Council unanimously recertifies Morrisville redevelopment area after Bucks County presentation

The Morrisville Borough Council voted unanimously on Nov. 18 to adopt a resolution recertifying a redevelopment area that covers the same boundaries certified in the mid-2000s.

Jeff Darwock, executive director of the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority, presented the authority's September 2025 conditions report and said the area continues to meet criteria under the Pennsylvania Urban Redevelopment Law, including vacant and underutilized buildings, awkward lot configurations and barriers to river access. "It would seem apparent that the area continues to meet the statutory requirements under the Pennsylvania Urban Redevelopment Law to continue to be a certified redevelopment area," Darwock said.

Darwock walked council through the redevelopment timeline, noting the 2004 report that led to the original certification, a 2006 town-center plan and a 2019 amendment that added properties on the east side of Pennsylvania Avenue. He identified sample sites including a vacant Stockton Building, the Cloverleaf site (an ongoing redevelopment project), the Staley's plant and other vacant lots that he said create obstacles to riverfront access and economic revitalization.

A handful of residents spoke during public comment. Kathy Panzida, a former council member, said she supported the recertification and urged cooperation among officials "as everybody works on this." Other residents echoed support but repeated concerns about how the item was listed on the meeting agenda; one commenter said the agenda description ("a portion of the borough") did not give adequate notice under the Sunshine Act.

Council moved item 11d earlier on the agenda so the Redevelopment Authority executive director could remain for the vote; the resolution passed 8'to'0 on a voice vote. Council requested that the authority's presentation be provided to the borough for posting on the municipal website.

Why it matters: Recertification is a procedural step that would allow the borough and county planning bodies to pursue programs and state designations (including enterprise zone applications and some grant opportunities) targeted to areas with statutory redevelopment conditions. Darwock and council described recertification as "another tool in the toolbox" to support private investment and improve public river access.

Next steps: Because recertification requires county-level certification, the borough will forward its resolution and the conditions report to the Bucks County Planning Commission for final action.