Plans for a new wastewater treatment plant in Newtown Township have been halted, leaving officials grappling with what to do with the 17.5-acre parcel of land acquired for the project.
The Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority Board of Directors voted 3-2 Tuesday to abandon the proposal.
The decision is bound to spark debate about the future of the property off Lower Silver Lake Road and University Drive near the Newtown Bypass.
The authority purchased the land last year for $9 million through eminent domain from 42 University LLC., which shares an address with the Newtown Athletic Club.
Authority Board Chairperson Jerry Schenkman said that the motion to stop the plant’s development was crafted to maintain the authority’s control over the land.
“I’m most concerned about triggering a process that we lose control over what’s happening with the land,” Schenkman said.
He noted that before the wastewater plant proposal, the site was slated for a 245-unit apartment complex by KRE Upper Macungie Associates LP, a plan that drew significant opposition.
In recent weeks, some residents have begun advocating for the property to be preserved as open space or converted into a park.
Board Member Elen Snyder, who is also a Newtown Township supervisor, said the township should look at options for the site.
Last month, Newtown Township Supervisor Phillip Calabro suggested the municipality could potentially purchase the land and designate it as open space to prevent future development.
Newtown Township Supervisor Phillip Calabro suggested last month that the municipality could purchase the land and designate it as open space to prevent future development.
Newtown Township Solicitor David Sander explained that there are time restrictions on selling or transferring land acquired through eminent domain.
The solicitor said he would research whether exceptions exist to expedite a transfer to another municipality or the original owner.
Related articles on the topic from NewtownPANow.com and LevittownNow.com:
- Wastewater Treatment Plant Plans Stopped In Newtown
- Newtown Twp. Supervisors Oppose Controversial Wastewater Plant Proposal
- Authority Says It Takes Wastewater Plant ‘Due Diligence Seriously’
- Residents Flood Newtown Twp. Supervisors Meeting To Oppose Wastewater Plant
- Middletown Draws Up Plan To Have Say In Proposed Newtown Wastewater Treatment Plant
- Grassroots Group Forming To Oppose Newtown Wastewater Plant
- Middletown Residents Voice Concerns Over Proposed Wastewater Treatment Plant
- Newtown Twp. Hears Proposal For New Wastewater Treatment Plant
- Municipal Authority Buys Land For Proposed Wastewater Treatment Plant
- Newtown Joint Municipal Authority Explores Constructing New Water Treatment Plant
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