Newtown Township Supervisors Discuss Ways To Attract Business

NEWTOWN, PA — At a recent Newtown Township Board of Supervisors meeting, local officials discussed ways to create a more business-friendly environment in the township.

The discussion comes on the heels of the first tax increase for the township in several years, brought on partly by losses in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supervisors centered much of their discussion on the Light Industrial (LI) and Office-Light Industrial (O-LI) districts.

Sign ordinances frequently pose issues for businesses, especially in the Newtown Business Commons, a 300-acre business park located in the LI and O-LI districts, according to a memo from the Newtown Township Economic Development Committee. Supervisors discussed the possibility of creating directory signs at intersections in the business commons and increasing the permitted size and height of signs to be visible from the street or parking lots.

"If you notice the surrounding areas around the township, there's a little more economic development going on and we want to get some of that," Supervisor David Oxley said at the Tuesday board of supervisors' meeting.

Exactly what kind of economic development the township can attract is unclear.

"This has been a conversation for the past 20 years," Supervisor Phil Calabro said.

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Supervisors also discussed the challenge of increasing the walkability of the business commons, which is currently lacking in sidewalks. Other options include allowing for more multi-family housing and expanding building heights to allow for more three and four-story buildings.

Planning Commission Chair Allen Fidler said the township could benefit from contracting with an economic development expert to identify types of uses that have been successful in neighboring communities "so we don't have to reinvent the wheel."

"Our recommendation would be to get some professional advice," he said.

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