A controversial plan to construct a $128 million wastewater treatment plant near the Newtown Bypass has been officially terminated by the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority.
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The authority’s board voted last month to end the project, which had drawn significant grassroots opposition and threats of litigation from residents across Newtown Township, Newtown Borough, Middletown Township, and Lower Makefield Township.
The proposed site on Silver Lake Road in Newtown Township was just yards from Middletown Township and less than a mile from Core Creek Park.
The authority had previously announced a halt to progress in March.
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The authority board has directed its solicitor to offer the 17.5-acre site back to its original owners, 42 University Place and KRE Developers.
The authority initially acquired the land for $9 million from 42 University LLC through eminent domain.
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The former owners have 90 days to respond to the offer. If they decline, the authority must petition the court for permission to sell the land to the general public or explore other options, according to authority board Chair Jerry Schenkman.
“What I can say is we have just started the process of offering that land back,” said Newtown Township Supervisors Chairperson Elen Snyder, who also serves on the authority board. “Nobody has given us any sketch plans of any type of development. So there is no answer to that question at this point.”
Before the authority’s purchase, the site was planned for a 245-unit apartment complex by KRE Upper Macungie Associates LP, a proposal that also faced opposition from residents.
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Supervisor John Mack expressed his desire for the property to remain undeveloped.
“If you want to know my opinion, we don’t want any kind of development there,” Mack said. “I think the land should remain undeveloped, just like at Silver Lake Park.”
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The proposed wastewater plant would have used Aqua Nereda technology and had a planned capacity of 2.5 million gallons per day.
Credit: Gannett Flemming
The authority currently services 9,000 customers in Newtown borough and township.
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Members of the authority board acknowledged at their meeting the authority “did a poor job in educating the public” about the project.
Mack also that the authority has promised the public that meeting broadcasts will be made available on YouTube within 48 hours of the meeting.
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The authority currently sends its wastewater to a facility in Philadelphia via the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority. The Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority hoped to bring treatment of wastewater under its control.
The Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority is undertaking a $60 million upgrade to the Neshaminy Interceptor, which runs through the area and sends wastewater to the Philadelphia Water Department for treatment. The system currently faces capacity limitations for development until the upgrade is finished.
Related articles on the topic from NewtownPANow.com and LevittownNow.com:
- Residents Seek Reassurance That Wastewater Plant Proposal Is Dead
- 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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