An August 2024 memorandum from the Bucks County Planning Commission details a proposed amendment to the Joint Municipal Zoning Ordinance to establish the LI/O-LI Newtown Commons Overlay District.

The primary goal of this new overlay district is to permit and encourage mixed-use development, including Town Center Apartments, within the existing Light Industrial and Office-Light Industrial zones to create a more walkable and vibrant community.

The revised proposal specifically requires conditional use approval for all uses within the overlay, affording the governing body greater oversight compared to the previous version which allowed some uses by-right.

Detailed provisions cover everything from public space requirements and streetscape design to building design, parking standards, and residential density limits.