Newtown Pedestrian, Bicycle and Wheelchair Safety Initiative Zoom Meeting

A small group of Newtown residents recently met to discuss how to turn concerns about individual dangerous crosswalks into a broader, township-wide pedestrian safety initiative.

The central conclusion of the meeting was that improving pedestrian safety will require more than simply asking the Township to fix one crosswalk. Participants discussed building visible resident support, documenting dangerous conditions, identifying grant funding and repeatedly bringing specific requests for action before the Board of Supervisors.

Thus, the Newtown Pedestrian, Bicycle and Wheelchair Safety Initiative was formed and will hold its first ZOOM meeting on TUESDAY, 15 September 2026 * 7:00 PM. We invite all residents interested in helping to plan for how we can make Newtown Township crosswalks safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and ADA complaint to join this meeting,

What Are We Waiting For? Another Death?  

At the 12 August 2026 Newtown Board of Supervisors meeting, numerous residents – including Panagiota Razzano, Charles Feuer, and Nicole Ketterer – from Newtown Grant and surrounding areas pleaded for improved safety measures at specific crosswalks.

August 2026 Bills List Analysis 

Comprehensive Analysis of Municipal Expenditures and Fund Allocations

The primary financial drivers for this period include significant investments in professional inspection services, seasonal community recreation programs, and essential public safety infrastructure. Notable highlights include a $74,674.80 payment for monthly inspection fees, over $32,000 in fuel procurement, and nearly $40,000 in capital project acquisitions including a specialized drone and grooming mower.

No Rate Relief in Sight: Why Newtown's Sewer Saga is Far From Over 

Newtown residents hoping for relief after the recent Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (NBCJMA) land sale agreement are in for a cold dose of reality. Although DeLuca Homes has agreed to purchase the controversial 17.5-acre property at Lower Silver Lake Road for $11.5 million—the exact price the authority spent to acquire it through condemnation—local business leader Jim Worthington warns that taxpayers should not expect their bills to drop anytime soon. 

Petition to Install a Pedestrian-Activated Crosswalk at Eagle Rd Intersection in #NewtownPA 

Although a marked crosswalk is present, many motorists fail to yield to pedestrians attempting to cross at the Eagle Road intersection of Jonquil and Marigold. Residents regularly experience long waits before a safe gap in traffic occurs, and many have witnessed or experienced dangerous near-misses due to vehicles not stopping as required by Pennsylvania law. This crossing is used by families, children, walkers, runners, cyclists, seniors, and other residents traveling throughout the neighborhood.

The purpose of this petition is to respectfully request that the appropriate agency:

• Evaluate the installation of a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) or another pedestrian-activated crossing system and improved lighting.
• Review traffic speeds, vehicle yielding rates, sight distance, and pedestrian activity.
• Prioritize safety improvements that will help prevent future injuries and improve driver compliance at this crosswalk.

SIGN THE PETITION...

12 August 2026 Newtown Township Board of Supervisors Meeting Insights 

The August 12, 2026, meeting of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) highlighted several critical points of tension between municipal development, infrastructure planning, and resident safety. The most significant developments include the controversial $11.5 million land sale by the Newtown Sewer Authority (NBCJMA) for residential development, the enactment of a "baseline" data center ordinance despite resident calls for more stringent protections, and the Board’s decision to formally oppose the Apple Montessori School conditional use application.

Your Next Neighbor Might Be a Data Center, But...

While the "cloud" is often marketed as an ethereal, weightless medium, its physical footprint is staggering. In the real world, the digital age is composed of steel, heat, and a million-gallon-a-day thirst for water. As these industrial-scale facilities begin to migrate from massive tech hubs into residential suburbs, local governments are finding themselves in a high-stakes game of regulatory catch-up.

On September 3, 2026, the Newtown Area Joint Zoning Council (JZC) met to tackle this looming shift.

 

The “Black Box” of Local Government

At the recent 12 August 2026 Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) public meeting, a resident's inquiry about meeting procedures was met with a suggestion from the chairman to "send an email" and start a private discourse. Neighbors for Open Government & Accountability (NOGA) characterizes this as a “Black Box” tactic to avoid public accountability and on-the-record answers.

The #NewtownPA Sewer Authority Land Sale Charade

Residents are asking for a sewer rate refund because the authority previously raised sewer rates to purchase land for a sewer project that has now been canceled.

The Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (NBCJMA) originally borrowed money to purchase a property for $11.5 million, which caused residents' rates to increase. Now that the authority is abandoning the project and selling the land to DeLuca's Newtown LLC for the same price of $11.5 million, residents believe they should get their money back or see a rate reduction.

#NewtownPA Creek Bridge: A Bridge Too Far Above Budget

The Newtown Creek Pedestrian Bridge project is currently facing a significant financial crisis as construction bids have repeatedly exceeded the available grant funding. Although the township secured nearly one million dollars for the work, a substantial portion has already been consumed by administrative and legal fees, leaving only $836,025 for actual building costs. Despite efforts to reduce expenses through simplified design specifications, the most recent contractor proposals still far outpace this remaining budget. This persistent gap has led to sharp criticism regarding the engineering firm’s ability to align the project’s scope with its economic reality. Consequently, local leaders must now decide whether to seek a third round of bids, replace their current consultants, or cancel the bridge project entirely.

22 July 2026 Bills List Analysis

The Newtown Township Bills List for July 22, 2026, details a total expenditure of $550,533.96 across various municipal funds. This total comprises $514,773.49 in vendor checks and $35,760.47 in ACH and fund transfers.

The primary driver of expenditure is the General Fund, which accounts for approximately 71.5% of the total budget. Significant costs within this period include professional inspection fees, quarterly insurance and workers' compensation premiums, and essential infrastructure repairs.

Grey Stone Restaurant's Variance Requests DENIED!

The most consequential portion of the application was the proposed Kiddie Academy parcel: it seeks approval for a 2.117-acre lot where the CM district normally requires 10 acres, 36.81% impervious surface where 15% is permitted, a 59.20-foot front setback instead of 100 feet, front-yard play areas, and relief from the five-acre child-care lot requirement. The document also reports proposed disturbance of 17.5% of total woodlands and 44.8% of agricultural soils.

The applicant argued that the unique physical conditions of the property—including irregular parcel shapes, extensive protected natural resources, and a long-standing non-conforming restaurant use—create an unnecessary hardship that justifies the requested relief.

All 4 of the ZHB members present voted to deny the variances.

Readers React to “No Canopy For You!” 

My recent "No Canopy For You!" post generated a substantial response on social media. Many commenters questioned the decision to reject the Donatelli's Italian Steakhouse canopy at the former Brick Hotel property, while others raised questions about historic preservation, signage, consistency, and whether approval should have been obtained before the canopy was installed.

From Pharmacy to Preschool  

Newtown Preschool Proposal Faces Parking and Safety Opposition

The plan involves an ambitious adaptive reuse project, transforming the pharmacy into an early childhood learning center for 142 students. While the conversion of retail to education is a growing national trend, the specific details of this makeover reveal a complex intersection of urban design, community safety concerns, and the evolving utility of our shared commercial spaces. As the proposal moves toward a pivotal September hearing, four key realities of this transformation stand out.

 Residents Propose Citizen Commission to Address Traffic Safety Concerns

In Lansdale, concerned citizens are advocating for the creation of a formal traffic committee to address long-standing issues with speeding, parking, and road safety.

Local advocates Dominic Visturia and Francisco Lopez proposed this idea after observing a successful citizen-led commission in nearby Middletown Township, which facilitates collaboration between residents, police, and traffic engineers.

Comments: Meanwhile, Newtown Township decided to cancel its Traffic Committee! Perhaps it's time to reconstitute that committee. But this time, it should only be composed of residents patterned after Middletown's CITIZENS TRAFFIC COMMISSION (CTC). Related Content: “No Traffic Committee Needed Say Newtown Township Supervisors!” “What Are We Waiting For? Another Death?” “#NewtownPA Township Debates Chandler Hall Crosswalk Safety Upgrades” “#NewtownPA Residents Win Fight for a Safe Sidewalk” “With Reportable Accidents Up Over 100 Percent, Is #NewtownPA a “Walkable” Community? Residents Urge A Change!” “Crosswalk Visibility Study: Which Type of Crosswalk is Most Visible to Motorists?”

August 2026 Newtown Sewer Authority Board Meeting

Comments: I’m not a legal expert, but I’ve heard a rumor that DeLuca is essentially in partnership with Kushner Real Estate (KRE). Despite the restrictions noted in the Assignment Clause of the Agreement of Sale, it may be possible that an LLC that involves KRE may be established under “common control” with DeLuca Newtown LLC. Related Content: What You Need to Know About the #NewtownPA Sewer Authority Land Sale Agreement

Hacks on U.S. Water Supply: Is #NewtownPA's Water Supply Safe?

Recent reports reveal that Ameri can water infrastructure is currently facing a widespread wave of cyberattacks suspected to be orchestrated by Iranian hackers.
These security breaches have impacted dozens of municipalities* across several states, leading to operational disruptions and precautionary measures like boil-water advisories.