New regulations regarding fireworks, dog waste and outdoor lighting are taking effect in Wrightstown.
At a public meeting on Dec. 19, the three-person board of supervisors that locally governs the township approved ordinances that implement the rules within the municipality.
Going forward, consumer fireworks are only allowed to be ignited or discharged in Wrightstown during certain holidays, dates and times, unless a special permit is received.
Permissible holidays include Memorial Day Weekend, July 4th, Labor Day Weekend, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year and Diwali. In general, allowed times are between noon and 10 p.m.
Consumer fireworks are ones that people over the age of 18 can legally purchase in Pennsylvania.
The ordinance also addresses display fireworks, which are large fireworks to be used solely by professional pyrotechnicians and designed primarily to produce visible or audible effects by combustion, deflagration, or detonation.
“It shall be unlawful,” the ordinance reads, “for any person, persons, firms or corporations, amusement parks, fair associations or other organizations or groups of individuals to utilize display fireworks within the limits of the township unless a permit therefor is first granted by the board of supervisors.”
Furthermore, the new local law states that the use of display fireworks must be conducted, handled and supervised by a state-licensed operator.
Meanwhile, a separate approved ordinance requires that all new outdoor light fixtures installed at commercial properties within Wrightstown must be light emitting diode (LED). Requirements state that shielding must be provided to reduce glare and light trespass.
Additionally, the ordinance requires all street lighting in residential developments to have LED fixtures with a color temperature of 3000K or less.
The third approved ordinance focuses on stormwater and includes provisions that make it unlawful for one’s dog to defecate on township property or private property that does not belong to the dog owner. If such an act of nature occurs on such properties, then the dog owner must immediately clean it up.
“We are required to address dog waste and it was not previously covered in our ordinances,” Supervisor Chairman Chester Pogonowski explained. “Dog waste, if left unaddressed, can potentially contaminate downstream rainwater runoff and lead to contamination of the Neshaminy Creek.”
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