Newtown Township Hires Firm To Explore Cost Of New Police Station

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors on Wednesday hired an architectural firm to determine the size and cost of a new facility for the township's police department.

Hatfield-based KCBA, which specializes in municipal structures, will be paid $14,680 to study the existing building, consider the department’s needs and recommend the size and scope of a new facility.

“They are going to give us an overall analysis of the square footage that a police department of our size needs for evidence protection, workspace and locker room capabilities, and kitchen areas,” said Chief John Hearn during budget discussions last fall.

Since the early 2000s, the police department has been operating out of the former township building, which was renovated after the new municipal building opened next door.

“We are an accredited agency,” said Hearn. “We’ve been accredited three times. It’s very important that we showcase our police department operating in the most effective and efficient way possible.

“The setup of the current building has a lot of small rooms and add-ons and it’s not conducive to proper management of the police department,” said Hearn.

The Newtown Township Police Station on Durham Road. (photo by Jeff Werner)

In other business at Wednesday night’s meeting, Peggy Driscoll, who chairs the township’s planning commission, reported that the commission reviewed revised zoning for the Newtown Business Commons at its July meeting.

According to Driscoll, the Bucks County Planning Commission presented a revised ordinance that eliminates the zoning overlay concept and instead focuses on the entire commons. The plan includes new added or expanded permitted uses including entertainment and tavern uses, expanded eating place uses, and some retail.

"The main change would be to develop a new use - mixed-use apartments," said Driscoll. "The apartment units would be rental units of studio, one- and two-bedroom limited to 20 units per acre. The mixed-use would include several other permitted uses, either in the same building or in a separate building on the same parcel. The buildings would be limited to 50 feet in height."

The draft ordinance also contains other performance standards like parking allocations for residential and commercial uses, setbacks, etc.

"The planning commission agreed that this proposal would address the changing business environment in the Newtown area and also provide housing for a younger demographic," said Driscoll. "We hope to review a final draft at our next meeting."

In a quieter, more reflective moment at the meeting, the supervisors paused to remember the seven who died July 15 in flash flooding in neighboring Upper Makefield.

Chairman Dennis Fisher led the moment by reading the names of the seven people who died and asking that a moment of silence be offered for each.

The supervisors also commended the work of its first responders - the police department and Newtown Fire and Rescue - for responding to the scene and helping to save the lives of 10 victims who were caught by the rising water during the mass casualty event.

"Something like this can happen to anyone of us at any time. It's important for us to strive in all that we do to support and encourage each other," said Fisher.