Politics & Government
Trailer Park Application Review Delayed Again
County Builders' application for a 56-pad trailer park is not on the Planning Commission agenda for either of the March meetings, according to Township Manager Kurt Ferguson.
Newtown Township's manager said he has "no expectation" that the applicant for a trailer park on the Newtown Swim Club property will appear before the township in March.
County Builders' application for a 56-pad trailer park is not on the Planning Commission agenda for either of the March meetings, according to Township Manager Kurt Ferguson.
However, no specific time table was released by officials regarding the application, which was initially on the Planning Commission agenda for Feb. 5. That review was postponed due to a scheduling conflict on the part of the applicant and a continuance was requested. Officials told Patch in January they expected the applicant to appear before the township in March.
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In response to the public outcry surrounding the proposal, township officials in January directed its solicitor to reach out to County Builders and see if it would instead consider a townhome plan for the 16-acre site. In mid February, Board of Supervisors Chairman Mike Gallagher said the township was awaiting a response from County Builders; a request for comment made today regarding the status of those discussions was not immediately returned.
Meanwhile, some residents have taken to Facebook to mobilize their opposition to the trailer park proposal, which they say will jeopardize property values and taint the gateway to a historic community.
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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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