Billboards, Charging Stations Under Review

WRIGHSTOWN, Pa. -- There’s a lot of talk these days in neighboring Newtown, Upper Makefield and Wrightstown townships about a certain issue. The concern? Billboards and electric vehicle charging stations. Should stations be allowed and where? And in the case of billboards, are more expected to join the lone billboard that exists today on Route 413 in Wrightstown?

The Newtown Area Joint Zoning Council – the body here that collectively reviews zoning rules in the three municipalities – now is considering regulations on the subject. In fact, two ordinances recently were written for the board of supervisors and planning commissions in the respective municipalities to review and alter.

“Each township is on its own schedule for review and proposing changes, fitting the reviews in between other project reviews,” said Chester Pogonowski, supervisor chairman, Wrightstown Township.

He said the ordinances as now written are not the finished product and could, in fact, be changed after a review by the three municipalities – a process that could take most of the coming year, he said.

One billboard exists today among the three towns -- on Route 413 in Wrightstown. Current zoning regulations do not address billboards, but the newly drafted measure identifies locations, said Pogonowski.

“It would establish regulations for the placement of billboards within the jointure municipalities and would establish specific areas where billboards would be permitted,” he said.

The zoning council also put together regulations related to electric vehicle charging stations for commercial and residential use, the former with more “highly regulated” rules for location, design and use.

“The ordinance also makes a distinction between the placement of a limited number of units in front of a store or office, and a service station approach where the entire lot is dedicated to vehicle charging,” said Pogonowski.

He said commercial stations would be permitted to charge a fee for usage.

“But residential units would be for private property use only, and would not be able to be used to provide a service for others either for free or with payment,” he said.

(How would you vote? Share this and ask your friends. )

Zoning board reviews billboards like this one.Photo byCharlie DeetsonUnsplash