Coalition Forms to Stop Newtown Trailer Park

An “extensive network” of local communities have formed a coalition to prevent a 56-pad trailer park from coming to the Newtown Swim Club once it closes after this summer, Headley resident David Wagner said.

Wagner, a Headley Community Homeowners Association board member, said the group will do whatever it takes to stop the trailer park from coming to the neighborhood.

Residents of the following communities are involved in the effort: Headley, Newtown Walk, Wilkshire Walk, Kirkwood, Villas of Newtown and Raintree/Windermere. The nearby office park and several real estate companies are also involved, according to Wagner.

“We are united in our attempts to have the builder, Mike Meister of County Builders, and Dave Platt of the Newtown Swim Club withdraw the 56 single-wide pad trailer park proposal,” Wagner said. “We are asking the Township Supervisors to work out a plan in which townhomes can be built instead.” 

The application for a mobile home park was submitted after the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors shot down a plan for townhomes because it exceeded the housing density permitted in that zoning district. Since then, board member Matt Benchener has said he would now support the townhome plan in light of the trailer park proposal.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Mike Gallagher said Tuesday morning that he had not heard from County Builders and there was no indication of plans to resubmit the townhome proposal. County Builders has not returned a request for comment from Patch.

Wagner said the HOAs of the various communities are distributing petitions to oppose the trailer park. Those petitions will be presented at Wednesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, he said. “We are encouraging all our respective homeowners to attend that meeting as a show of solidarity,” Wagner added.

The communities have held their own planning meetings, Wagner said. So far, four meetings have taken place. “All have been very well attended, averaging 35 to 45 residents.”

If the effort to bring the townhome plan back to the table fails, Wagner said the group will continue to do what it takes to stop the trailer park from coming to Newtown.

“In the case of an unfortunate event such as the builders proceed with their plans for the trailer park, we will continue to fight this as far as it will go. There will be no diminished effort on our part regardless of the length of time it takes. We are too committed for that to occur.”

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Related links:

• Trailer Park Plans Likely to be Reviewed by Township at Feb. 5 Meeting
• Neighbors Mobilizing Against Mobile Home Park
• Community Reacts to Mobile Home Proposal