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Residents from Muirfield Estates in Warrington recently voiced objections to the board of supervisors over a preliminary proposal to amend the 3-acre minimum lot size requirement in the RA zone on a neighboring 50-acre property. The proposal would amend the 3-acre minimum lot size requirement in the RA zone to allow five single-family houses to be built on an acre. The owner of the property, John Pileggi Jr., presented his preliminary plans to township planners but there is no proposal before the board of supervisors. Supervisor Chairman Gerald Anderson said the planning commission is updating the township’s comprehensive plan, which sets guidelines for future development, and would review the RA zoning to see whether to recommend any changes to the supervisors. “We have to look at the cluster option,” Anderson said. This provision allows a developer to build houses closer together in exchange for preserving open space on the rest of the tract. Nearby residents are concerned that other landowners in the RA zone would seek the same exception and also want to maintain the semi-rural aspect of their neighborhood. A public hearing would be held before Warrington could act on any proposed changes.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 3/25/2015

Pennsylvania DEP hears complaints about Tullytown landfill
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently held a public hearing to help investigate complaints about odors coming from a Tullytown landfill operated by Waste Management. Most of the odor complaints come from New Jersey residents on the other side of the Delaware River from the landfill. Residents also complained about the hundreds of sea gulls that congregate on either side of the river and the long line of dump trucks that they say begin arriving at the site before dawn. Several people had positive things to say about the trash disposal company and its support of the community. Waste Management is trying to renew its operating permit for the facility off Bordentown Road; the current permit expires May 23. The DEP will accept written comments about the landfill permit renewal through April 10. Comments should be sent to Regional Solid Waste Manager, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 2 E. Main St., Norristown, PA 19401.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 3/25/2015

Dublin reviews new option for historical preservation
As part of the Dublin Borough Revitalization and Visioning Plan, borough council members originally took steps to create a historic district under the state’s Historic District Act 167. At the March 23 borough council meeting, Cory Kegerise, of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, told council that they have another option. According to Kegerise, if Dublin adopted a municipalities planning code, it could protect the borough’s history by creating a zoning overlay. Members of the zoning board would not need to meet professional requirements, like they would on a Historical Architectural Review Board. “This may provide you with more flexibility,” Kegerise said of the municipalities planning code. He explained that no municipalities in Bucks County use the municipalities planning code, but it is common in Montgomery, Chester and Lancaster counties. Council members told Kegerise to review the proposed historic guidelines and then council will decide whether to continue with the Historic District Act or consider the adoption of the municipalities planning code.
Source: Perkasie News Herald; 3/24/2015

Quakertown to team with county on parking survey
As part of its economic revitalization plan, Quakertown Borough is eyeing changes to the traffic flow and parking in the heart of Quakertown. At a recent work session, Quakertown Borough Council discussed partnering with Bucks County to conduct a parking inventory aimed at maximizing customer parking spaces available for commercial and retail businesses. The Bucks County Planning Commission would conduct the parking inventory at no cost to taxpayers and would look only at the commercial downtown area and not the nearby residential streets as a source for customer parking, said Quakertown’s Economic Redevelopment Consultant Ed Scholl. The parking inventory will also identify what spaces are publicly or privately owned; analyze each business to determine the number of parking spaces needed based on the type of business; and take into consideration lighting for nighttime parking, directional signs to parking areas and pedestrian accessibility. Officials are preparing for the new Gateway building, which will be constructed on what is now the triangle parking lot. The rectangular piece of ground adjacent to Triangle Park divides busy Route 313 and serves as customer parking for many of the downtown businesses. Council will vote on April 1 to authorize the parking study.
Source: The Intelligencer; 3/24/2015