A weekly roundup of real estate news, compiled by Suburban Realtors? Alliance week of: 4/28/2023
The historic Buckwalter Building in West Chester Borough’s downtown historic district was built in 1893 in an eclectic Romantic Medieval/Late Gothic Revival style. The borough is considering enacting new regulations on short-term rentals.
Weekly News Briefs
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General
May 1 is deadline to register to vote in primary election?
The deadline to?register for the May 16 primary election?is Monday, May 1. Voters can register on the?state Voter Services website. The state website also allows voters to?check their registration status?or to?update their registration?to reflect a new address, name change or party change. Register to vote today so you can help make the Realtor voice loud and strong.
Source: PAR JustListed; 4/24/2023
It's a municipal election year — what does that mean for Realtors??
Voter turnout tends to plummet in municipal elections, unless there's an exciting special election on the ballot alongside the local offices. But municipal elections like the ones we're having in 2023 can have a big impact on people's lives — and on real estate. Here are a few examples of offices Pennsylvanians will be voting on in the May primary and November general election:?
Visit our?Realtor's Guide to Elected Offices in Pennsylvania?to learn more about how local elected officials — from borough council member to school director (and all the way up to president) — can affect you as a citizen and a real estate professional. The guide also includes:
EPA will increase oversight on PA’s pollution output
Pennsylvania must minimize its outsized role in polluting the Chesapeake Bay, according to a proposed settlement agreement that would subject the state to increased oversight from federal environmental officials. The agreement comes after other jurisdictions in the bay’s watershed — Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia — filed a lawsuit in 2020 arguing Pennsylvania wasn’t pulling its weight in their collective effort to reach a 2025 pollution reduction goal. The states were looking to reduce harmful nutrient and sediment runoff that flows from farms and cities into the Chesapeake. In Pennsylvania, the Susquehanna River cuts through the state’s farmland, picking up polluted runoff before pouring in the Chesapeake in Maryland — producing about half of its fresh water supply.?
Source: Daily Times; 4/22/2022
Community gardens in Philly region are springing to life
Community gardens are more popular than ever, with more than 300 in and around Philadelphia, according to Justin Trezza, community gardens program director for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS). Community gardens beautify the landscape, make fresh produce accessible and strengthen social connections between neighbors. For some people, it’s a necessity to join a community garden because they don’t have the land, proper growing conditions or know-how to create a garden at home. PHS offers support and resources through its?Garden Tenders program, as well as free tool rentals and starter plants. PHS expects to donate 260,000 seedlings to community gardens this year. Find a community garden on the?PHS website. Read more?here.?
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 4/26/2023
Bucks
Lower Makefield residents oppose plan for 150-foot cell tower
Lower Makefield residents who live near Congregation Beth El on Stony Hill Road have signed a petition to oppose construction of a 150-foot cell tower on the synagogue’s property. Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, is?proposing to lease land?at the site and construct the tower, disguised as an artificial pine tree, and is requesting a zoning variance to permit the tower’s construction in a residential area. The company is also seeking "validity variances." It states that the federal Telecommunications Act supersedes the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code if the zoners vote against the proposal. The tower would hold up to 12 panel antennas, four per each sector around it. It would have a lightning rod 5 feet tall at the top, and be surrounded by a 50-foot by 50-foot fenced area. Verizon had previously asked to build a tower at the nearby Brookside Swim Club site but withdrew the proposal when there were objections. Township solicitor David Truelove said it would be hard for the zoners to deny the request under the Telecommunications Act, but residents questioned why it couldn't be located in a nonresidential zone. More than 30 residents have asked for party status in the matter. The next zoning meeting on the proposal will be on Tuesday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Lower Makefield Municipal Building, 1100 Edgewood Road, Yardley.??
Source: Courier Times; 4/19/2023
Pennsbury school district taxes would jump 4.1% under budget proposal
The Pennsbury School Board is considering a 2023-2024 budget proposal that would raise real estate taxes by 4.1%, the maximum increase allowed under the state-imposed Act 1 cap without special exceptions. The proposed budget includes $242.9 million in spending, and the tax hike would add $177 to the average property tax bill. A final adoption vote is set for the June 15 school board meeting. The district’s chief financial officer, Chris Berdnik, said the tax increase will still leave a roughly $542,000 shortfall that will be closed through its fund balance. "The 2023-24 budget is definitely built with an eye toward the forthcoming high school construction project. The final millage rate adjustment will hinge on the amount of state aid we are projected to receive," Berdnik said.
Source: Courier Times; 4/25/2023
Former Doylestown Borough Hall site to become boutique hotel
A developer is looking to convert the former Doylestown Borough Hall site at 57 W. Court St. into a "boutique" hotel and restaurant. ALOK Investments Inc. was scheduled to appear before the Doylestown Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) on April 27 to request permission to demolish the early 1900s building located at 57 W. Court St. The HARB makes recommendations to the borough council on the advisability of issuing certificates of appropriateness for all exterior building changes within the borough’s designated historic district. The developer argues that the existing structure, as built in 1915 and modified between 1959 and 1979, "lacks the architectural or historical heritage sought to be preserved in Doylestown Borough.” The borough moved its municipal offices to Doyle Street in 2022 after selling the Court Street building to Larry Thompson, a borough resident and owner of several Doylestown properties, including the Lenape Building at the intersection of Main and State streets and McCaffrey’s Simply Fresh market on West State Street. Read more?here.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 4/21/2023 and Doylestown Patch; 4/23/2023
New Hope council won’t oppose variances needed for hotel at The Landing site
New Hope Borough Council voted 4-3 not to oppose zoning relief that Landmark Hospitality needs to renovate The Landing Restaurant & Bar, which is currently closed. The proposal would create a structure with 44 hotel rooms that is approximately 270 feet long on North Main Street. At the crowded meeting, council members deliberated over whether to oppose or to remain neutral in Landmark’s request to move the renovation project to the town’s zoning board. Public comments included concerns about traffic, overdevelopment, the scale of the project, obstruction of river views, threats to wildlife, water and sewer system impacts, and the loss of New Hope’s small-town charm. Frank Cretella of Landmark Hospitality emphasized the economic benefits for local businesses and his longevity with the town. He also pointed to the opportunity that hotel rooms present to bolster neighboring businesses, especially during the weekdays, when foot traffic in town is reduced. Read more in the?Herald.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 4/20/2023
Chester
Willistown Township denies sewer bid by Aqua
Willistown Township supervisors reversed a December 2020 vote and terminated an agreement to sell the township sewer system to Aqua Pennsylvania. The supervisors unanimously voted in favor of exercising a “termination clause” for the $17 million sale. The township will remain the owner of the sewer system. The vote took place on April 14, the date when both parties had the right to terminate without the approval of the other party and without liability. The asset purchase agreement stipulated that there was a limited amount of time to complete the sale. Many residents had voiced opposition to the proposed sale, planting yard signs urging the supervisors to stop the “sewer mess.”
Source: Daily Local; 4/25/2023
West Chester considers limiting short-term rentals
West Chester Borough Council grappled with how to best deal with short-term overnight rentals, such as Airbnbs. Borough solicitor Kristin Camp presented a?draft ordinance?to council suggesting limits on the rentals at a recent council workshop meeting. It was council’s first look at a short-term rental policy, and the draft is likely to change. Camp asked council to consider limiting short-term rentals to just the Town Center zoning district, and not the mostly residential neighborhoods. Council also mulled over whether to require renters to provide two off-street parking spaces per unit. “If we leave that parking requirement in there, a lot of properties are going to be limited due to the lack of existing off-street parking,” said Kevin Gore, the borough’s director of building and housing. The draft ordinance also suggests that no cooking facilities be located within the rooms and that the entire property be rented, with no rentals of just individual bedrooms. Renters would be limited to two guests per bedroom. Camp said that council should consider whether owners would be responsible for the actions of tenants, such as paying fines for infractions like disorderly conduct. Councilman Brian McGinnis asked if inspections might take place every 30 days. Gore said that inspections would likely take place annually, in part due to a lack of resources and the need to inspect 6,000 borough rental units annually.
Source: Daily Local; 4/20/2023
Vision for comprehensive bike and pedestrian networks in southern Chester County
At a recent meeting of the Kennett Township supervisors, Natasha Manbeck, a senior project manager for McMahon Associates Inc., introduced a study called?Planning Kennett Connections. The study explores the potential of developing a transportation link between Kennett Township, Kennett Borough and East Marlborough Township through pedestrian and bike trails. It focuses on three key areas:?
Public comments on the study can be submitted until June 16. The final report will then be submitted to Chester County’s Vision Partnership Program for review, and then presented in final form to the governing bodies of the three municipalities for additional comment in August or September. A presentation will also be held on Monday, May 1, at the East Marlborough supervisors meeting, and on Wednesday, June 7, at the Kennett Borough Council meeting.
Source: Chester County Press; 4/25/2023
Oxford officials discuss a new comprehensive plan
Mark Gallant, a senior community planner for Chester County, presented a draft of the new 10-year comprehensive plan to Oxford Borough officials at a recent borough council meeting. “I believe this is the first individual comprehensive plan the borough has held,” Gallant said. Final adoption will be in July, but before then the Oxford Borough Planning Commission will review it and hold a public meeting. More information about the comprehensive plan will be added to the?Oxford Borough website, under the Borough Planning menu.?
Source: Chester County Press; 4/24/2023
Delaware
Chester City passes multiple ordinances impacting housing
Chester City Council on April 26 unanimously passed ordinances relating to housing in the city. Ordinance No. 4, enacting new Article 1714, “Licensing Residential Rental Units,” will expand the application of rental regulations to single-family units in the city. The ordinance will require landlords to have a responsible agent living within Delaware County and contains language relating to the behavior of tenants. Ordinance No. 5, enacting new article 1715, “Pre-sale Inspection of Residential Properties and Units,” makes changes to the current use and occupancy requirements. Ordinance No. 6, enacting new Article 1716, “Lead Poisoning Prevention and Lead Hazard Control,” establishes lead-free and lead-safe standards. Ordinance No. 7 enacts Article 1746, “Defaulted Vacant and Abandoned Real Property,” which requires the registration, inspection, maintenance and security of certain abandoned or foreclosed properties in the city. Draft versions of the ordinances can be found in the?April 24 city council meeting packet. The Suburban Realtors Alliance sent commentary relating to concerns about Ordinances No. 4 and 5 and will work with the council on amendments to bring the legislation into compliance with Act 133 of 2016.?
Source: Chester City; 4/23/2023
Homeownership Resource Fair comes to Delaware County?
Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania will host a Delaware County homeownership fair on Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to noon at 816 Clifton Ave., Sharon Hill. County residents are invited to the free event to learn about down payment assistance programs and other first-time homebuyer resources available in Delaware County. Learn more?here.
Source: Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania
State grant for lead abatement awarded to Delaware County?
Delaware County Council accepted a $150,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health to support lead abatement in six homes. Last October, the county health department announced a goal to significantly reduce childhood lead poisoning in Delaware County by 2027. In February, the county announced the awarding of a $1 million grant from the U.S. Office of Housing and Urban Development to conduct lead remediation in low-income homes with pregnant women and children under 6 years old. That was in addition to the $2 million administered by the Community Action Agency of Delaware County for lead abatement programs. Grants are available to low-income families to make their homes safe from lead, and to landlords who rent to low-income families. Applications are available at the county’s?Office of Housing and Community Development website?by calling 610-891-5425. The Delaware County Lead Hazard Reduction Program includes an inspection of the affected property, bid preparation, cost estimates from certified contractors, and lead clearance upon job completion.?
Source: Daily Times; 4/22/2023
Morton Rutledge Fire Co. receives $75K state grant
The Morton Rutledge Fire Company has received a $75,000 state grant through the Department of Community and Economic Development for facility improvements. The grant will underwrite replacement of the station’s bay and main doors, improve lighting in the facility, and assist with other related expenses and labor costs. The project is anticipated to be complete before the end of 2023. The fire company has been a vital part of the community since 2009, when two borough fire stations combined manpower to serve the boroughs of Morton and Rutledge.?
Source: Daily Times; 4/25/2023
Montgomery
Norristown Area School Board eyes proposed $189M budget with no tax increase
Norristown Area School District’s current budget proposal for the 2023-2024 academic year includes $189 million in expenses and no tax increase for property owners. It also aims to expand the property tax rebate program. The district’s current millage rate is 39.204. The budget proposal includes funding for 19 new professional positions and one support position. View the?proposed final budget?on the district website.
Source: Times Herald; 4/25/2023
Historical society presents class on ‘Researching Your Home’
The Historical Society of Montgomery County is offering a class called “Reading Your House; Researching Your Home” on Monday, May 8, at their headquarters, 1654 DeKalb Pike, Norristown. The class will cover introductory topics on historic architecture including: formal and vernacular architecture, regional differences in house types (pre-1850), basic styles and construction techniques from 1700 to 1920, how to measure and draw a house, and how to view the landscape of houses in Montgomery County. In addition, the class will look at documents related to house construction, occupancy deeds, probate records, mechanics' liens, maps, census and tax records, and other sources of documentary evidence related to houses. The cost is $20 for historical society members and $30 for nonmembers. Read more?here.
Source: Plymouth Township
Fund will help Pottstown’s Hale Street explosion victims with repairs, deductibles
Nearly a year after a massive explosion in Pottstown Borough destroyed two homes, killed five people and damaged other properties in a five-block radius, a fund has been established to help those whose properties were damaged by the blast. Genesis Housing will be the conduit for about $240,000 in state funding that can be used to help pay for repairs, completed or pending, insurance deductibles and other costs for 59 homes that were inspected by the borough after the disaster. Homeowners of the affected properties are eligible for up to $25,000 to help with repairs and up to $15,000 to “untangle” title claims which may have arisen in the wake of the May 26, 2022, blast in the 400 block of Hale Street. Applicants can call Genesis at 610-275-4357 or email them at?[email protected]?to begin the process. For a year, the funding will be open only to those who lived in the specific 59 addresses inspected. After a year, others can apply, if there is any funding left. In March, the?borough said?that a report from the state Public Utility Commission brought them “one step closer to determining the cause of the 2022 Hale St. explosion.”
Source: Times Herald; 4/24/2023
Salford to change outdoor lighting regulations
Salford Township supervisors are considering amendments to the township’s outdoor lighting regulations. The supervisors will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m at the municipal building, 139 Ridge Road, Tylersport, to consider adoption of proposed Ordinance No. 188. The purpose of the ordinance is to amend the zoning and subdivision and land development ordinances regulating outdoor lighting. The full text of the proposed ordinance may be examined at the municipal building.
Source: The Reporter; 4/21/2023
Montgomery County announces primary voting procedures
The Montgomery County Board of Elections has announced it will install 12 secure ballot drop-off boxes throughout the county to help voters meet the May 16 primary election deadline. Completed mail-in ballots and absentee ballots may be dropped off starting Saturday, May 6, at 8 a.m., and voter education staff will be on-site to inform voters on proper ballot return practices. Ballots placed in the secure ballot boxes will be delivered daily to the Montgomery County Voter Services by county sheriffs, and date-stamped when they are received. Voter Services satellite offices will also be available on weekends beginning April 29, for any voters who prefer to apply for their ballot in person before the May 9 deadline to apply. Residents can apply for a mail-in ballot, receive it, complete it, and place it in a secure ballot box at these locations. Voters can?check the status of their mail-in ballots?and?confirm the location of their polling place?on the county website. Read more about Montgomery County election procedures?here.
Source: Times Herald; 4/26/2023
Philadelphia
114-unit apartment building proposed next to El in Fishtown
A 114-unit apartment building is planned immediately adjacent to the Market-Frankford Line at 1440 N. Front St. on the border between Fishtown and South Kensington. The proposal includes five studios, 93 one-bedroom units and 16 two-bedroom units. Plans also call for 2,000 square feet of retail space, which Archive Development, the firm behind the $20 million project, wants to fill with a restaurant. “Front is one of the only streets in Fishtown where you can truly build with high density,” said Henry Siebert, cofounder of Archive. “We’ve seen it transition from a former industrial street with warehouses to a true, viable commercial corridor. That’s what attracted us.” Amenities in the proposal would include a seventh-floor “sky lounge” with a kitchenette and a roof deck. Spaces for 38 bicycles will be included on-site, and there will be a small parking garage with room for 18 vehicles. “We are required to build parking by the zoning, so our garage is several thousand square feet of space that would have otherwise been retail,” said Ryan Kalili, cofounder of Archive. “Parking requirements on Front Street aren’t the smartest because it’s the most transit-oriented street in Fishtown.” Archive plans to break ground by the end of the summer. They do not require any permissions from the historical commission or zoning board but will present the project to the advisory Civic Design Review Board on Tuesday, May 2.
Source: Inquirer; 4/20/2023
Philly mayoral candidates talk affordable housing and development
Four candidates for mayor of Philadelphia — Allan Domb, Jimmy DeLeon, Helen Gym and Rebecca Rhynhart — participated in a mayoral forum on housing and development issues on April 19 at the Broad Street Ministry. During a two-hour forum, they explained how they would increase the city’s limited supply, ensure more units don’t disappear, and look to fund both of those efforts. All of the candidates said they would turn to the city’s considerable stock of vacant lots to help grow the city’s inventory of affordable units, an ongoing need directly tied to Philadelphia’s status as the poorest big city in the country. Philadelphia already disposes of city-owned land for a variety of affordable housing projects. But the process is widely viewed as too complex and too slow, making it a challenge to scale the practice to help meet the persistent need for affordable units. Candidates also talked about the need for Philadelphia to help homeowners repair their properties so they aren’t displaced because they couldn’t afford to make needed fixes. The forum was organized by the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations, Regional Housing Legal Services, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the Urban Affairs Coalition and the Urban League of Philadelphia. Read more?here.?
Source: PlanPhilly; 4/20/2023
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