Suburban REALTORS? Alliance News Brief Headlines-March 13, 2020
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- How to get a mail-in ballot
- PAR cancels Public Policy Training, other events
- Homelessness drops in Bucks but housing crisis needs increase
- Developer proposes single homes instead of townhomes in Croydon
- Neshaminy Mall Macy’s parcel has sold
- Pennsbury to consider closing Village Park Academy
- County conducting housing needs survey
- New Garden considers two ordinances that impact properties
- Avondale to increase water and sewer rates
- New Downingtown mayor sworn in
- Malvern to adopt false alarm ordinance
- Chester Upland recovery plan discussed at hearing
- Darby to consider changing the fee for vacant property registration
- County planners release 2019 annual report
- Aston Township among those scammed out of millions
- SRA creates web page for Delaware County reassessment
- Lansdale changes curb replacement policy, sidewalk debate continues
- Upper Pottsgrove sets schedule for sewer sale decision
- Lansdale posts council vacancy
- Cheltenham Township manager announces planned retirement
- Mayor plans no-strings-attached cash aid pilot program for renters
- One-bedroom rents in Philadelphia up almost 10% over last year
- Mayor proposes $5.2 billion budget
General
How to get a mail-in ballot
Act 77 of 2019 made significant changes to Pennsylvania elections. The law allows for more convenient and secure voting, including mail-in ballots. Voters can apply for a mail-in ballot in one of three ways:
- Fill out the online form at Votes PA if they have a Pennsylvania driver’s license or a PennDOT ID number.
- Download the form (PDF) and mail it to the county elections office.
- Visit a county elections office to apply in person.
The application must be received by the county elections office by Tuesday, April 21, at 5 p.m. to be in time for the primary election on Tuesday, April 28. Absentee ballots are still available to voters, but they require a specific excuse, such as illness, disability or being out-of-town on election day. No excuse is needed for a mail-in ballot. Click here for more information.
Source: York Daily Record; 3/10/2020
PAR cancels Public Policy Training, other events
The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors? has canceled its series of Public Policy Regional Training sessions, which had been planned for several locations and dates in March and April. The cancelation comes amid other precautions and changes PAR is taking in response to growing concern over the coronavirus. Read more on the PAR website.
Bucks
Homelessness drops in Bucks, but housing crisis needs increase
Bucks County conducted its annual, federally mandated Point in Time (PIT) count on Jan. 29 and found 333 people experiencing homelessness — either in emergency shelters, transitional housing or outdoors. The number represents a 7% decrease over January 2019. Since 2017, Bucks County has seen an overall 30% decrease in the PIT count, and a 57% decrease in the street homeless count. County officials attribute the decrease to several factors, including an increased coordination of homeless service delivery providers. The number of people seeking help through Bucks County Housing Link for a housing crisis continues to grow. In 2019, Housing Link saw a 10% increase in calls over 2018 for a total number of 6,547. The shortage of affordable housing in the county exacerbates the trend. Jeffrey Fields, director of the Bucks County Department of Housing Services, urged any landlords interesting in learning about renting to housing program participants to call a housing locator at 215-589-5773.
Source: LevittownNow.com; 3/4/2020 & BucksLocalNews.com; 3/11/2020
Developer proposes single homes instead of townhomes in Croydon
Developer Mark Gallagher of Gallagher Realty Group has requested a proposal for 34 townhomes in Croydon be removed from the agenda of the Bristol Township Zoning Hearing Board. Gallagher wants to develop the land at Magnolia and Woodland avenues but would need a zoning variance for townhomes. After hearing neighborhood concerns about the plan, Gallagher took the townhomes “off the table” and will instead pursue single-family homes. “We’re trying to do what’s best for everybody,” said Gallagher. He hopes to have the plans ready for a zoning hearing board meeting on Monday, April 13, at 7 p.m.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 3/6/2020
Neshaminy Mall Macy’s parcel has sold
SANT Properties has purchased the 16-acre parcel and 211,000-square-foot building of the former Macy’s site at the Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem Township. The sale is the first step in “transforming one of the most strategically placed malls in the tri-state area.” The Neshaminy Mall, independent of the Macy’s property, was sold in 2018 to real estate firm Brookfield and is rumored to be in line for imminent redevelopment and improvements. Brookfield could not be reached for comment. The Oxford Valley Mall in Bucks County is also in line for major changes, with 600 proposed apartments to replace the long-closed Boscov’s.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 3/9/2020
Pennsbury to consider closing Village Park Academy
Pennsbury School District officials will host a public meeting to consider the closure of the district-staffed Village Park Academy in Falls. The school board will evaluate the education program at the school that serves special needs students during a meeting on Thursday, March 19, at 7 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of Fallsington Elementary School, 134 Yardley Ave., Falls. The hearing will include a presentation by the administration on student enrollment, staffing, facility matters and associated costs, and then follow up with a public comment period. State law requires the district to host a public hearing at least three months before deciding to close a school. The board is expected to make a decision at a Thursday, June 18, meeting.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 3/6/2020
County conducting housing needs survey
Bucks County's Housing Services Department and the county Office of Community and Economic Development are requesting public input on goals and priorities for federal, state and local funding to address affordable housing, homeless services and community development needs. The county must submit a consolidated plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development every five years. The public can provide input for the consolidated plan for 2020-2024 by filling out an online survey on affordable housing.
Source: Bucks County Department of Housing Services; 3/2020
Chester
New Garden considers two ordinances that impact properties
The New Garden Township Board of Supervisors will consider adopting the 2015 edition of the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC). The IPMC would regulate the conditions and maintenance of all property, buildings and structures in the township. The supervisors will also consider amending the township historic resources map and list. Both ordinances will be considered at a public hearing on Monday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the municipal building, 299 Starr Road, Landenberg.
Source: Daily Local News; 3/5/2020, 3/6/2020
Avondale to increase water and sewer rates
Avondale Borough Council will consider an ordinance that increases water rates by 1%, and reduces tapping fees for water and sewer services provided to borough residents and property owners. The ordinance will be considered at a public hearing on Tuesday, March 17, at 6 p.m. at Avondale Borough Hall, 110 Pomeroy Ave., at 6 p.m.
Source: Daily Local; 3/6/2020
New Downingtown mayor sworn in
Phil Dague was sworn in as Downingtown’s newest mayor. A lifelong Downingtown resident, Dague was appointed by borough council to fill the vacancy left by Josh Maxwell, who resigned after being elected to the Chester County Board of Commissioners. Dague also serves as council liaison on the Downingtown Planning Commission and Downingtown Historic Commission. Dague is holding a springtime public forum as mayor on Thursday, May 28, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Downingtown Borough Hall. Dague said he plans to meet with Downingtown business leaders, to see what the borough can do to reinvigorate local commerce, which appears to be slowing down recently.
Source: Daily Local; 3/6/2020
Malvern to adopt false alarm ordinance
Malvern Borough Council will consider an ordinance relating to false alarms. The ordinance will create registration fees to allow cost-defraying penalties for false alarms. The ordinance will be considered at a hearing on Tuesday, March 17, at 7:30 p.m. at Malvern Borough Hall, 1 E. First Ave.
Source: Daily Local; 3/5/2020
Delaware
Chester Upland recovery plan discussed at hearing
A proposed “Financial Recovery Plan” for Chester Upland School District still needs to be revised after an audit is performed for the district’s two past fiscal years, according to testimony delivered this week before a county common pleas judge. Exactly how much the audit will impact the plan remains to be seen, but the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is not recommending the judge adopt it at this time. John Pund, a certified public accountant who created the plan with help from PDE, district administration and others, described it as a “work in process” that can be updated with new financial information as it becomes available. Pund laid out five major areas in the plan that he said should be explored as soon as possible: outsourcing transportation, facilities and finance; outsourcing management and operations of schools; completing a facilities assessment; reducing special education costs; and assessing leadership.
Source: Daily Times; 3/5/2020
Darby to consider changing the fee for vacant property registration
Darby Borough Council will conduct a public hearing to amend Ordinance No. 778, changing the fee for registration of vacant properties, the amount of insurance required for residential vacant properties, and the penalty for nonregistration. A hearing will take place on Wednesday, March 18, at 7:30 p.m. at Darby Borough Hall, 1020 Ridge Ave.
Source: Daily Times; 3/9/2020
County planners release 2019 annual report
Delaware County Planning Department has released its 2019 annual report. The department’s mission is to promote the sound development and redevelopment of the county through the application of contemporary planning principles and smart growth concepts, while maintaining and enhancing cultural, economic and environmental livability.
Source: DCPD; 3/10/2020
Aston Township among those scammed out of millions
Aston Township and several local companies have discovered that the firm they hired to handle their payroll taxes had failed to make payments for years. Delaware County-based Payroll Professionals Inc. and its owner, Myles Hannigan, stole from dozens of small businesses, nonprofits and corporations across the Philadelphia region between 2009 and 2015, leaving them stuck with millions of dollars in sudden tax debts quietly amassed over years. The victims include a Philadelphia animal shelter, a food bank in Chester, a suburban Roman Catholic parish and scores of small, family-run businesses, all of whose owners are now struggling to survive devastating financial consequences. The first public signs of trouble emerged in 2015, when Aston Township, which had contracted with Payroll Professionals Inc. for more than a decade, sued Hannigan over a nearly $300,000 delinquency notice received from the IRS. The suit was quickly dropped as Hannigan, chalking it up to a mistake, repaid the debt.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 3/11/2020
SRA creates web page for Delaware County reassessment
The Suburban Realtors? Alliance website has a page with information on the Delaware County Reassessment Project. The page provides an overview of the project, its history and timeline, and links to other resources.
Montgomery
Lansdale changes curb replacement policy, sidewalk debate continues
Lansdale Borough Council recently voted to change a longstanding local policy and will now cover the costs of curb replacements with its annual road paving projects. The cost of sidewalk replacement in the affected areas will be the responsibility of the homeowner. One reason council approved the change was to prevent lengthy delays as contractors wait for residents to finish their curbs, said Council President Denton Burnell. Residents offered comments on both sides of the debate over who should pay for sidewalk replacement, which has been ongoing for two years. Some feel the sidewalk is a public thoroughfare that the borough should maintain, while others bristle that their tax dollars will be used to replace a sidewalk that wasn’t maintained by the property owner. Burnell suggested the borough consider changing to a point-of-sale curb and sidewalk repair program. Councilwoman Carrie Hawkins Charlton pointed out that certain houses may turn over more often while others may stay in families for generations. Borough Manager John Ernst also pointed out that taking on sidewalk repairs could add additional and costly responsibilities for the borough, including underground laterals that are the responsibility of the homeowner from the curb line to the house.
Source: The Reporter; 3/9/2020
Upper Pottsgrove sets schedule for sewer sale decision
Upper Pottsgrove commissioners are moving ahead with discussions on the sale of the township’s sewer system. The township was approached last April by Aqua PA and Pennsylvania American Water to consider selling the system. Bids for the system will be opened on March 16, and the board of commissioners will meet in “executive session” on March 18 and 25, said Commissioners’ Chairman Trace Slinkerd. Public meetings to discuss and consider the sale will be held Wednesday, March 25, Thursday, April 2, and if necessary Wednesday, April 8, at 7 p.m. at the Upper Pottsgrove Administrative Offices, 1409 Farmington Ave., Pottstown. The passage of Act 12 in 2016 changed the way the systems are valued and allows municipalities to charge much more to sell the system than they previously could, which has led to a buying spree by private utility companies across the state.
Source: Pottstown Mercury; 3/3/2020
Lansdale posts council vacancy
Ward 2 residents have until Friday, March 20, to submit an application to fill a vacant council seat in Lansdale. Councilman Tom Work announced his resignation effective Feb. 28 because he is moving out of the borough. Residents of Ward 2 (map) who have been there for at least one year and would like to serve their community by approving the budget, setting goals and formulating long-term policies that shape the borough’s function can submit a resume and a letter of interest via email to [email protected], by mail to Council Vacancy, 1 Vine St., Suite 201, Lansdale, PA, 19446, or in person at Borough Hall weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Source: The Reporter; 3/9/2020
Cheltenham Township manager announces planned retirement
Cheltenham Township Manager Bryan Havir has announced his retirement effective April 17. Havir has been township manager for eight years and felt the time was right after guiding the township through the sale of its sanitary sewer system. The board of commissioners plans to retain a consultant to begin the transition of management responsibilities and undertake the selection process for a manager in the near future.
Source: Cheltenham Township; 2/19/2020
Philadelphia
Mayor plans no-strings-attached cash aid pilot program for renters
Mayor Jim Kenney’s office is preparing a no-strings-attached cash aid program alongside a rental voucher program, with plans to compare which generates better results for residents struggling to get by. The initiative is part of an effort to massively expand municipal rent assistance programs — one of which debuted this January — and rebrand them under the umbrella PHLRentAssist. The batch of policies is earmarked to receive $9.5 million this fiscal year and $47.5 million over the course of Kenney’s five-year plan, but only a portion of that will go to the unconditional cash assistance program for low-income renters. “Through [PHLRentAssist], we will test innovative and cost-effective practices to housing instability and poverty alleviation, including through a cash-transfer pilot program,” Mayor Kenney said in his budget address. Kenney administration officials underscore that this pilot will not be a “Universal Basic Income,” a policy that guarantees regularly recurring amounts of unconditional cash to recipients regardless of their needs. The Philadelphia experiment will instead target families earning up to 110% of the federal poverty line — $28,820 for a family of four — and who struggle to make rent. The city will select 1,000 households, chosen in a to-be-determined fashion, then half will receive the unconditional cash transfer and half will get a rental voucher. The payments on average would be about $425 a month, although the details still need to be worked out. For those receiving no-strings-attached cash, the payment will be placed on a debit card, allowing policymakers to track — but not control — how the money is being spent. Read more here.
Source: Plan Philly; 3/7/2020
One-bedroom rents in Philadelphia up almost 10% over last year
Rental agency Zumper reports the median rent for a one-bedroom home in Philadelphia is up 9.8% over this time last year. The median rent in Philadelphia this month is $1,450 for a one-bedroom and $1,650 for a two-bedroom. Philadelphia is tied with Chicago as the 18th most expensive rental market in a nationwide comparison of the top 100 metropolitan areas by population. Nationwide, the median one-bedroom rent is $1,219 and two-bedroom is $1,463.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 3/3/2020
Mayor proposes $5.2 billion budget
Mayor Jim Kenney recently outlined his $5.2 billion spending plan to city council. The plan does not include any tax increases but does continue the spending increases of his first term. If approved, the budget would translate to a 29% increase in city spending since Kenney took office. City Council will hold budget hearings in the coming months and must approve a budget by June 30. Click here for the article.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 3/5/2020
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