money in a difficult budget year. Meeting information is as follows:
April 7 at Pennwood Middle School , 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
May 7 at Afton Elementary School , 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
June 4 at Walt Disney Elementary School , 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 4/3/09
CHESTER COUNTY
$4.6 million in federal money announced for Chester County
The U.S. Department of Energy on Thursday announced Chester County will receive $4.6 million in federal economic stimulus money for programs that reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency. According to the Department of Energy, this money will support a wide range of environmentally friendly activities, such as the installation of energy-saving features in residential and commercial buildings and the development of building codes that promote energy efficiency. The Department of Energy said it will provide guidance to funding recipients on how the money can be used. It said it will also require recipients to send back reports on the environmental benefits and jobs that the money helps to create or retain. Individual municipalities in southeastern Pennsylvania and across the state are also receiving their own disbursements, but none of these are in Chester County .
Source: Daily Local; 3/30/09
Panel meets with federal officials to discuss company's plan to expand pipeline
Landowners facing property condemnation proceedings confronted Federal Energy Regulatory Commission representatives during Friday's meeting of the Chester County Pipeline Task Force. According to one landowner, 71 out of 167 landowners have indicated they would rather go through eminent domain proceedings than sign easement agreements for the project. Transco-Williams has already started eminent domain proceedings to seize additional rights of way from 36 landowners. While no homes are subject to eminent domain, the company is attempting to seize strips of land along an existing right of way. Williams officials said they have been negotiating for more than a year and have reached agreements with about half of the affected landowners. U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-6th) formed the Chester County Pipeline Task Force last year after hearing from constituents who have complained about several pipeline projects in the county.
Source: Daily Local; 3/28/09
County nonprofit group seeks homes to repair for free
Kennett Square-based Good Neighbors, a nonprofit organization which does everything from replacing water heaters to near-complete renovations, is looking for a few folks to help out. When the Kennett Square -based home repair ministry moved out from under the umbrella of its sister organization last summer, the directors thought they would be inundated with applications. Instead, they're dealing with the exact opposite. Since forming their new independent entity the nonprofit organization has only five or so projects in the works. Good Neighbors only asks that its clients meet four criteria: they must own their homes; they must be current on their property taxes; they must meet county-established guidelines for "low income," and the work must be designed to make the home warmer, safer, drier and healthier. To contact Good Neighbors Inc., call 610-444-1860.
Source: Daily Local; 4/2/09
Residents divided over sewage plan in West Pikeland
A professional engineer hired by West Pikeland presented information about a draft of the Township's sewage facilities plan to residents. His discussion focused on the Windolph Knoll Sewer District, which includes homes south of Route 401 and east of Route 113. While some residents complained about a new sewer management plan, others said their systems are in dire need of an upgrade. Some residents living in the township's southwestern section were having problems with failing and aged on-lot sewage systems. The homes having problems lack space for suitable replacements because the building lots are two acres or less. To handle these issues, a public sewage system is being proposed for each of the 250 homes in the sewer district. Homeowners in the Windolph Knoll district will pay $10,000 to the township for tapping fees and an additional $5,000 toward the system equipment and installation. Residents will also pay $850 in annual user fees.
Source: Daily Local; 3/30/09
London Grove mushroom hearing frustrates residents
Approximately 100 people attended the fourth conditional-use hearing last Thursday for Superior Growers LP, a company that wants to grow mushrooms at White Horse Farm off West London Grove Road . The plan is to construct a mushroom facility and composting operation. Residents complained about the lack of details provided at the hearing. The hearing is slated to continue on April 16.
Source: Avon Grove Sun; 4/1/09
East Vincent Township may get Pennhurst land
East Vincent Township’s open space may soon triple if members of the PA House of Representatives follow the footsteps of their Senate colleagues. Roughly 96 acres that are now part of the former Pennhurst property would ultimately be conveyed to the township under legislation recently passed in the Senate and sponsored by Senator Dinnniman of Chester County . The township’s only existing open space includes 23 acres behind the township building. Township supervisors have already voted to accept the property, although it may be sometime before a master plan for the property is put together.
Source: Daily Times; 4/2/09
DELAWARE COUNTY
Morton to consider CO detector requirement for all buildings
Morton Borough will consider a proposed ordinance that would require every owner of property within the borough to install and maintain at least one carbon monoxide detector on every floor used for human habitation by no later than July 1, 2009. The ordinance is scheduled for adoption on April 8, 2009. Click here to read the proposed ordinance. Please contact Suburban Realtors Alliance staff at esmist@suburbanrealtorsalliance.com with any questions or comments.
Upper Darby community’s revitalization efforts
Five years into its latest renewal effort dedicated to improving the 69th Street corridor, Upper Darby has spruced up the streetscape. Local leaders hope the recent work to add new lighting, trees and traffic islands attract more of the 109,000 people who pass through the transit hub to walk out of the terminal and shop. Theodore Hershberg, director of the Center for Greater Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania , noted that it is important for the region to keep places like 69th Street Terminal going. Click here to read more.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 3/31/09
Newtown eases requirement on mandatory sewer hookups
Newtown Township supervisors have unanimously approved an amendment to the sewer ordinance that relaxes the mandatory connection requirement for functioning, on-lot septic system owners. The move was prompted by public reaction to the proposed costs involved with sewer connections in the Echo Valley neighborhood. Even in this upper-middle class neighborhood, not everyone is presently ready and able to spend upward of $14,000 to connect. Meanwhile, the township is poised to extend public sewers to its western end and complete an improvement project that has been discussed for 20 years. Under the amended ordinance, residents with homes that sit within 150 feet of a sewer lateral can connect voluntarily. If such a property has a failing on-site system, however, connection to public sewer will be mandatory.
Source: Daily Times; 3/30/09
Rose Tree Media awaits tax appeal ruling
The Rose Tree Media School District stands to lose tax revenue in excess of $500,000 per year if the owners of Granite Run Mall are successful in waging an appeal of property taxes levied in the years 2007, 2008 and 2009. Even if the district is successful in fighting the appeal, it still stands to lose some $100,000 on an annual basis This change is due to the fact that the ratio between assessed property value and fair market value keeps dropping.
Source: Daily Times; 3/31/09
Court OKs deal on Ellis Preserve plans in Newtown
A five-year quest by Berwind Properties Group to build the mixed-use “Ellis Preserve” has taken another step forward, but the legal progress could be short-lived. On March 26, the findings of an earlier evidentiary hearing in Delaware County Common Pleas Court were handed down by Judge James F. Proud. The ruling approved the town center settlement agreement negotiated last year between BPG and Newtown supervisors. The court’s approval of the 60-page settlement had been opposed by rival developer Claude deBotton. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the entire 219-acre Ellis Preserve would be zoned for mixed use. A central town center, where a theater, hotel and retail stores would co-mingle with second-floor offices and apartments, would be one component of BPG’s mixed-use plan. Other Ellis components would include another multi-story office building and 14-acre park on the “front lawn” area, and 98 townhouses in the northwest corner. The settlement agreement also locks BPG into a promised $8.6 million contribution to Newtown traffic improvements, according to BPG attorney Marc Kaplin. Kaplin says BPG’s next step will be to come before township supervisors in April or May, seeking adoption of a Planned Residential Development ordinance.
Source: Daily Times; 3/30/09
MONTOGMERY COUNTY
Spring House Village Shopping Center plans move forward after 5-year delay
A tentative settlement has been reached between Lower Gwynedd Township and the owner of the Spring House Village Shopping Center , Penn Florida Realty, LLC. If approved, the settlement would end the five-year legal battle between the two parties over the development of the center, and allow it to be modernized and improved. The centerpiece of the agreement is a park, to be constructed by Penn Florida at an estimated cost of $660,000. The park would occupy a portion of the shopping center and extend into township property, and will include trails, two ponds with fountains, and dedicated green areas. A public hearing is scheduled for April 16 at 7 p.m. at the township building, after which the board of supervisors will vote on approving the settlement.
Source: The Times Herald; 3/27/09
Whitemarsh Township to borrow $15M
Whitemarsh Township supervisors unanimously approved a proposal to incur $15 million of non-electoral debt. The money will be borrowed from the Delaware Valley Finance Authority and will fund a wide variety of projects, including $8.5 million to be used toward the acquisition of the Angus tract of Erdenheim Farm. Storm water projects, park and building improvements and computer software acquisition were among other items being funded. Residents urged supervisors to be frugal.
Source: The Times Herald; 3/29/09
Proposed East Norriton hospital plans adjusted and refined
The final site plans for the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network’s proposed hospital on the grounds of Wood’s Golf Center on Germantown Pike in East Norriton are being reviewed by the East Norriton Planning Commission. Notable changes to the preliminary plans include relocation of the emergency room entrance, and moving the medical office building and helipad away a neighborhood on Whitehall Road . If all approvals are obtained, construction could begin in early 2010. The next meeting of the East Norriton Planning Commission will be held at the East Norriton Middle School on April 8 at 7 p.m.
Source: The Times Herald; 3/29/09
Wissahickon unveils new strategic plan
At the latest school board meeting, Wissahickon School District officials approved four major goals in the district’s new strategic plan, scheduled for 2008 through 2014. A 25-member steering committee helped form the four major goals: student achievement; eliminating the achievement gap; district efficiency; and effectiveness and communication. The plan provides strategies and specific activities designed to accomplish the goals, which will be reviewed on an annual basis.
Source: The Times Herald; 3/28/09
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment