New Morgan Borough

New Morgan Borough is a municipality in southern Berks County, Pennsylvania, with borough offices at 200 Bethlehem Drive, Suite 104, in the New Morgan Industrial Park off Route 10, just north of Morgantown. The borough sits roughly 15 miles south of Reading and about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia, placing it within reach of both the Reading area and the greater Philadelphia region. As a local government office, it handles the administrative, regulatory and planning functions that serve property owners, residents, businesses and developers within its boundaries. Municipal information, including the Code of Ordinances, zoning map, comprehensive plan, budgets, permit applications and meeting records, is published.

History and Formation

New Morgan Borough has one of the more unusual origin stories among Pennsylvania municipalities. The land it occupies, approximately 3,761 acres, was formerly owned by the Bethlehem Steel Company, which operated the site as the Grace Mine. The mine was named for Eugene G. Grace, who served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bethlehem Steel. Production at the Grace Mine ran from 1958 to 1977, a period during which the operation employed as many as 1,100 workers and produced roughly 45 million tons of crude ore, making it a significant industrial presence in southern Berks County for nearly two decades.

After mining operations ceased in 1977, Morgantown Properties acquired the tract. The company renovated several of the former mine operations buildings for leasing and then petitioned the Berks County Court of Common Pleas to have the land incorporated as a borough. Incorporation took place in 1988, and formal governing began in January 1991. The industrial legacy of the site remains visible in the borough's layout, its street names and the industrial park that now houses the municipal offices.

Government Structure

New Morgan Borough is governed by a Borough Council consisting of three members elected at large, along with a Mayor. In addition to Council, the borough maintains two related bodies: the New Morgan Utilities Authority, which oversees water, sewer and related utility matters, and the New Morgan Planning Committee, which reviews land use and development questions.

Council and Authority meetings are held consecutively on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Borough Hall, 200 Bethlehem Drive, Suite 104, Morgantown. Agendas are posted at least 24 hours in advance in accordance with Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act, and the borough maintains an online archive of meeting minutes spanning 2023 through 2026. A public comment policy is published alongside those records, outlining how residents and other interested parties may address Council during meetings.

Permits and Construction

The borough administers building and construction permitting, with downloadable applications available. Permit categories include:

• UCC commercial building permits
• Residential building permits
• Residential accessory building and storage shed permits
• Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) permits
• Alternative energy source installations

Property owners planning additions, new construction, detached structures, system replacements or solar and other alternative energy installations should review the applicable application before beginning work. Having the forms available online allows applicants to prepare documentation in advance of contacting the borough office.

Zoning, Land Development and Planning

Zoning and land development in New Morgan are governed primarily by Chapter 27 (Zoning) and Chapter 22 (Subdivision and Land Development) of the Borough Code, together with the official borough zoning map. The ordinance has been amended over time, including through Ordinance 2019-3. The borough has also advertised a proposed Data Center Overlay, scheduled for public hearing in 2026, reflecting the kind of large-tract development interest that a municipality with thousands of acres of former industrial land can attract.

Public hearing notices are posted for significant regulatory actions. Recent examples include a hearing on a proposed zoning ordinance and map amendment dated February 9, 2026, and the data center overlay hearing dated September 14, 2026. Developers, neighboring property owners and residents who want to follow or comment on these proposals can track the notices and meeting agendas published by the borough.

Code Enforcement and Municipal Regulations

New Morgan Borough enforces its Code of Ordinances across a range of subject areas. The code addresses housing standards, health and safety, conduct, animals, and licenses, permits and general business regulations. Other chapters cover solid waste collection (Chapter 20), streets and sidewalks (Chapter 21), and motor vehicle and traffic provisions. Emergency management functions are established under Chapter 7, with floodplain regulation addressed in Chapter 8.

Publishing the full code online gives property owners, prospective buyers, contractors and business operators a direct reference point for what is permitted and what approvals may be required before proceeding with a project or activity.

Utilities

Water, sewer and stormwater services are managed through the New Morgan Utilities Authority. The governing provisions are found in Chapter 18 (Sewers and Sewage Disposal), Chapter 23 (Stormwater Management) and Chapter 26 (Water) of the Borough Code. Because Authority meetings run consecutively with Council meetings on the second Monday of the month, residents and property owners can address both municipal and utility matters on the same evening at the same location.

Taxes and Finances

The total real estate property tax rate for New Morgan Borough is set at 18.6 mills. Special taxation provisions appear in Chapter 24 of the Borough Code. Annual budgets are posted, along with the comprehensive plan, allowing residents and businesses to review municipal spending priorities and long range planning documents.

Practical Information

• Address: 200 Bethlehem Drive, Suite 104, Morgantown, PA 19543, in the New Morgan Industrial Park on Route 10
• Meetings: Council and Utilities Authority, second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m., held consecutively
• Established: Incorporated 1988, with governance beginning January 1991

For a municipality of its size, New Morgan Borough maintains a substantial body of publicly accessible documentation. Anyone considering construction, a land development application, a business operation or a property purchase within the borough will find the relevant ordinances, maps, forms and meeting records organized and available for review, with monthly public meetings providing a regular forum for questions and comment.