This briefing document synthesizes the proposed regulatory framework (Ordinance Draft 5.27.26) for the establishment of "G-17 Data Centers" within the Newtown Area Joint Municipal Zoning Ordinance (JMZO). The JMZO involves the municipalities of Newtown Township, Upper Makefield Township, and Wrightstown Township. The proposed ordinance establishes data centers as a "Conditional Use" in specific industrial and agricultural districts, subject to stringent performance standards.
| |
Comments:
This ordinance was dicussed at the June 4, 2026, Joint Zoning Council (JZC) meeting, which I attended. The draft documents were not available to the public at the time, so I submitted a Right-To-Know request to obtain them. I submitted the documents to Gemini AI, which created this “Framwork” analysis. I also sent this analysis to the Newtown Planning Commission, which will discuss it at its June 16, 2026, meeting.
|
|
On June 10, 2026, the Historical Architectural Review Board reviewed a revised application for a Certificate of Appropriateness regarding the redevelopment of 203 North Sycamore Street. The project aims to transform the site—formerly known as the Guru’s Indian restaurant and “the saloon”—into a modern restaurant while preserving its 200-year historical significance.
| |
Comments:
The redevelopment of 203 North Sycamore Street is led by advocate Adam Baratta, who intends to operate a family-oriented restaurant at the location. Mr. Baratta is the founder of Advantage Gold and a California restauranteur. The project is framed as a “legacy” endeavor intended to serve the community for the next century.
Related Content:
|
|
|
The Newtown Creek Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge & Trail project, detailed in Addendum #2 of the May 1, 2026, rebid specifications, involves the construction of a 170-linear foot timber and steel girder bridge and a 493-linear foot asphalt trail in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
The project uses a “Base Bid” and “Add Alternate” structure to give the Newtown Creek Coalition and associated municipalities flexibility in award selection based on available funding and project priorities.
| |
Comments:
Originally estimated at $750,000 the project was intended to be fully funded by a $999,979 Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Local Share Account (LSA) grant. However, the reality of the bids has left the township with a massive problem: the lowest bid came in at $1.1 million, with the high end reaching $1.5 million.
|
|
This “Deep Dive” podcast documents a Newtown Township Board of Supervisors meeting where officials debated the allocation of $133,000 in opioid settlement funds.
The township solicitor proposed a Memorandum of Understanding to transfer these funds to Bucks County, arguing that the township lacks the necessary infrastructure to manage permitted drug treatment programs.
While some board members supported the move to ensure the continuation of a county-funded co-responder program, others expressed concerns that the township would lose local control over the money.
Facing a fast-approaching deadline to obligate the funds, the board ultimately voted to table the motion to allow for further research into regional options.
| |
Comments:
Public comment suggested keeping the funds local to support drug education within the Council Rock School District, highlighting a perceived lack of transparency regarding eligible uses. Opponents of the transfer argued that the township might be marginalized by the county due to its affluence and questioned why local alternatives hadn't been fully explored.
Related Content:
|
|
|
The Newtown Township Bills List for June 10, 2026, details a total expenditure of $1,045,306.36 across various municipal funds. The most significant financial obligation during this period is debt service, which accounts for over 59% of the total spend. Other major areas of expenditure include public safety police and fire protection, health insurance premiums, and preparations for summer recreational programming.
| |
Comments:
A “reMarkable Paper Pro Bundle” was
purchased for the IT Director $779.00.
While the tablet works independently for local
note-taking, it seamlessly connects to official
desktop and mobile apps to sync files via the
cloud. It also offers direct integration with
Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and
Dropbox.
My vision of how the NEW IT Director (whoever
he/she may be) should be using the “reMarkable Paper” is to remind him/her of the
township’s website problems.
|
|
|
Digital accessibility plays a critical role in maintaining an open and transparent government. It emphasizes that public records must be searchable and machine-readable to ensure accountability and compliance with disability regulations. A significant obstacle to this goal is the use of image-only scans, which prevent automated data extraction and limit the utility of assistive technologies.
|
|
