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Municipal Planning Code (MPC) Introduction So, let’s start with the basis of land planning, the Municipal Planning Code. Established by Act 247 in 1968, the MPC became effective on January 1, 1969. The purpose is to promote safety, coordinate development, and protect resources. It must do this while not preventing or impeding an owner’s need for
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The month of October is designated as REALTOR® Reach Out month by the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS as an initiative to encourage local associations to spearhead outreach projects in our area. Our Association likes to take time to highlight community service projects that our offices have participated in. Below is a highlight of some of the
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On December 17th, members of the Reading-Berks Association of REALTORS® Commercial and Industrial Council met with David Myers and John Weidenhammer of the Berks Alliance to discuss the Alliance’s recent study on restoring passenger rail between the Cities of Philadelphia and Reading. The last train to Philadelphia left Reading on June 30th,
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A week after Reading City Council voted not to reauthorize the Reading Downtown Improvement District, Council Vice President Lucine Sihelnik reintroduced an ordinance to reauthorize DID, sparking an intense debate. Four other members of Council: Marmarou, Ventura, Reed, and Cepeda-Freytiz, voted in favor of removing the ordinance from the agenda, but the
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To call 2020 a tumultuous year would be an understatement. Earlier this year, our entire industry was faced with an unprecedented crisis, and our association came together to get real estate moving again. Statewide, members sent more than 12,000 letters and made more than 24,000 phone calls to the Governor in support of HB 2412, a bill that was introduced
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Throughout Berks County, local officials are trying to figure out how to respond to requests to open up group homes for people with disabilities in residential neighborhoods. On December 9th, 2020, the City of Reading Zoning Hearing Board voted 4-0 to deny a variance request to allow two individuals with disabilities to live together in a R-1 Residential
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As someone who has had one too many terrifying experiences as a REALTOR®, it is important to never let your guard down. As REALTORS® we are in vulnerable situations every day. From a busy suburban neighborhood in broad daylight to a high-rise open house on a weekend. The only way we can ensure that we are safe, is to take our safety into our own
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Greetings Members, I came to the Reading-Berks Association of REALTORS® from the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS® at the end of February this year. At that time, I was looking forward to meeting the members as quickly as I could and thinking of new implementable ideas for this association. Little did I know that this “novel
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