Best Developer Melange Podcasts (2025)

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#NewtownPA BOS Showdown: Parking, Zoning, Bridges & Fire Services 15:09

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4d ago15:09

15:09

The source for this "Deep Dive" podcast is a transcript from the 24 September 2025 Newtown Board of Supervisors meeting, detailing several key discussions and resident concerns. Public comments focus heavily on a parking enforcement issue at Newtown Gate, where a resident representative argues against recent ticketing on Fountain Farm Lane and alle…

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The Melange Mess and Ghosting the Zoning Rules 12:03

4d ago12:03

12:03

The source for this "Deep Dive" podcast is a transcript excerpt from a Newtown Board of Supervisors meeting on September 24, 2025, specifically focusing on a public comment and subsequent discussion regarding zoning enforcement and code violations. A resident, Charlie Feuer (pronounced Foy·er), raised concerns about the status of a cease and desist…

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The Comedy of Local Government 11:09

5d ago11:09

11:09

This podcast summarizes a stand-up comedy routine delivered by John Mack, who is a Newtown supervisor and a retiree. Mack uses his time on stage to joke about his experience as an elected official, highlighting the often trivial nature of local political complaints in his community, which he compares to "Pleasantville" issues. The would-be comedian…

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Newtown Community Development and Governance Review 14:14

6d ago14:14

14:14

The source for this podcast is an excerpt from a September 22, 2025, "Meet Mack Monday" Zoom meeting transcript, which serves as an in-depth summary of local government topics and community concerns, led by Supervisor John Mack. The discussion covers a wide range of issues, including a controversial mixed-use development proposal by Jim Worthington…

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Sidewalks, ADA Ramps and Zoning Loopholes 12:37

9d ago12:37

12:37

Newtown Planning Commission Synopsis: September 16, 2025This synopsis of a Newtown Township Planning Commission meeting details, discussions ,and recommendations for two land development proposals. The first proposal concerns subdividing a 5.11-acre parcel on Upper Silver Lake Road into three residential lots, with the Commission recommending appro…

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Pipes, Pressure & Penalties: Review of BCWSA Presentation 13:29

12d ago13:29

13:29

The 16 September 2025 presentation by the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority (BCWSA) and Carol Engineering covered several key environmental and infrastructure topics relevant to Middletown and Newtown Townships, including the Neshaminy Interceptor replacement project, challenges with infiltration and inflow (I&I), water supply, and associated …

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Beyond Bagels & Billboards: 10 Sept 2025 BOS Meeting 19:42

13d ago19:42

19:42

The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors 10 Sept 2025 public meeting covered several key topics, beginning with a special proclamation honoring Chief Glenn Foresight for 50 years of distinguished service in fire services, which includes a personal address from the Chief himself. The public comment section featured residents from Chandler Hall advo…

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Newtown's Tug of War: Developers Versus Residents 15:36

16d ago15:36

15:36

During a Newtown Township Board of Supervisors meeting on September 10, 2025, resident Bradley Cooper expressed significant concern regarding a proposal by Jim Worthington to develop the Goodnoe's Farmstead on Sycamore Street into a large apartment complex with ground-floor businesses. Cooper argued that Newtown Township supervisors consistently fa…

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Chandler Hall Crosswalk Safety Advocacy 15:02

17d ago15:02

15:02

At the 10 September 2025 Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, residents and the CEO of Chandler Hall advocated for enhanced crosswalk safety. Speakers, including Laura Lee Stucky, CEO John Whitman, and Marcia Stemer, highlighted increased traffic, the advanced age and reduced mobility of residents, and previous close calls and accid…

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Rewriting the Rulebook for Greener Communities 15:40

21d ago15:40

15:40

This podcast is a "Deep Dive" into proposed revisions to #NewtownPA SALDO regulations concerning plant installation in land development. These revisions, which were summarized at the September 2 Planning Commission meeting, emphasize a 100% native plant requirement for all new plantings in subdivisions and developments, explicitly prohibiting invas…

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Melange on Sycamore Window Zoning Variance Denied 11:53

24d ago11:53

11:53

The New Town Township Zoning Hearing Board convened a meeting on September 4, 2025, to address a zoning appeal, number 1236-25, concerning the property at 255 North Sycamore Street (Mélange on Sycamore). The applicant sought permission for six window signs, each 5.6 feet in size, which significantly exceeded the permitted two square feet per sign a…

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John Mack's Unconventional Life Journey 12:12

25d ago12:12

12:12

These memoir excerpts by John Mack offer a multifaceted look into his life. "In My Brother's Shadow" explores his academic and anti-war activism during the Vietnam era, highlighting his decision to leave a Ph.D. program to pursue community organizing. "More Cow Valve Please!" details his recent, life-saving heart surgery, where a cow valve replaced…

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Beyond the Bush: Unpacking the Native Plant Mandate in #NewtownPA 14:27

26d ago14:27

14:27

This presentation made before the #NewtownPA Planning Commission on 2 September 2025 focuses on the revised landscape ordinance for the township, specifically the new requirement for 100% native plants in development projects. Kim Flanders, a registered landscape architect with CKS Engineers, defines native plants as those that have evolved in a gi…

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Mack's "Are You Shitting Me" Standup Comedy Routine 13:41

1M ago13:41

13:41

This podcast was created by Google NotebookLM based on the text from a comedy routine delivered by Newtown Township Supervisor John Mack. Mack, who is retired and identifies as "old," uses humor to discuss the unexpected realities of local politics and the challenges of being a public servant. The routine covers a range of local issues, from the ab…

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Newtown's Historic Window War 8:40

1M ago8:40

8:40

How a Hiccup in Rules Exposed a Battle for HeritageI provided NotebookLM with the transcript from a YouTube video featuring Craig Deutsch’s Comments at 13 August 2025 Newtown Board of Supervisors meeting (https://youtu.be/zERFq8CajU0) and it generated this podcast. The video features a discussion concerning violations of historic district regulatio…

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Newtown's Historic Preservation Blunder: When Good Intentions Meet Regulatory Gaps 13:45

1M ago13:45

13:45

I provided NotebookLM with the transcript from a YouTube video featuring Craig Deutsch’s Comments at 13 August 2025 Newtown Board of Supervisors meeting (https://youtu.be/zERFq8CajU0) and it generated this podcast. The video features a discussion concerning violations of historic district regulations by an applicant (Mélange on Sycamore). The centr…

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NBCJMA EDU Comments 12 August 2025 24:35

2M ago24:35

24:35

Discussion regarding EDUs.By Mack's Newtown Voice

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Newtown Sewer Authority 8 July 2025 Public Discussions 5:41

3M ago5:41

5:41

At the 8 July 2025 public meeting of the NBCJMA (Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority, aka Newtown Sewer Authority) Board, two items were discussed/voted on that are of interest to residents: (1) Adoption of Policy for Conduct of Authority Meetings, and (2) Approval of the 2025/2026 Budget.Item (1) actually concerns the intent of the Boar…

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24 June 2025 Newtown Sewer Authority Public Comments 29:18

3M ago29:18

29:18

At the 24 June 2025 public meeting of the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipality Authority (aka Newtown Sewer Authority) Advisory Board, several residents in attendance voiced opinions about several issues including making these meetings more accessible to the public. Residents also had questions about the future of the land purchased by the Autho…

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Residents Have MORE Questions Regarding Proposed Sewer Plant 17:46

8M ago17:46

17:46

At the 11 February 2025 Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (aka Newtown Sewer Authority) Advisory Board public meeting, several residents from Newtown and Middletown demanded answers to their questions regarding the sewage treatment plant that the Authority is planning to build on Lower Silver Lake Rd in Newtown. [For more on that, read…

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Residents Question Sewer Authority About Proposed WWTP 15:13

8M ago15:13

15:13

At the 14 January 2025 Newtown Sewer Authority public meeting, residents from Middletown and Newtown had several questions regarding the proposed Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP, aka Sewerage Treatment Plant) on Lower Silver Lake Road abutting Middletown.One important question had to do with ACT 537, which currently provides:"The Township’s conti…

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Mark Friend Questions Sewer Rate Increase for Well Water Users 6:25

9M ago6:25

6:25

At the 16 October 2024, Newtown Sewer Authority Board meeting, Mr. Mark Friend, who lives at 15 Stoopville Rd in Newtown, questioned the high increase in his sewer bill. Mr. Friend has well water. His sewer rate increased from $90 per quarter at the end of 1992. In 2023 the rate went up to $125. Now (2025) the rate is $183 per quarter. A 100% incre…

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Meet Mack Monday 23 Sep 2024 Discussion 39:57

9M ago39:57

39:57

At the September 23, 2024, Meeting Mack Monday Zoom meeting, participants discussed several issues including road paving, Blue Zones, Wawa delays, new sewage treatment plant, crosswalk on Bypass, working with the Middletown Traffic Committee, 2025 police & fire budget, Silver Lake Park, etc.By Mack's Newtown Voice

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Middletown EAC Member Kevin Deeny Comments on Sewage Treatment Plant 7:40

10M ago7:40

7:40

At the 16 December 2024 Middletown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, Kevin Deeny - a member of Middletown's Environmental Advisory Council - expressed concern about the environmental impact of the proposed Waste Water (aka Sewage) Treatment Plant (WWTP) that the Newtown Sewer Authority plans to build on Lower Silver Lake Rd on the border…

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Middletown EAC Vice Chair Andy McAloon Comments On Planned Sewage Treatment Plant 1:15

10M ago1:15

1:15

At the 16 December 2024 Middletown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, Middletown Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) Vice Chair Andy McAloon expressed concerns about potential flooding caused by the plant, which will dump million of gallons per day of effluent into Core Creek.By Mack's Newtown Voice

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MeetMack Monday 9 December 2024 54:46

10M ago54:46

54:46

Presentation and Discussion Audio. Agenda: * Sewage Treatment Plant: Environmental Concerns* Proposed Pedestrian Sidewalk Along NT-Yardley Rd* Grant Awarded for Newtown Creek Bridge* Gas Leaf Blower Ban Survey Results* Pennsylvania Affordable Housing Survey* Changes to the 2025 Budget* 11 December 2024 BOS Meeting AgendaPrivilege of the Floor: Open…

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MMM_21Oct2024_Discussion 54:40

11M ago54:40

54:40

Host John Mack in Q&A session with attendees at the October 2024 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting.By Mack's Newtown Voice

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Newtown Sewer Authority Q&A Regarding Rate Hike & Treatment Plant Plans 26:53

12M ago26:53

26:53

This a recording of the Q&A session at the 16 October 2024 meeting of the Newtown Water & Sewer Authority public meeting. At issue was the 43% rate increase starting in 2026 (read "#NewtownPA Sewer Authority Rates to Increase 43%!"; https://sco.lt/8o4g9A) and the proposed sewage treatment plant down Lower Silver Lake Rd from the Wawa site on the Ne…

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Meet Mack Monday Attendees Discuss Chick-fil-A on Bypass Plan 34:02

1y ago34:02

34:02

At the 29 April 2024 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting, several attendees had a lively discussion regarding the proposal to build a drive-thru Chick-fil-A restaurant "on the Bypass" (actually at the northeast corner of the Bypass and Newtown-Yardley Rd diagonally across from the soon-to-be built Wawa).Specifically, the applicant is seeking relief for a…

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17 June 2024 Meet Mack Monday Discussion 24:02

1+ y ago24:02

24:02

17 June 2024 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting attendees discuss what's on their minds including:* Tara Blvd crosswalk safety improvements* The possibility of Wawa selling beer 24/7* Problems with the LI/O-LI Overlay proposal* and other issuesBy Mack's Newtown Voice

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#NewtownPA Artesian Water Wins Zoning Variances to Build PFAS Filtration Facility 19:26

1+ y ago19:26

19:26

On April 4, 2024, the #NewtownPA Zoning Hearing Board granted Appeal 1210-24: i.e., Newtown Artesian Water Company (NAWC), requested variances from and a special exception pursuant to the Joint Municipal Zoning Ordinance of 2006, as amended, specifically Section 404(C) to permit a rear yard setback of 36.46 feet where a minimum of 50 feet is requir…

1
Nixle Alert Discussion 3:35

1+ y ago3:35

3:35

At the 25 March 2024 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting, a resident asked how people were notified about a recent "shelter-in-place" alert in #newtownPA and suggested that residents sign up for Nixle to receive such alerts via text to their cell phones.By Mack's Newtown Voice

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#NewtownPA Residents Discuss Problems with LDR Guiderail 8:56

1+ y ago8:56

8:56

Attendees of the 25 March 2024 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting learn about the problems with the recently installed Lower Dolington Rd trail guiderail. The guiderail needs to be relocated because it was incorrectly installed, but the contractor - Associated Paving - refuses to respond to the township's requests that it do so!…

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Washington Crossing Bridge Replacement Discussion 2:55

1+ y ago2:55

2:55

Attendees of the 25 March 2024 Meeting Mack Monday Zoom meeting weigh in on the proposed replacement of the Washington Crossing Bridge.By Mack's Newtown Voice

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Lawn to Meadow Conversion Discussion 6:13

1+ y ago6:13

6:13

At the 25 March 2024 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting, Environmental Advisory Council member Jan Filios discussed the proposed #NewtownPA Roberts Ridge Park meadow conversion plan.By Mack's Newtown Voice

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Barbara Simmons Talks About a Mural Project in the Newtown Area 18:51

1+ y ago18:51

18:51

Barbara Simmons, former Director of the Langhorne Peace Center, and currently a member of the Executive Board, NAACP Bucks County, attended the February 21, 2024, Newtown Human Relations Commission (HRC) meeting.Ms. Simmons informed HRC members of her work on the Bucks County Mural Project, which invites police and community members to paint murals…

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Mural Discussion at HRC 18:03

1+ y ago18:03

18:03

This discussion took place at the April 14, 2022, meeting of the Newtown Township Human Relations Commission.By Mack's Newtown Voice

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#NewtownPA Township LED Streetlight Conversion Plan 31:36

1+ y ago31:36

31:36

At the 14 February 2024 #NewtownPA Board of Supervisors public meeting, Mike Fuller, President/Founder of Keystone Lighting Solutions, presented the Final Project Overview for replacing all street lights in town with LED lights.This is an audio recording of the presentation and Q&A session that followed. You can find the presentation here: https://…

1
Planning Commission Review of "Newtown Place" 1:13:00

1+ y ago1:13:00

1:13:00

On February 6, 2024, BET Investment presented to the #Newtown Planning Commission a revised plan for Newtown Corners, now called “Newtown Place.” The owner seeks a text amendment to the Joint Municipal Zoning Ordinance (JMZO) to allow a “Parking Core Apartment Building” in the TC (Town Center) district of Newtown Township. The current zoning does n…

1
Borscht Belt Deli's Mike Dalewitz Remarks After ZHB Denial 7:05

1+ y ago7:05

7:05

The Borscht Belt Deli appealed the township’s notice that the neon sign in its window is in violation of the township’s signage ordinance that prohibits “any sign which is illuminated by inert gas or any form of exposed tubes…” (read “Borscht Belt Delicatessen Seeks Variance to Allow Neon Sign in Window”; https://sco.lt/58eUaW). The Newtown Townshi…

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22 Jan 2024 Meet Mack Monday Discussion 1:00:43

1+ y ago1:00:43

1:00:43

Review of Borscht Belt Neon Sign Zoning Hearing, Revitalization of the Human Relations Commission, Multi-Story Apartment Buildings Coming to the Li/OLI District, Residential Trash Pickup, Pedestrian Bridges Survey Update, and more...By Mack's Newtown Voice

1
Borscht Belt Neon Sign Meet Mack Monday Discussion 7:19

1+ y ago7:19

7:19

At the 4 January 2024 meeting of the Newtown Township Zoning Hearing Board, the Borscht Belt attorney cited several businesses that he claims have neon signs in their windows such as Acqua e Farina at 50 Richboro Rd.This case was discussed by residents at the 22 January 2024 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting.…

1
Barks County Dog Grooming Zoning Appeal Approved! 15:18

1+ y ago15:18

15:18

At the January 4, 2024, hearing before the #NewtownPA Zoning Board, Kathleen Donovan, owner of Barks County Dog Grooming testified in defense of her application for a variance to allow the operation of a dog grooming business located in a townhouse unit in Newtown Crossing where such use is not permitted as a Home Occupation or Accessory Office (H-…

1
Public Comments Regarding Borscht Belt Neon Sign 20:33

1+ y ago20:33

20:33

Members of the public spoke up at the January 4, 2024, #NewtownPA Zoning Hearing Board regarding Borscht Belt Deli's appeal of a Notice of Violation issued by the township declaring that the neon sign in its window violation the JMZO's zoning ordinance. Read more about this here: https://sco.lt/58eUaW"This is a very troubling situation," Eric Pomer…

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Closing Arguments at the Borscht Belt Deli ZHB Neon Sign Hearing 34:43

1+ y ago34:43

34:43

As reported in the Newtown Patch: In arguing the township's case before the board, Township Solicitor Dave Sander asked the zoning hearing board to uphold the law and to reject the appeal.“This is a zoning case limited to a sign that is neon that appears in the front window of a business in the township. A complaint was received by the zoning offic…

1
Plastics Ban Comments at 6 Dec 2023 BOS Meeting 17:17

2y ago17:17

17:17

Several residents made comments prior to the #NewtownPA Board of Supervisors (BOS) 4-1 vote (Kyle Davis voting nay) to approve the Single-Use Plastic Bag ordinance, which will go into effect on April 9, 2023.Speakers include: Bradley Cooper, John D'Aprile, Elaine McCarron, and Elen Snyder.By Mack's Newtown Voice

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#NewtownPA Single-Use Plastic Ban Ordinance 15:20

2y ago15:20

15:20

At the 21 November 2023 #NewtownPA Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, supervisors approved by 4-1 vote (Kyle Davis voting nay) to advertise the proposed Single-Use Plastics Ban Ordinance (LINK: https://rebrand.ly/PlasticsBan_v6a).The discussion focused on revisions from previous version regarding enforcement and exemptions. It also includ…

1
Steeple View Bridge Discussion 8:20

2y ago8:20

8:20

This discussion took place during the November 13, 2023, Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting. Supervisor John Mack presented his questions regarding the utility of this bridge to Newtown Township and suggested it would benefit primarily Steeple View residents in the Borough.Newtown Environmental Advisory Board member Jan Filios pointed out the environmen…

1
Planning Commission Split Regarding Capital Grille Signage 8:19

2y ago8:19

8:19

At the 17 October 2023 meeting of the #NewtownPA Planning Commission (PC), members failed to agree unanimously to recommend approval of certain aspects of Capital Grille's signage plan.Specifically, some members had problems with the huge 13ft 4" by 6ft 0" (80 square ft) sign that Capital Grille proposes to affix to the rear facade of the building …

1
Mack's Concerns Regarding Business Commons Overlay Plan 27:31

2y ago27:31

27:31

At the 17 October 2023 #NewtownPA Planning Commission (PC) meeting, I spoke up about my concerns regarding the O-LI/LI ("Business Commons") Overly Plan. Find the plan here: The PC - working with Bucks Planning Commission (BCPC) experts - is near to finalizing the Plan to recommend to the Board of Supervisors (BOS).Before this comes to a vote by the…