Newtown Borough Council has 45 days to issue a decision on parking for the Steeple View development following a three-hour-long conditional use hearing on Tuesday night.
For the next phases of the Steeple View development along South State Street, developer Allan Smith is seeking conditional use for parking at the development and the ability to leverage additional parking spaces located at the nearby Stocking Works complex, which was partially owned by Smith.
The Steeple View plans previously included a 500-vehicle parking garage, but that parking garage was removed from the plans as the proposal changed over the past decade.
Smith scaled back the plans due to a changing business climate since COVID-19.
Given the removal of the earlier proposed parking garage from the Steeple View plans, the developer has been facing challenges in adhering to the parking regulations in place by the borough.
Ben Guthrie, a project manager for Traffic Planning and Design, Steeple View’s traffic engineering firm, said Tuesday night that parking and traffic impact studies have been performed for the project. He also told council the planned parking for the second phase and overflow parking at the Stocking Works complex would be adequate for the site.
Credit: Google Maps
There were some questions raised by residents about the plan not meeting parking requirements, and also support was shown for the project.
George Caucci, a Newtown Borough resident, raised concern over whether there will be enough parking spaces under the present plan.
“Mr. Smith is a great guy, I’m sure. He’s done a lot of good things. Promises were made, and a promise made should be promise kept,” he said.
“If you honestly believe people are going to walk from the three football fields from the liquor store to the Stocking Works at 9 or 10 o’clock at night … how much is enough?” he added.
Newtown Borough resident Bill Newell, who owns the Newtown Hardware House, said he supported the conditional use for parking. He said it will allow Smith’s proposal to move forward.
“There are many towns that are not far from there that are dying,” Newell said. “Municipalities are like living organizations. When they stop growing, they start dying.”
Newell said the borough’s commercial district is struggling and more pedestrian traffic is needed.
“This project will change that for the better,” he said.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
The first phase of the project along South State Street was completed in 2016, but the second phase has been slow to move forward. However, land development plans are expected to come before council within months.
Of the second phase, the first building will be a three-story structure with retail on the first floor and a total of 12 units on the two floors above. Previously, the building was to be all retail.
The second building will have retail on the first floor and 14 residences in total on the two floors above.
The third building will have a restaurant on the first floor and 14 residences in total on the two floors above.
Four additional buildings with 12 residences each will be constructed. A previous version of the plans called for 16 units each.
A piazza and green area are in the plans, and a bridge over the Newtown Creek is planned, but construction might be delayed due to an estimated cost of $300,000 to $400,000 for the small span that will connect to Newtown Township.
Steeple View has been designed to revitalize the former Stockburger dealership and former wine and spirits and beer stores, which will be demolished. Smith has said the project will define the 8.76 acres along South State Street and Centre Avenue.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct the meeting was Tuesday, not Wednesday, as previous reported.
