At its 21 April 2026 public meeting, the Newtown Township Planning Commission reviewed a sketch plan for a four-lot subdivision on a five-acre parcel located between Penn Street and the extension of Lafayette Street.
Local residents attending the meeting expressed significant concerns regarding increased traffic, the potential loss of wildlife habitats, and the impact of construction vehicles on their quiet neighborhood. In response, the commission and developers explored alternatives such as using Penn Street for access and adding privacy buffering for adjacent properties.
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Further Notes:
You can read the comments of the residents in the transcript of the discussion. The Planning Commission suggested that residents submit their concerns in writing to the Commission. This is an example of officials being responsive to residents' concerns - one of the four pillars of Neighbors for Open Government.
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At the 14 April 2026 Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (aka Newtown Sewer Authority) meeting, Jessica L. VanderKam, Esquire, the Authority's Solicitor, responded to resident John Mack's questions regarding procedures with the Eminent Domain Judge to gain permission to sell the land that the Authority purchased to build the now-canceled proposed sewer treatment plant.
At a 27 April 2026 hearing of the case ("Newtown Sewer Authority v. 42 University LLC"), the Judge OK’d the Authority’s request to put the land up for sale on the open market. Presumably, at its next public meeting on 12 May 2026, it will decide to do just that.
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Further Comments:
If the property is sold, it remains to be seen if the 26% rate increase to pay for the loan to purchase the land will be rescinded fully or partially or not at all.
As one resident commented to me: "That's probably the best we can expect, though it would have been nice to find a way to preserve it as open space. Hopefully will sell quickly and be put to better use than a sewer plant!"
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The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting held on April 22, 2026, centered on critical infrastructure proposals, fiscal transparency, and the mechanics of local governance. Key developments included a formal request from Council Rock Newtown Athletic Association for a public-private collaboration to secure state grants for field lighting at Vets Park.
Administratively, the Board moved forward with an intergovernmental agreement for fire services with Newtown Borough.
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Comments:
The meeting also revealed underlying tensions regarding the appointment process for township committees, specifically the Environmental Advisory Council (EAC), and the urgent need to address the emergence of data centers within the community.
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*Jim Worthington – the owner of the Newtown Athletic Club – is the principal developer/owner of these 3 proposed projects (2026-2030).
The 2025 Chapter 94 Municipal Wasteload Management Report for the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (NBCJMA) details the operational status, maintenance activities, and future growth projections for the wastewater collection system serving Newtown Township and Newtown Borough.
The report includes an estimate of the required EDUs ("Equivalent Dwelling Units") required for proposed development projects over the next 5 years.
Major projects include Jim Worthington’s Steeple View/Liberty Centre project in Newtown Borough (read “Newtown Borough's Steeple View Property Sold to Jim Worthington”), the 661 Penn St. development in Newtown Township (read “From Office Buildings to Residential High-Rises: A "Pivotal" Project Proposal for #NewtownPA Commons”), and the Goodnoe Farmstead mixed us apartments on N. Sycamore Street.
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Further Comments:
Together, Worthington's 3 proposed projects would require 470 EDUs, which is 85% of the TOTAL EDUs required by ALL projects through 2030!
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This briefing document summarizes the professional services provided by Barry Isett & Associates, Inc. (BIA) to Newtown Township for the period of March 1, 2026, through March 31, 2026. The total invoice for this period amounts to $56,836.50, covering Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (PA UCC) services and specialized zoning administration.
The fee breaks down as follows:
- Construction Code review charge: $50,266.50 [60% of the fees charged by the Township!]
- Zoning Services: $6,570.00 [54.75 hours @ $120/hr]
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Comments:
I understand the hourly fee, but taking 60% of the fees charge by the township seems like a huge "pass through!" The township is losing a lot of income. To make up for it, I hope it is not padding the fees it charges. Just sayin'
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This video highlights the emergence of Neighbors for Open Government (NOG), a nonpartisan grassroots alliance formed to address perceived secrecy and accountability failures within Newtown Township’s local government.
“NOG is simply a way of keeping a finger on the pulse of what our elected officials are doing,” explained co-founding member Charles Feuer. “It's up to each individual resident to keep up with what they're doing. But how can we keep up with how they're doing the job we elected them for if we don't have transparency?”
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