New Hope meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Planning Commission advances Comprehensive Plan revisions; other meetings set

The New Hope Planning Commission on Aug. 10 agreed to a series of revisions to the draft Comprehensive Plan, including stronger policy language, 2035 vision statements, and corrections to the Future Land Use Map. No formal vote was taken, but the commission set a September target for a revised draft.

Planning Commission

The commission reviewed the second draft of the Comprehensive Plan, focusing on structural changes, policy language, and the Future Land Use Map. Members agreed to:

• Add stronger policy language to guiding principles
• Incorporate 2035 vision statements for each community priority
• Correct the Delaware River boundary on the Future Land Use Map
• Add a historic overlay to the Future Land Use Map
• Provide higher-resolution maps for the appendix
• Add funding sources to the implementation matrix

Additionally, Ms. Herlan volunteered to serve on a Traffic RFP review panel. The commission will continue work on the plan at its September meeting.

Other recent meetings

Zoning Hearing Board (Aug. 13) – The board will review a variance request from Four West Mechanic Street LLC to allow retail use on the second floor of a building at 4 West Mechanic Street. The applicant seeks to sell vintage clothing and apparel above the street-level story. Minutes have not yet been published.

Planning Commission (Aug. 17) – The commission is scheduled to consider approving minutes from July 20 and Aug. 10, receive a Borough Council report, review a preliminary subdivision application for 105 N Main St, and continue discussion on a short-term rental ordinance. Minutes are not yet published.

Shade Tree Commission (Aug. 19) – The commission’s agenda includes pending plantings at Lenape Park and Kingswood Entrance, a tree trim application for 26 W. Bridge St., ordinance revisions regarding shade trees, vines, and caliper of replacements, and discussion on ordering PHS Bare Root Trees. A Multi-Year Plan update is scheduled for September. No major decisions were listed.

Coming up

Parks & Recreation Board (Aug. 24) – The board will review the borough treasurer’s report, discuss a submitted $5,000 grant application to Bucks Beautiful, irrigation work in Lenape, and preliminary fall planting plans. The meeting is largely routine, with no major policy decisions on the agenda.

New Hope boards review landscaping, historic changes, and environmental initiatives

New Hope's Historic Architectural Review Board met August 4 to consider a proposal to demolish an existing addition and front porch at 3, 5, and 7 West Bridge Street and build a new rear addition. The board also reviewed sign installations and a door color change. No minutes have been published, so no decisions are available.

All recent meetings listed below were agenda-only; minutes have not yet been published.

Parks & Recreation Board

On July 27, the Parks & Recreation Board reviewed a landscaping proposal from Cito Landscaping and discussed the Bucks Beautiful Grant opportunity. The board also received updates on the Ferry Landing mural timeline and various sub-committee projects. The borough treasurer's report was also on the agenda.

Borough Council Workshop

The Borough Council held a workshop meeting on August 3. The agenda contained only procedural information, with no specific discussion items or decisions listed.

Historic Architectural Review Board

In addition to the West Bridge Street demolition and addition proposal, the board reviewed three other applications:

• 9 East Mechanic Street: Review of gold color applied to a door
• 4 East Mechanic Street (Bee Spa): Sign installation
• 17-19 West Mechanic Street (The Dancing Elephant): Sign installation

Environmental Advisory Council

On August 5, the Environmental Advisory Council discussed feedback from a council workshop on the Bird Town program and business glass recycling, as well as single-use plastics reduction. The council also noted upcoming events: the Bucks County Household Hazwaste Collection (July 11 and August 8) and the New Hope Library Grass Roots Picnic, rescheduled to August 11.

Coming up

The Zoning Hearing Board will meet August 13 to consider a variance request from Four West Mechanic Street LLC. The applicant seeks to use the second floor of 4 West Mechanic Street for the sale of vintage clothing and apparel, which would require a variance to allow retail use above the street-level story.

New Hope boards set site inspections and zoning reviews; recent meetings lack published minutes

Most New Hope borough boards and commissions met in the second half of July, but minutes have not yet been published for any of those sessions, so only agenda topics — not final decisions or votes — can be reported. The most consequential upcoming item is a Zoning Hearing Board variance request for 4 West Mechanic Street, scheduled for August 13, 2026.

Green Initiative Committee — July 20

The Green Initiative Committee agenda listed approval of June 15, 2026 meeting minutes and a discussion of the preliminary walk-through for the RFP-mandated site inspection. The agenda called for scheduling a committee and public walk-through on August 5, 2026. A public comment period was also listed. No minutes have been published, so no action can be confirmed.

Planning Commission — July 20

The Planning Commission agenda included review of June 15 meeting minutes and a report from Borough Council. Listed discussion items were a Zoning Hearing Board application for 4 W Mechanic St., a Short Term Rental Ordinance, and the Planning Commission Review Process. The agenda noted new business for future consideration. No minutes have been published.

Borough Council — July 21

The Borough Council agenda provided only procedural information regarding meeting location and Zoom access. No specific action items, proposals, or discussion topics were listed. No minutes have been published.

Shade Tree Commission — July 22

The Shade Tree Commission agenda listed tree removal and replacement applications for 145 S. Main St. and 110 S. Main St. It also included review of existing tree health and replacements at New Hope Shopping Center, a SavATree inventory of dead trees, proposed ordinance revisions regarding vines and caliper of replacements, and a status update on soil samples and Lenape Park. No minutes have been published.

Parks & Recreation Board — July 27

The Parks & Recreation Board agenda listed a landscaping proposal from Cito Landscaping and discussion of the Bucks Beautiful Grant. Updates were also listed on the Ferry Landing mural on BCWS Grates and various sub-committee projects, plus a review of the Borough Treasurer Report. No minutes have been published.

Coming up

• **August 3 — Borough Council workshop meeting.** The agenda contains only procedural information and no specific discussion items or decisions.
• **August 4 — Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB).** Formal reviews of four property applications: 9 East Mechanic Street (review of gold color applied to door); 3, 5, 7 West Bridge Street (proposed demolition of existing addition and front porch, and a new rear addition); 4 East Mechanic Street, Bee Spa (sign installation); and 17-19 West Mechanic Street, The Dancing Elephant (sign installation).
• **August 13 — Zoning Hearing Board.** Review of an application from Four West Mechanic Street LLC seeking a variance to use the second floor of a building for the sale of vintage clothing and apparel.