This sure is providing entertainment.

Wait till the UFO sightings begin...

Whats that nasty smell ?? Is that a BRIBE ? Go ahead, build your trailer park. We are all sick of your threats, and money grubbing tactics. When this happens, I hope all the residents who currently oblige by strict zoning laws, start to do what they want also. Park your campers / boats, next to your homes. Build your additions without permits. What the hell, seems the rich can do anything, why not Joe Blow Citizen. I wonder what would happen if people stopped bending over backwards for the " Laws of Newtown ".

So what are we talking about? Driving your pick up in, dropping your trailor, opening your awning and putting down your turf and flags or are we talking mobile homes like prefabs in Buckingham. There is a big difference. We surely do not need any more over priced homes around here and another town home community just over runs the traffic. People constantly vote down the open land laws, now you know why we need them. So what other options are there? Let's brain storm and make suggestions instead of just complaints. Ideas and options. That is what we need.

I think that the "trailer park" will actually be a beneficial land development compared to town homes. I am assuming that the development will be similar to those developed in Buckingham. If so, these residences will probably attract senior citizens, whereas town homes will probably attract younger couples in their 30s with younger children. Goodnoe Elementary is already overcrowded and town home residences will further worsen this situation. I am a 19 year old college student, and have lived in Newtown for my entire life. Going away to college has shown me that there are people of various socioeconomic echelons that are moral and just people. Many of the comments that will be posted will undoubtedly insinuate that people who live in these residences live with lower ethical standards than they do, which is an unsubstantiated statement. I have friends at school who live in Gladwyne on the main line, and friends from lower income areas in the Poconos. There is nothing wrong with my friend from the Poconos or her family, they hare hard working individuals and the nicest people you will meet. I am aware that most people in Newtown are kind and do not cast an ill-formed prejudice upon others, but I am truly appalled that there are some in my community that look down on others based on their income. One shouldn't judge another without knowing him or her.

What HAPPENED !!! just a week or so ago.. Everyone was saying, How Great the Owners of the Swim Club are !!! and How Bad the NAC owner is !!!
How Quickly they TURN !!!
It appears 2 me that if you are trying to WORK & Make Money for Your WORK !!
U R A BAD GUY !!!
Could Not The TWP. have adjusted the Number of T Homes and offered that as an Alternate ???? before Turning it Down Flat ???

Bravo to MD....I"m sure if the moblie homes are build they will look nice like Buckingham Springs, and probably up-kept better then some of the Newtown Snobs!! Don't look down on others based on their income.

How can this property be zoned for single-family houses and a trailer park at the same time? That doesn't make much sense to me.

This whole problem would be solved if the BOS would just give the variance for 52 town homes. I don't see how 54 mobile homes is better than 52 town homes in any way. We should be asking the BOS to just grant the variance for town homes and then we can all go about our day again. No one, even everyone crying diversity, wants to see their home value go down. That is clearly what will happen if the mobile homes move in. The effect could be wide spread for Newtown, beyond just the adjacent neighbors. Regardless of how you feel about the mobile homes, the overall view of them (well beyond Newtown) is that they are not desirable, so you will not be getting the same demand and money for your house if there is a mobile home park nearby. Everyone should be calling/emailing the township to request the BOS just grant Platt and County Builders (not that they are right) their silly town homes given that they are at least better than 54 mobile homes and call it a day.

CN, I do live in Newtown, as is stated in my post. I am not in Wilshire Walk or Raintree, but I live within the vicinity. I can understand as a resident nearby you may be concerned about your home value as a result of this proposed modular residence. County builders is using this "threat" as a ploy to get the supervisors to bend over backwards for them and change the zoning requirements. Even though Johnny McDouchebag is an internet troll, his comments are correct to an extent. Builders have used legal and financial tactics to build up Newtown. Growing up here for the past 19 years, I have seen major changes to this town. I am not saying that the changes are bad, but they have significantly altered the landscape of the township. Knowing the home prices in Newtown, these modular homes will sell for at least 200k, which is affordable for Newtown, however this is not going to attract "trashy" people. I can empathize with you being located near this plot of land, but I think that this scenario is being over-exaggerated. I would have no problem living in a development near this park.

I'm sure you have a high paying important job that allows you to spend your day being a troll.

Kara, since there is a lot of talk about comparing this proposal to a similar development in Buckingham, it would be helpful if you posted pictures of the said Buckingham site so we can see what this would potentially look like. "Trailer park" brings to mind a very negative vibe. But if that is not representative of what it would look like, I'd be interested to see what we should expect. Thanks.

I think the comparisons being made are just assumptions. The plans have not been reviewed publicly so I don't think the comparison is based in fact.
That being said, here is a website that features Buckingham Springs on 413. http://www.livingplaces.com/PA/Bucks_County/Buckingham_Township/Buckingham_Springs.html

They wont let a wawa in but they will consider a trailer park. Hmmm....

Were do i apply. i want to top Trailer! http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/688/trailertrashhirise111.jpg/
Perfect home for my cousin and I to raise a family

Everyone needs to get the facts and then take the necessary stance based on that information. The comments in here are getting ridiculous and I cannot BELIEVE the idiot with the Daddy fixation hasn't been banned. What a waste of print.

It would be really good for Newtown for this site to stay as a pool, for the COMMUNITY. This would be the best use for the land. There is housing everywhere in Newtown, but no community pool, no roller rink, no skating rink, no bowling alley, nothing that allows for a local family recreational outing.

With the closing of the current pool, there will be a substantive loss of jobs for the HS and college students in the area who worked at the Newtown Swim Club pool, food stand and day camp. I'd be happy to support a community pool. Does anyone else?

Or, does the NAC have something to do with no discussion of a pool staying at the site?

If you watch the township meeting videos the builder is a bully. cant get what he wants, threatens trailer homes. it will never happen...never...call his bluff

@coco's mom....unlikely....(yardley library is awesome, BTW) gotta go, here comes the step-mommy

bowling alley...yeah, that's a grand idea...lemme go ask my daddy...hey daddy...HEY, youre not my mommy!

Ciervo created this mess. The builder had no choice but to create another plan. This plan creates residual income for years to come for the builder. We have Rob to thank. Maybe now he will stop treating people like they live in trailer parks.

Maybe the town should pursue the property via eminent domain laws for the benefit of the public....Perhaps use some of that open space funding that is/was available? You can have a nice community center for public use.

@newtown resident. The value has been established by the builder. My guess, way too much money for township to step in and buy. If Ciervo treated the Platts and builder fairly and with a little respect we would have 52 new townhomes instead of a trailer park with 60 some spots. Which is possibly more profitable for the builder who already bought the property.

What's the property worth? Let's start a campaign to privately purchase it as a community and then maintain it for open community space. If it were affordable I'd be willing to pay an annual contribution to maintain it. Am I being grossly naive?

So lets see if this is right... townhomes were bad, trailer park is worse... and everyone is OK with the fact that a waterpark complete with a BAR is being added onto the health club? Just making sure we see that whoever has the money... holds the power over the supervisors. I bet if Mr Platt paid for the ACME demo, the townhouses would have passed unanimously

I don't think that people were opposed to the townhome proposal- the BOS were the ones who wouldn't grant the variance needed to build it. Furthermore, I don't think that everyone is okay with the water park and bar being added to the health club- if we can even call it that anymore. But I do agree that whoever has the money holds the power…

The builder as the buyer is who established the market value and would be considered in the eminent domain by the township. The disrespect shown by Ciervo is absolutely the issue and main reason we will have a trailer park. He has an attitude that he can push around any land owner and act like the all and powerful ROB CIERVO. @ MR- the people were ok with town homes as was Platt. Ciervo was not and he created this mess. It wasn't all the supervisors. The Gallagher boys treat people with respect and are reasonable, down to earth people.

Agreed but this builder is out to get Ciervo. The whole township is going to be screwed because of his disdain for Rob and how Rob treats people.

In other words, we are all going to be the victims of this builder's temper tantrum and Ciervo's bullying. This is such a mess!

Agreed!

I always enjoy when people make ad hominem attacks behind anonymous screen names as it certainly adds something to the discussion of public policy. In summary the builder on two occasions came before the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors asking for very large zoning variances than in effect would call for first a 102% increase in housing density and then a 72% increase in housing density.

The builder presented no legitimate hardship as to why these variances were needed. In Pennsylvania those seeking variances from a municipal Zoning Hearing Board are supposed to document a hardship when requesting a variance from a municipal zoning ordinance.

Land development at the municipal level is not as simple as some are suggesting. In fact though maximum density standards are written in for a variety of housing uses in a variety of housing districts (the district in question is the R2 residential zoning district), there are numerous other factors with regard to the conditions of the land and the natural resources on the land which will ultimately determine how many units a developer can build without any variances.

Past boards in Newtown Township have been too quick, in my opinion, to grant a huge array of large variances to all of the housing builders over the years which has resulted in many more homes than necessary being built and contributes to the overall traffic congestion and overdevelopment in the area.

I take our zoning seriously and work to defend it.

Additionally the plan from the builder with regard to a possible mobile home park has only recently been submitted. There are many standards the builder will have to meet in order for a majority of the board to vote to approve. If for some reason the board votes not to approve the plan the builder can appeal the decision. I would state to any resident who may not support this plan to become involved in the process, including becoming a legal party to the proceedings. This will allow those individuals the rights to appeal the decision if it does not go the way they would like it to go. Not long ago residents along Eagle Road did just that and then took the township to court and won a fight against Orleans.

Just because a builder says he can do something and threatens that he will, that does not automatically mean it will occur. But I can attest that the developer was probably seeking to illicit certain reactions from nearby residents and the above posts seem to confirm his goal on that end has been largely attained.

Realty, you are quite arrogant towards applicants. I have witnessed on TV your temperment. I feel that this is causing the builder to pursue this option where simple diplomacy and open conversation would have been beneficial for all. As stated above the hard feelings held by the builder/land owner is also at fault for this mess.

People "hide" behind screen names on sites like this because they are interested in protecting their privacy. As an elected official, it is probably not in your best interest to be so dismissive to your public. As you can see from the comments on this thread, people in this community are displeased with the events that have occurred thus far regarding the development of this parcel of land. Many are also displeased with other's displeasure. Furthermore, the language used in the articles posted here clearly incites such a reaction by describing the builder as "enraged" and "threatening" the board with a mobile home park. Individuals in this municipality surely do not want to feel that they are the afterthought of an argument between an elected official and a builder.

Obviously the builder was seeking precisely the reaction that he received from the community in order to serve his cause. The builder could have avoided all of this by proposing a project that did not ask for a variance in the first place, which is what he is doing now but under the pretext of intimidation. This is not appealing to the community. It is a shame that he is not willing to work with the zoning that is already in place and build a development that would seamlessly integrate with the existing neighborhoods. Assuredly this is an option, but he refuses to take this route because he is inflexible and unwilling to conform, and, ultimately is motivated by his own greed. I hope that the residents of Newtown who oppose the development of a mobile home park on the Swim Club site do take whatever action they can to protect the value of their homes.

Everyone should watch the supervisors meeting where the plans were discussed Nov. 28. See link below starting at 32:35 minutes.
http://newtownpa.swagit.com/play/12052012-678

Face it Rob, you underestimated the Platt's lawyer. Just figure out a way to kick back his 70K and be done with it. Win some, lose some. That's politics.

I don't underestimate any builder. I also know how to fight and win to protect the township in these cases because almost always the developers overreach. In this specific case we were never approached to compromise and when a very significant variance met with some opposition it was the builder, if you watch the meeting minutes, who lost his cool and start personally insulting board members.

I have spent my time on the board in these issues attempting to stay true to the zoning to limit the impact on the township. My goal is not to flatter nor condemn the individual applicant but to see the project in terms of what is in the best long term interest of the township. Far too often elected officials look to do what is best for them and/or what is best in the short term. That is the reason why our country for instance is in such a fiscal state of disarray.

Again if the presently proposed development is something that residents do not want to see occur they should pool their resources and hire a good land use attorney to hold the township to enforcing all sections of the zoning and SALDO when reviewing the submitted plan. The devil is always in the details. Even McDonald's thought they could waltz into Newtown and impose their plan on the board and the township without compromising. With past boards who did not pay attention to the actual zoning ordinances it used to work that way. In 2007 residents had had enough of that and elected different folks like myself.

I say residents and the township come together to find creative alternatives for that land. Heck, condemn it even if Meister and Platt are going to be so difficult. I don't like Platt and Meister's tactics. I think even if they end up putting town homes or singles there it will spell trouble down the road. Look at the McGrath development and I think he smells like roses compared to Meister.

Call their bluff and let them build a mobile home park. Make them surround it with dense trees, a large setback so it's not visible from the street. My widowed Mother sold her single home and moved to one in the 70's. Back then, most 55 and over places were mobile home parks. She owned her home, but rented the ground from the owner. That way, there is control over what happens on the property. The whole park was kept beautifully. The elderly would take walks and pick up any trash or even cigarette butts on the ground. Included in the ground rental was a nice looking shed. I would certainly make the builder set the homes back, like Lakeview Estates although those homes are gorgeous, so as not visible from the road. Perhaps restrict it to over 55 so no concern of more children n the school and most elderly couples have only one car. I've lived in Bucks County for over 40 years and in Newtown for 25 of those years. I've seen the changes.

Wait just a minute! The Township cannot run the Township! Now you're suggesting the Township take the property by way of eminent domain or condemnation? Why not give big government more power? Why not give them bigger heads than they (BOS) already have? The town-drunk, Lil Boy, and the Professor (Union Basher) have big enough egos! The last time they got into the athletic business they sold off the topsoil to Veterans Park and [now] years later it is still NOT fully operational! Kids can't play on stones! Now, you want their hands in the swim club business? And, by taking someone's property? You're starting to sound like the Tyrant in D.C. !

Nrwtown Guy, U R wrong on both counts. The Park that never should have been built could be fixed,
It is about time that the Board is treating builders like the money grubbing creeps that they are, the builder is the arrogant one just look at his past, The owner as a big polictical donor, expected special treatment and did not get it. look at the developments in the past withall their variances giiven in the builders Favor during the Goren. Harp, Goodnoe and Sanderlin regiems.