Rewriting the Rulebook for Greener Communities

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 invasive species and their cultivars. The updates also introduce new diversity standards for species, set stricter tree protection zone requirements, and revise approved plant lists to favor hardy, native, and disease-resistant options while removing non-native and invasive selections. Furthermore, the changes mandate the use of native, pollinator-supporting vegetation in stormwater management areas and establish more rigorous landscaping requirements for parking lots, buffer yards, and multi-family developments, all while adhering to updated planting and nursery standards for quality control.