Downtown Newtown: Work together to

capture our vision

By: SHAWN WARD
Bucks County Courier Times

With the completion of the Sycamore Street Reconstruction Project several years ago, Newtown's
Sycamore Street has been transformed into the signature "Main Street" of Newtown Township.
Improvements include stamped concrete sidewalks, period lighting fixtures and streetscape amenities
such as benches, trash receptacles and brick-type crosswalks.

With this transformation, the street says, "Welcome to Downtown Newtown Township!" Recently, the
proposed concept plan for the Promenade was unanimously approved by the Sycamore Street
Community Association, incorrectly referred to as the Sycamore Street Business Association in a recent
newspaper story and editorial.

The purpose of the not-for-profit association is the continued betterment of the Sycamore Street
community and the promotion of commerce, marketing, civic pride and community events. Its mission is
to preserve the historic nature of Newtown Township's town center, promote our businesses, encourage
continued residential living and provide historic and cultural experiences to our residents and visitors.

It is the belief of the association that the mix of commercial/retail and "owner-occupied" residential
dwellings will provide Sycamore Street with an "around the clock" presence and "eyes on the street,"
making it a secure area to live, work, dine and shop.

The active membership of the Sycamore Street Community Association is comprised of resident property
owners and business owners along Sycamore Street. Associate members include township residents and
business owners within 300 feet of Sycamore Street who exhibit a bona fide interest in the continued
betterment of the street.

The association is creating a proposal to work with the township on street maintenance issues, including
sidewalk maintenance, flowerbed care, snowplowing procedures and other issues such as flagpoles and
streetlights. This public-private partnership will be designed to encourage a proactive approach to
maintaining this "town-jewel."

In or about 2002, supervisors appointed a blue-ribbon panel of Newtown Township residents, property
owners and business persons known as the Acme Visioning Committee to act as an advisory board to
collect input from the community and advise the board on the best use of that property. Most, if not all, of
the panel members still reside and/or work in the Sycamore Street community.

Following testimony or comments by 25 community members during three public hearings on the matter,
the committee made an informed, nine-point recommendation:

1. Demolish the existing building.

2. Clean up the site and pay close attention to the steep slopes at the rear and side yards.

3. Future development should complement the neighboring Newtown Presbyterian Church.

4. The future development of the site should be mixed-use.

5. Utilize a blend of architectural styles typical of late 18th and 19th centuries.

6. Include a signature type attraction of a commercial, recreational or architectural nature, which would
give the site a unique identity.

7. Encourage future development, which may require adjustment of the maximum height requirement.

8. Construct a building at the forward edge of the property, with parking in the rear, to create a
streetscape.

9. Construct the site in a pedestrian-friendly manner in keeping with the Sycamore Street corridor
improvements.

As direct stakeholders of Sycamore Street, we encourage the developer and the supervisors to work
toward a reasonable compromise so the former Acme site might be developed in accordance with the
Acme Visioning Committee recommendation, furthering our effort to make our town center the town jewel
of Newtown Township.

February 11, 2009 02:10 AM