Fitzpatrick opposes Lower Makefield senior housing development – Bucks Round-Up – August 11, 2025
Fitzpatrick opposes Lower Makefield senior housing development
U.S. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-01) is voicing his opposition to a proposed senior housing project in Lower Makefield Township, a development that would require a zoning variance for Trinity Realty Companies. Dozens of township residents attended a zoning board meeting last week to raise objections to the 15-unit, 3.5-acre project, citing concerns about open-space preservation, traffic, area property values, historic preservation, and flooding. Fitzpatrick, who sent a staffer to the meeting, met with neighbors troubled by the plans, took to X to echo their sentiments, writing, “This isn’t just about one property. It’s about ensuring our community’s future is shaped by the people who call it home. Too often, we’ve seen development advance without fully accounting for long-term consequences to the environment, infrastructure, and quality of life. I’ve long advocated for a better approach: one that prioritizes thoughtful planning and the voices of the people most affected.” The plans have not yet received final approval. Fitzpatrick has written to the Environmental Protection Agency to examine the project’s potential impact on nature and traffic.
Governor pushes lawmakers for SEPTA, statewide transit funding
Governor Josh Shapiro (D) spent the weekend in Philadelphia urging Harrisburg lawmakers to act quickly on a mass transit funding package he says will benefit all 67 Pennsylvania counties. While SEPTA’s looming $213 million budget deficit has drawn headlines, Shapiro stressed the issue is statewide, not just urban. “Don’t let anybody tell you this is just a Philadelphia issue,” Shapiro said, citing his 14-year-old son’s concern over how people will get to work without reliable service. House Democrats are calling for $300 million in mass transit funding, while the Republican-led Senate insists a dedicated funding source be identified first. Without a deal, SEPTA will reduce service across its five-county network starting August 24, with fare hikes to follow in January.
Arrest in Oxford Valley Mall bus stop shooting
Middletown Township Police have arrested a Philadelphia man in connection with a June 19 shooting at the Oxford Valley Mall. Detectives say 33-year-old Shannon Lewis approached a man near the SEPTA bus stop outside JC Penney, spoke briefly, and then opened fire, striking the victim in the arm. Police say there is no known connection between the two. Surveillance video and SEPTA card data allegedly tied Lewis to the crime. He’s being held at Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10% of $750,000 bail, facing multiple charges including aggravated assault.
DA: ghost guns, 3D weapons, and ‘switches’ challenging police
Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn says advances in firearms technology are creating major hurdles for law enforcement. On WBCB’s Justice For All, Schorn explained that “personally manufactured” weapons — ghost guns and 3D-printed firearms — often lack serial numbers, making them difficult to trace. She also warned about the growing use of “switches,” small devices often purchased from overseas that can convert a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic weapon. “Toe-to-toe with a machine gun, it can outpace a machine gun,” Schorn said. While she confirmed that police have countermeasures, she declined to reveal investigative tactics.
Joe LeCompte hosts LeCompte in the Morning on WBCB 1490. Bradley Vasoli is the senior editor of The Independence.
