Villas At Newtown On Wednesday Supervisors Agenda

The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors will discuss the Villas at Newtown at its meeting Wednesday. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Newtown Township municipal building.

According to Supervisor Jen Dix, the township’s conflict attorney will be present for the discussion.

Dix said the supervisors will be discussing a possible penalty against McGrath for illegally cutting down a beech tree on the property earlier this year.

Maintaining the beech tree in its original state was a condition of approval when McGrath was granted during land development approval in 2006.

Additionally, the developer is planning to bring forward his sketch plan for nine new units at the development next month, Dix said.

The development has been the source of controversy ever since last year, when McGrath asked the township for permission to tear down an existing farmhouse and replace it with a dozen villas. Restoration of the 1840s farmhouse was a condition of approval when McGrath received the go-ahead to construct the 172-unit development back in 2006.

The plan was controversial because residents there supported it but many others voiced concerns over destructing the property. Newtown’s Joint Historic Commission recommended the township deny the demolition permit after its members said they completed extensive research.

The supervisors have requested the developer bring another plan forward for the future of the property.