Township Awaiting Response from Trailer Park Developer

Newtown Township's solicitor has been in touch with the developer of a proposed trailer park to inquire if he would consider resubmitting plans for townhouses on the Newtown Swim Club property.

According to Newtown Township Board of Supervisors Chairman Mike Gallagher, solicitor Jeffrey Garton has reached out to County Builders to see if it would again consider a townhome plan instead of a trailer park.

The builder's attorney is expected to respond within the next week or two, Gallagher said.

Newtown Swim Club owner David Platt is working with County Builders to create a residential development on the 16-acre property on Newtown-Yardley Road once the club closes after this summer.

At a supervisors' meeting last week that drew an audience of more than 150, the board voted 4-1 to authorize Garton to contact County Builders in light of the proposal for a 56-pad trailer park. 

Residents of several surrounding communities, including Headley and Newtown Walk, are against the trailer park and have submitted petitions in opposition. 

The application for a mobile home park was submitted in December after the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors voted to send its solicitor to the Zoning Hearing Board to defend the township's zoning regulations with regards to County Builders' 52-townhome proposal.

The townhome proposal required a variance because it exceeded the housing density permitted in that zoning district.

Board members Rob Ciervo, Matt Benchener and Phil Calabro voted in favor of sending the solicitor to represent the township. Since then, in response to the community’s outrage over the trailer park proposal, board member Matt Benchener said he would now support townhomes.  

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