The Wrightstown Board of Supervisors aims to soon finalize recommendations for proposed new regulations on electric vehicle charging stations, billboards and wireless communications infrastructure within its borders and the neighboring municipalities of Upper Makefield and Newtown Township.
The board discussed recommendations for ordinances under consideration by the three municipalities, which regulate zoning collaboratively through a jointure, at a public meeting on March 4.
“There is more red ink than black text on the ordinances being considered as of now, but the board would like to make a recommendation on how Wrightstown would like to proceed at our April 1st meeting,” explained Supervisor Chairman Chester Pogonowski.
Upper Makefield and Newtown Township supervisors are also reviewing the ordinances and can elect to suggest changes. The recommendations are then shared with and reviewed by the townships’ three supervisor boards “until all three reach a consensus on the language and the ordinances are authorized for advertisement, public hearing and adoption,” Pogonowski shared.
Just when that consensus may come is unclear.
Still, what’s been under consideration to date can give residents some sense of what may be coming down the pike.
For instance, the EV charging station ordinance would, as currently envisioned, allow residential charging units in all single, multifamily and manufactured housing developments/districts. The ordinance would provide minimal regulation for units to be used by the homeowner and guests, but a homeowner would not be able to sell charging services to others or provide community charging.
“Commercial units will be more highly regulated because these are in public spaces,” said Pogonowski. “There are currently 25 regulations built into the ordinance for commercial use.”
Meanwhile, an under-consideration signs ordinance would look to regulate “off premise signs” – more commonly called billboards.
“The ordinance would define size restrictions based on the speed limit where the sign would be located,” said Pogonowski. “Currently there is one billboard in Wrightstown Township on Route 413. It would make sense that this location be included in the ordinance.”
The Wrightstown supervisors have discussed asking Upper Makefield and Newtown Township to consider an additional location in their townships for inclusion in the ordinance.
Additionally, the townships are looking to redefine local rules related to tower-based and non-tower-based (attached to buildings, water towers, etc.) wireless communications infrastructure to align with current wording in federal regulations. The rules could address “small wireless facilities,” which are typically installed on utility poles within the right of way, Pogonowski said.
“Current Pennsylvania law limits the control a municipality may exercise over the installation of these facilities in the road right of way,” Pogonowski stated.
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