This "Deep Dive" into Newtown Township's 2025 images, plans and 2026 budget has uncovered several surprising, counter-intuitive, and impactful stories that every resident should know.
This Newtown Patch article breaks down the top five most significant takeaways into a clear, accessible list, revealing the critical details hiding in plain sight.
These stories unfolded in one township, but they raise a universal question: Do you really know what decisions are being made in your name, and where your tax dollars are going?
Read the article...
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This blog post focuses on a detailed accountability report from Newtown Supervisor John Mack reflecting on his final year of an eight-year tenure in 2025. The report utilizes various data charts to illustrate his time allocation by month, day of the week, and specific activity type, while clarifying that personal outreach efforts like blogs and podcasts are excluded from these official totals.
This summary serves as both a personal legacy statement and a call for continued civic engagement and governance integrity.
Read the postt...
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My Comments:
I worked every day of the week to fulfill my duties as Supoervisor AND to keep residents informed about important issues. Although my term as Supervisors has ended, I will continue to keep residents informed via this newsletter and will work with other residents to improve local government accountability.
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A Right-to-Know request has revealed a stunning twist in Newtown’s abandoned wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) saga: land taken through eminent domain is now being offered back to the original owner (i.e., Jim Worthington and associates) for $11.5 million, the exact amount paid by the sewer authority.
Under Pennsylvania’s Eminent Domain Code, when a public use is abandoned, the condemning authority must offer the property back to the condemnee—a little-known provision that turns this case into what can only be described as “eminent domain in reverse.”
The bigger issue remains unresolved: what happens next? Specifically, what SHOULD happen to the land if the original owners do not buy it bacK?
Read more details here and find out what I think...
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Further Notes:
Recall that the proposed WWTP that was scrapped—after the land was acquired and sewer rates were raised by 47% to help finance the purchase of the land. IMHO, that rate will NEVER be lowered even if the land is sold back to the original owners.
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An “Office Research” district sounds like it would be limited to office buildings and labs—but the zoning code tells a very different story. A close reading shows that uses like farms, single-family homes, and even roadside stands are permitted by right, while other unexpected uses can be approved through special exceptions. In other words, the district name alone doesn’t come close to capturing what’s actually allowed.
Access this “Workshop” to learn all about this district where Wawa and the now abandoned WWTP plant site are located. The workshop includes a quiz you can take beforehand or afterward to test your knowledge.
Access the workshop...
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Further Notes:
This is just one of several planned Zoning Workshops that are designed to help residents, Planning Commission, Zoning Hearing Board, and Board of Supervisors members understand Newtown Township zoning regulations.
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Local government reorganization meetings are usually predictable—procedural votes, formalities, and little drama. But Newtown’s January 5th 2026 meeting broke that mold, delivering unexpected tension, a major leadership shift, and pointed calls for unity and collaboration.
Here are five takeaways from a night that set a new course for Newtown.
- A Contentious Start from the Outgoing Chair
- A “Changing of the Guard” Moved Forward Anyway
- The New Leadership’s Message: Teamwork
- Grace in the Face of Disagreement
- Public Service Continues Beyond the Board
More details here...
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Further Notes:
Listen to Snyder's opening comments. Her framing wasn’t universally accepted. I attended the meeting and thought Snyder’s remarks were “extremely ungracious.” I also recall that Snyder’s own experience was minimal when she was elected Chair.
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Nominated by resident Donna Serdula, the feature highlights Mack’s “genuine commitment to keeping residents informed” and his belief that public office is a responsibility to the community, not merely a title.
The article credits Mack with openly sharing information, remaining approachable, and taking principled stands on difficult issues—including opposing the Chick-fil-A proposal along the Bypass [read #NewtownPA Twp Chick-fil-A Plan Withdrawn] and the proposed wastewater treatment plant. According to the nomination, those efforts reflected leadership guided by what was right rather than what was easy, leaving Newtown stronger and setting a high bar for those who follow.
Read more here...
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Where do local tax dollars actually go? A close look at Newtown Township’s 2025 Bills Lists pulls back the curtain on spending details residents rarely see unless they file a Right-to-Know request. The review highlights six eye-opening categories—from massive, long-term obligations like police pensions and road programs to the everyday costs of keeping municipal operations running—offering a clearer picture of the township’s real financial priorities.
Read more here...
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This "Zoning Workshop" focuses on a memorandum from the Bucks County Planning Commission (BCPC) regarding a proposed update to the zoning ordinance and map for Newtown Township.
The proposal seeks to establish the Newtown Commons (LI-OLI) Overlay District, which would introduce mixed-use developments and town center apartments into areas previously reserved for light industrial and office use. A primary goal of this change is to transform these zones into a vibrant, walkable community featuring a blend of residential units, retail spaces, and public amenities
The BCPC officially recommends the adoption of these changes, noting they align with regional planning goals and provide landowners with modernized flexibility for redevelopment.
Access the workshop...
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Further Notes:
Test your knowledge of the Business Commons (LI-OLI) Overlay District plan by taking this short quiz.
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