Paper Mill Road Hearing is March 25 at 7:30 PM

Developer Scott Brehman and his wife Margaret's petition to close a portion of Paper Mill Road will be heard on March 25, at the township building at 7:30 p.m. At this meeting, Scott and Margaret will ask Newtown Township Supervisors to give them a portion of Paper Mill Road. They think that they are entitled to this property, it would seem, because the previous owner, a local politico, promised it to them. They even met with Township Manager Trio who provided them with information as to the process for taking this property. The Brehman's want this portion of Paper Mill Road, it would seem, to make their property more valuable while at the same time taking away and making less valuable all the other properties in their neighborhood.

In fact, if the Brehman's are successful in taking this property, Newtown Township residents will lose another unique township asset. And, at least one resident of the Paper Mill Road area will lose access to some of their property.  It would appear that if Mr. and Mrs. Brehman are successful, not only will they take township property, they will, in effect, take private property also.

This past year, the Supervisors sold the Wyola School House.  Now, in my view, rather than helping the residents of the township by providing legal resources to fight this developer, township officials let the residents know that they were on their own.  Even going so far as to mention that township residents should come to the petition hearing with exhibits to prove their case.

What's wrong with this picture.  Although I do not doubt that Mr. Brehman has a right to ask to take township property, I doubt the sincerity of elected officials. The township officials have indicated that any resident can petition the supervisors to vacate township property. That may be the case. However, these officials can make it clear and especially in this case, that they will not tolerate Mr. Brehman's request. Township officials could have indicated at Monday's meeting when they set the date for the hearing that they would vigorously fight Mr. Brehman's petition.  They could have offered to help the residents prepare for the hearing.  Instead, Newtown's Supervisors, in my view, acted as though there was nothing they could do for the residents.  They went on to say that even if they say no to the developer, Mr. Brehman could appeal to the Board of Review at the Court of Common Pleas. Oh well, the Supervisors seemed to say--we'll say no, but the developer will just appeal and you know what will happen there.

It is my view that Mr. and Mrs. Brehman offer the same negative consequence as Mr. Bartkowski and his Billboards. This request and the Supervisors involvement in this issue is as negative as the proposed CR zoning amendment. But, instead of fighting Mr. and Mrs. Brehman's request, the Supervisors are doing nothing, absolutely nothing.  

I hope that all residents of Newtown attend the hearing on March 25.  I hope that news media decides to attend this meeting. An overflow crowd at the meeting will let Mr. and Mrs. Brehman know that Newtown residents do not believe that a developer should take public property for their private gain. An overflow crowd will also tell the Supervisors that they must stand for the residents.

Please attend the meeting on March 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the township building.