New regulations related to fireworks, outdoor lighting and dog waste could soon be in effect in Wrightstown.
At a public meeting on Monday, Nov. 21, the township’s board of supervisors authorized advertising ordinances that would enact the rules within municipal borders.
Advertising the under-consideration regulations is a legally required step before supervisors can take a final vote on whether or not to approve them. Supervisors are scheduled to vote at a public meeting on Dec. 12, at the municipal building.
The lighting ordinance would require that all new outdoor light fixtures installed at commercial properties within Wrightstown must be light emitting diode (LED). Proposed requirements state that shielding must be provided to reduce glare and light trespass.
Furthermore, the ordinance would require all street lighting in residential developments to have LED fixtures with a color temperature of 3000K or less.
“While not part of the ordinance, Wrightstown has an active project to develop a plan to change all halogen street lights to LEDs in 2023,” noted Supervisor Chairman Chester Pogonowski.
A separate ordinance would impose regulations on the usage of fireworks within township borders.
Key provisions under consideration include that consumer fireworks would only be allowed to be ignited or discharged 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 everyday folks 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 proposed 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.”
A third set of regulations supervisors are considering relate to stormwater and include provisions that would make it unlawful for one’s dog to defecate on township property or private property that does not belong to the dog owner. If nature occurs, so to speak, 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,” 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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