Bucks Local News

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)OpinionThursday, August 6, 2009The plans by Alan Smith for the old Stockburger site on South State Street in Newtown should cause some concern for bothresidents and leaders alike. The plan calls for 200,000 square feet of office space, a 540-space parking garage, 30 apartments,several retail shops and 11 townhomes. While the plan has desirable features, including some open space and walkways alongthe Newtown creek, the project overall is much too intense.My biggest concern is the 200K of office space — which is three times the size of the Stocking Works, according to a BucksCounty Courier Times article. It is also equivalent to two buildings the size of the ICT building on the bypass. I don’t know whatthe borough ordinance says, but under Newtown Township zoning, that much office space would require 1,000 parking spaces. Ican’t imagine the borough requirement is dramatically different. While Mr. Smith has indicated just 600 people would beemployed there, no one can guarantee there won’t be more than that in the future. Even if it is 600 employees, that is a lot ofadditional traffic for Newtown to handle! And where are the extra 60 people going to park if the garage only holds 540? And howabout all the people visiting the offices for meetings, people living in the apartments and the retail shoppers?Newtown already has more than its fair share of employees who work within our borders. Statistics from the Delaware ValleyRegional Planning Commission show that almost as many people work in Newtown (either the borough or the township) as bothNorthampton Township and Lower Makefield Township combined! And those municipalities are each twice the size of Newtown!The density of employees already here has manifested into a traffic nightmare during weekday business hours — especiallyduring the lunch hour. I can’t imagine trying to get around town if we allow this much additional office space.Based on these statistics, I feel the mix of residential vs. business is already too heavily skewed towards business. Too often inthe past, leaders of Newtown (both borough and township) have caved to the interests of business to the detriment of residents.Is it fair for businesses to continue to thrive at the expense of residents?Mr. Smith is presenting his plans to Newtown Borough Council at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at the Chancellor Center. I wouldhope that Borough Council will see the wisdom of making sure Mr. Smith scales back the office space significantly. I would alsoencourage Newtown residents to come and make your voices heard. And let’s hope residents’ concerns do not fall on deaf ears.For more information on local development issues go to

www.newtownsvoice.org

Jennifer Dix

Newtown Township

‘Thank you’ for helping Danny Quill

Thank you community members for showing your appreciation for Danny Quill. The account at Wachovia has been closed outand your gifts have been forwarded to Danny. Your kindness is sincerely appreciated.Special thanks are also offered to [BucksLocalNews. com writer] Petra Schlatter, and all the caring folks at Wachovia Bank,Newtown Veterinary Hosptal, and McCaffrey’s Market for your efforts on Danny’s behalf.

Donna Doan

Letters: Plan for Stockburger site is 'too intense' - Bucks Local Newshttp://www.buckslocalnews.com/articles/2009/08/07/opinion/doc4...1 of 28/11/2009 8:47 AM