Suburban REALTORS? Alliance News Brief Headlines-week of: June 7, 2021
Suburban REALTORS? Alliance
News Brief Headlines
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- To spend or not to spend, Harrisburg asks this budget season
- NAR applauds latest White House initiatives to combat housing discrimination
- ‘Do Not Solicit List’ active in Bedminster
- Developer proposes age-restricted development in Hilltown
- Central Bucks seeking community input in superintendent search
- Habitat for Humanity to build at former St. Thomas school site
- Middletown reopens municipal building
- Phoenixville to amend housing and property maintenance ordinances
- Spring-Ford $178M budget OK’d with tax hike
- Pipeline in West Goshen develops small leak
- West Chester Board OKs budget with 1.8% tax hike
- Retail distribution center planned at Wyeth property
- Crebilly hearings nearing a close in Westtown
- Water main break near pipeline leaves hundreds without water
- Delaware County Council resumes in-person public meetings
- West Chester Board OKs budget with 1.8% tax hike
- Delco council approves rule prohibiting members from profiting from county contracts
- Media Borough looking for volunteers
- Recorder of Deeds office reopens
- Pottstown Borough Authority blocks sale of Upper Pottsgrove sewer system
- Residential development proposed at vacant Kennedy Kenrick site in Norristown
- Sale of Royersford sewer system completed
- Spring-Ford $178M budget OK’d with tax hike
- Racial equity takes center stage in Philly budget negotiations
- New study recommends subsidizing ‘small landlords’
General
To spend or not to spend, Harrisburg asks this budget season
One month out from the deadline to approve Pennsylvania’s next state budget, lawmakers have found themselves flush with cash. They’re buoyed by strong sales tax receipts, and overall state revenues are already more than $1 billion ahead of projections and could climb higher by the time the 2021-2022 budget is due on June 30. On top of that, lawmakers have $7.3 billion in federal stimulus funds that can be spent over the next three years. However, the question of how to spend the money has quickly, and predictably, cleaved along party lines. The Republican legislative majority wants to save the money for projected future revenue shortfalls. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and legislative Democrats want to spend the money on causes ranging from infrastructure investment to gun violence awareness. Read more here.
Source: Pennsylvania Capital Star; 5/28/2021
NAR applauds latest White House initiatives to combat housing discrimination
National Association of Realtors? (NAR) president Charlie Oppler issued a statement as President Joe Biden traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to mark the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre and unveil new initiatives designed to close racial wealth gaps: “The horrific acts of violence and property destruction that occurred in Tulsa 100 years ago and the subsequent public and private policies that frustrated the recovery of ‘Black Wall Street' help illustrate why racial wealth gaps persist in America today,” Oppler said in the statement. “We commend the Biden Administration for its commitment to closing the gap, specifically by focusing on the intergenerational wealth building opportunities offered by property and home ownership. NAR is particularly encouraged by the administration's most recent efforts to address inequities in the home appraisal process, and we support a thorough review of the current appraisal system alongside both public and private stakeholders. We look forward to working with the White House and HUD on other upcoming rulemakings that seek to more effectively combat housing discrimination and redress the legacy of residential racial segregation.”
Source: Nar.realtor; 6/1/2021
Bucks
‘Do Not Solicit List’ active in Bedminster
Bedminster supervisors recently approved several amendments to the township’s existing peddling/solicitation ordinance, most notably adding a “no peddling registry” for property owners who desire not to be contacted by solicitors at their residences. The new law requires licenses, limits the time and place for soliciting, enables occupants and owners of premises to limit access, and prescribes penalties for violations. Residents can be added to the registry through the Bedminster Township Police Department website by selecting “Do Not Solicit” on the Resources tab. Realtors who use door-to-door solicitation business practices are reminded to verify the rules in municipalities in which they do business.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 5/27/2021
Developer proposes age-restricted homes in Hilltown
Representatives from Lennar Construction appeared before the Hilltown Township Planning Commission to discuss a sketch plan for a 55-and-older community of 174 units consisting of twins, townhouses and single-family homes in the area of Swartley Road and Route 309. The land is owned by local businessman Wally Rosenthal. An earlier version of the development plan was debated in 2020 and came before the supervisors for a vote on conditional use approval, but the motion died after not receiving a second. The developer plans to use recommendations from the planning commission to revise the plan.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 5/27/2021
Central Bucks seeks community input in superintendent search
The Central Bucks School Board is asking for community input in its search for a new superintendent to replace John Kopicki, who resigned on April 2. The school district, with help from the Bucks County Intermediate Unit, has launched a five-minute online survey seeking input from taxpayers, business owners, students, district employees, parents and guardians. The anonymous survey is available through Sunday, June 6.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 5/29/202
Habitat for Humanity to build at former St. Thomas school site
The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Bucks announced that the former St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School in Croyden will be the site of an affordable housing project. The school will be razed for a Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County housing project to be funded in part by a $150,000 grant from the redevelopment authority. The site will be repurposed for six single-family homes that will be distributed through Habitat’s homeownership program. Habitat’s homebuyers invest hundreds of hours of their own labor to help build their homes. State Rep. Tina Davis (D-141) and state Sen. Robert Tomlinson (R-6) said the economic impact of the project will have a positive effect on the community.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 5/27/2021
Middletown reopens municipal building
Middletown Township has reopened its municipal offices with limited hours for walk-in traffic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Staff will also be available by phone and email from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and again from 2 to 4:30 p.m. until further notice. The drop box for documents and files will remain in place at the main entrance.
Source: LevittownNow.com; 5/31/2021
Chester
Phoenixville to amend housing and property maintenance ordinances
Phoenixville Borough Council will consider changes to Chapter 5, “Property Maintenance,” and Chapter 11, “Housing and Real Property,” of the borough code. The amendment to the property maintenance chapter updates the version of the International Property Maintenance Code to the 2021 edition. The changes to the “Housing and Real Property” chapter will impact requirements for property transfer permits — also called certificates of use and occupancy — as well as rental property regulations. The Alliance staff has provided commentary to ensure that the ordinances comply with the Pennsylvania Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Act as amended by Act 133 of 2016.
Source: Daily Local; 5/31/2021
Spring-Ford $178M budget OK’d with tax hike
The Spring-Ford Area School Board passed a $178.5 million budget Monday night with a 1.96% tax increase. The tax hike, which brings the millage rate to 28.7379, is lower than the 3% increase that had previously been proposed. Board member Thomas Di-Bello, who chairs the board’s finance committee, had the idea to lower the proposed tax hike by utilizing savings realized in the high school expansion project. The board also revised upward its estimated property transfer tax revenue to be in line with recent years and to account for a hot real estate market.
Source: Daily Local; 5/27/2021
Pipeline in West Goshen develops small leak
A small leak was detected along the active Sunoco Mariner East 2 pipeline at the Boot Road pumping station near Route 202. No evacuations or injuries were reported. “Energy Transfer Control Room called 9-1-1 stating that they were receiving a vapor detector alarm [indicating] a small release of hydrocarbons inside the pump station facility with no hydrocarbons detected on the outside of the pump station building,” according to the Chester County Department of Emergency Services. “Energy Transfer indicated that there was a small leak at a secondary seal and the fire company and HazMat Team confirmed that the station was placed into maintenance mode, the lines in the station were drained, and that there was no additional hazard before leaving the scene.” West Goshen Police Chief Joseph Carroll said that the decision to not notify residents and evacuate was turned over to the Chester County Hazardous Materials team.
Source: Daily Local; 6/2/2021
West Chester Board OKs budget with tax hike
The West Chester Area School Board passed a final budget for the 2021-2022 school year of $279.5 million, an approximately $9.7 million or 3.6% increase over the current budget. The increase includes $3.7 million in staffing and benefits related to the opening of Greystone, the district’s 11th elementary school. Other increases include more than $3.6 million directly related to the following state and federal mandates:
- $2.2 million increase in state mandated pension expenses, a 6.3% increase over the current year’s budget.
- $724,000 increase in tuitions and services for special education students, a 4.7% increase over the current year.
- $656,000 increase in transportation expenses for both public and nonpublic students, a 3.9% increase over the current year.
The real estate tax rate for Chester County will increase by 0.4 mills to 22.06, an increase of 1.8%. The rebalanced millage rate based on the countywide reassessment for Delaware County will be 9.52, an increase of 0.4% over 2020-2021. The differences in county average assessments account for formula differences resulting in the differing tax rates.
Source: Daily Local; 5/29/2021
Retail distribution center planned at Wyeth property
An e-commerce retail distribution center is slated to replace the former Wyeth factory in West Chester Borough, where penicillin was once produced. Plans call for a 143,000-square-foot, 42-foot-tall structure, with about 1,000 parking spaces, to occupy the 30-acre Brownfield site at 611 E. Nields St. The builder — 611 E. Nields St. LLC — will lease the property through E. Kahn Development Corp. to an undisclosed tenant. The West Chester Borough Planning Commission looked over the plans, and borough council will likely vote to green light the conforming by-right plan at its August meeting. Kahn has made no requests for variances at the site, which is zoned industrial. “It’s a dream use with fairly low impact, and traffic is lower than Wyeth’s,” Kahn told planners about the project with a $50 million to $60 million investment by the tenant. “It’s a great job creator for West Chester, with tax benefits.” Wyeth razed the former building that sat on a landfill about a decade ago. Former property owner Pfizer recently paid from $45,000 to $50,000 annually in property taxes. The builder estimated that the new project will generate $700,000 in annual real estate taxes, with a half-million destined for the West Chester Area School District coffers and about $150,000 to the borough. Planning Commission Chair Sue Moran said the site holds “huge environmental issues” that “have to be dealt with.”
Source: Daily Local; 5/27/2021
Crebilly hearings nearing a close in Westtown
Despite technical issues, a civil engineer was able to testify at a Westtown Township conditional use hearing regarding the proposed development of Crebilly Farm. Toll Brothers wants to build 317 homes on the 320-acre site near Routes 202 and 926. Civil engineer Jeff Madden was called as a rebuttal witness by Gregg Adelman, the attorney representing Toll in the matter. Adelman had Madden review and rebut testimony from township engineer Robert Flinchbough and traffic engineer Al Federico. Madden said the development density of 7.2 units per acre was below the maximum of 10 units per acre. He also said the impervious coverage of the townhome section — including roads, driveways and sidewalks — is 13.4 acres, equaling 35%, below the 45% cap. Other testimony touched on stormwater management and the possibility of regrading roadways. The next hearing date is scheduled for Monday, July 12, at 7 p.m. at Bayard Rustin High School.
Source: Chadds Ford Live; 5/27/2021
Delaware
Water main break near pipeline leaves hundreds without water
Water service to an apartment complex in Middletown was interrupted after the water main failed near the site where pipeline builder Sunoco/Energy Transfer has been installing the Mariner East 2 pipeline. The interruption in service affected 124 apartments and approximately 220 residents at Glen Riddle Station Apartments. Sunoco issued a statement saying its workers had not hit the water main. The main Aqua water line break was repaired within a few hours, but apartment management waited for the water to be tested before restoring the flow to the apartments. The management asked Sunoco to pay for hotels for affected residents, but Sunoco refused.
Source: Daily Local; 5/27/2021
Delaware County Council resumes in-person public meetings
Delaware County Council resumed its in-person public meetings on June 1. Council had been holding virtual meetings since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents who wish to attend the in-person council meetings will be screened prior to entering the building, and will be required to wear a mask in the building and during the meeting. Council will continue to live stream the meetings. Public comment will be accepted in person and will no longer be accepted via email and phone.
Source: Delaware County; 5/28/2021
West Chester Board OKs budget with 1.8% tax hike
The West Chester Area School Board passed a final budget for the 2021-2022 school year of $279.5 million, an approximately $9.7 million or 3.6% increase over the current budget. The increase includes $3.7 million in staffing and benefits related to the opening of Greystone, the district’s 11th elementary school. Other increases include more than $3.6 million directly related to the following state and federal mandates:
- $2.2 million increase in state mandated pension expenses, a 6.3% increase over the current year’s budget.
- $724,000 increase in tuitions and services for special education students, a 4.7% increase over the current year.
- $656,000 increase in transportation expenses for both public and nonpublic students, a 3.9% increase over the current year.
The real estate tax rate for Chester County will increase by 0.4 mills to 22.06, an increase of 1.8%. The rebalanced millage rate based on the countywide reassessment for Delaware County will be 9.52, an increase of 0.4 percent over 2020-2021. The differences in county average assessments account for formula differences resulting in the differing tax rates.
Source: Daily Local; 5/29/2021
Delco council approves rule prohibiting members from profiting from county contracts
Delaware County Council continued to advance ethics reforms in county government with a recent action prohibiting council members from knowingly profiting from county contracts. County solicitor William F. Martin said no council member or any of their immediate family members should have a financial interest in any entity or subcontractor that is a party to a contract with the county. “Financial interest” is defined as an interest “which comprises more than 5 (percent) of the equity of the business or more than 5 (percent) of the assets of the economic interest in indebtedness.” There is a provision allowing council members to recuse themselves in situations where they have minor financial interest. The ordinance provides a series of escalating penalties ranging from a reprimand up to a $20,000 fine, termination of the contract and repayment of any profit made by the contractor. The ordinance also requires the county executive director to disclose any financial interests in contracts being considered by council prior to approval.
Source: Daily Times; 5/26/2021
Media Borough looking for volunteers
Media Borough is currently looking for volunteers to join the borough’s Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) and Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB). The EAC advises borough council and educates residents on matters that affect the quality of the environment, including those relating to the protection, conservation, management, promotion and use of natural resources. The HARB makes recommendations to borough council regarding the issuance of certificates of appropriateness required to be issued in historic districts. Residents interested in volunteering can apply through the borough website.
Source: Media Borough; 6/2/2021
Montgomery
Recorder of Deeds office reopens
The Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds office reopened to the public on June 1. Recording hours are weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Board of Assessment will register documents from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Planning will be available to stamp and seal documents from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The number of people allowed in the office at one time will be limited. The recorder’s office will continue to accept documents for recording via the U.S. Postal Service, Fedex/UPS and their four eRecording partners. The document drop box has been a success and will remain in the lobby of One Montgomery Plaza for those who do not wish to wait while their documents are being recorded. Read the full announcement from the Recorder of Deeds office.
Source: Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds
Pottstown Borough Authority blocks sale of Upper Pottsgrove sewer system
The $13.7 million sale of the Upper Pottsgrove Township sewer system has been formally protested by Pottstown Borough and the Pottstown Borough Authority in a filing with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. At issue is an unpaid bill of $400,000 the borough authority says it is owed from Upper Pottsgrove Township. The borough authority advanced $473,000 for a project to increase capacity within the borough to include Coddington View development in Upper Pottsgrove. To generate revenue to reimburse the authority, Upper Pottsgrove increased its sewer tapping fees. The township made two payments on the debt — the most recent one in November 2020 with a message that, once the system was sold to Pennsylvania American Water, the township will no longer honor its obligation to reimburse the authority because it will no longer have the legal authority to charge any sewer tapping fees. By filing a formal protest, the Pottstown Borough Authority and the borough hope to recoup the debt owed prior to the sale of the sewer system. Read more here.
Source: Pottstown Mercury; 5/29/2021
Residential development proposed at vacant Kennedy Kenrick site in Norristown
A large-scale residential development project at the former Kennedy Kenrick Catholic High School received positive feedback from members of Norristown Municipal Council. Preliminary plans for the 12.7-acre property include a variety of housing, including one- and two-bedroom apartments, two- and three-bedroom rental townhomes, and three-bedroom “multiplexes” for sale. The school building has been vacant for close to a decade and would need to be demolished due to asbestos concerns. The project was brought forward by developer Sarah Peck, whom one resident described at a council meeting as having “an outstanding track record as a developer in Norristown.” The project is still in the planning phase, and is expected to go before the municipal and county planning commissions before returning to Norristown Municipal Council.
Source: Times Herald; 5/27/2021
Sale of Royersford sewer system completed
The sale of Royersford Borough’s sewer system to Pennsylvania American Water was recently approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC). Royersford Borough Council approved the $13 million sale of the system in December. Borough council decided to sell the system after conducting an evaluation of the borough's long-term needs and concluding that the sale was in the best interest of its residents. The borough cited the potential for increased operating costs, maintenance and major capital improvement needs as reasons to seek a long-term wastewater solution, according to a release announcing the completion of the transaction. The system serves nearly 1,600 customers in Royersford and a portion of Upper Providence Township. Under terms of the agreement, sewer rates in the borough are to remain the same and any future rate increase will need approval from the PUC.
Source: Media News Group; 5/27/2021
Spring-Ford $178M budget OK’d with tax hike
The Spring-Ford Area School Board passed a $178.5 million budget Monday night with a 1.96% tax increase. The tax hike, which brings the millage rate to 28.7379, is lower than the 3% increase that had previously been proposed. Board member Thomas Di-Bello, who chairs the board’s finance committee, had the idea to lower the proposed tax hike by utilizing savings realized in the high school expansion project. The board also revised upward its estimated property transfer tax revenue to be in line with recent years and to account for a hot real estate market.
Source: Daily Local; 5/27/2021
Philadelphia
Racial equity takes center stage in Philly budget negotiations
Mayor Jim Kenney and Philadelphia City Council have homed in on racial inequities in public policy during budget negotiations with a greater emphasis than ever before. Mayor Jim Kenney wants to change how police respond to mental health crises, reduce fees at prisons and fund a health equity plan. He pitched those initiatives and others in his $5.2 billion proposed budget as ways to improve racial equity in Philadelphia. City council want to improve equity by investing more in neighborhood programs, eviction diversion programs and violence prevention. The council opposes Kenney’s proposed tax cuts for suburban commuters, and seeks to instead spend more on a targeted plan to help Black and brown business owners. Councilmember Kendra Brooks told administration officials during budget hearings that the tax cut would “shift tax burden from suburbanites to city residents.” The city’s budget director, Marisa Waxman, replied that the cuts would serve other needs, like luring workers back to city offices and reducing Philadelphia’s reliance on the volatile wage tax. Read more here.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 5/30/2021
New study recommends subsidizing small landlords
According to a new Urban Land Institute (ULI) report, naturally occurring affordable housing from small landlords is at risk of disappearing in Philadelphia. “Smaller landlords may have limited access to capital, increasing the vulnerability,” said Laura Slutsky, ULI’s executive director. Landlords who own one or two units make up 73% of all licensed city landlords. The report estimates that there are at least 38,000 affordable properties that may not stay affordable because they are either in poor condition and don’t have longevity or are in an area with a strong real estate pressure pushing landlords to sell. The city already doesn’t have enough subsidized units to fulfill the need for affordable housing. Nearly 43,000 people are on the Philadelphia Housing Authority waitlist. To keep these landlords, city leaders are considering options to incentivize small landlords to stay. The study suggests supporting small landlords like small businesses and working to financially support landlords who need repairs for affordable units. Treating this population like a small business could mean offering more property management training and repair-financing programs without deed restrictions. To help landlords make repairs, ULI says the city could assist them in their search by establishing a one-stop shop for finding and identifying contractors. The city also could partner with educational institutions that provide technical training for construction trades so they can connect graduates with immediate work for small landlords. Read more here.
Source: Plan Philly; 5/31/2021
Steve Sisman
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a member of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce,
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