Bristol Township · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Bristol Township public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Residential Deck and Impervious Surface Variances
A homeowner in Croydon is asking for permission to build a rear yard patio that exceeds normal impervious surface limits and cuts into rear yard setback requirements.
Commercial Metal Container Accessory Use at 2631 Durham Rd.
Iffy’s Hot Chicken is seeking local approval to use metal shipping or storage containers as accessory structures on a commercial property along Durham Road.
Residential Addition and Coverage Variances at 522 Stanford Rd.
Fairless Hills homeowners are requesting major zoning flexibility to allow a home addition, shed, and patio, including significantly more hard surfaces and zero side yard setback.
School Superintendent Appointment
Bristol Township is getting a new school leader as longtime Superintendent Michael Nitti retires. This hiring decision will set the direction for local schools and student policies for years to come.
Street Lighting Maintenance and LED Control Systems
A resident questioned what happened to the smart street light control system purchased in 2013, noting that automated fault-reporting nodes are no longer functioning. Officials confirmed that the original lighting vendor went out of business and the automation features never fully worked, leaving the township reliant on standard photocells and visual reporting.
Childcare Facility Approvals
The board reviewed two daycare applications, approving a new group daycare on Russett Lane and allowing a long-standing family daycare on Emily Avenue to continue operating until retirement. Neighbors and former officials spoke in strong support of the Emily Avenue daycare.
Commercial Parking Relief for Outdoor Dining
Pineda Real Estate secured a variance for an outdoor patio at Yordana's Pizza, with neighborhood-backed conditions restricting music, hours, and liquor sales.
Traffic Safety and Speeding Concerns on Snowden Avenue
Residents voiced concerns about speeding vehicles and a lack of stop signs on Snowden Avenue, requesting traffic studies and additional stop signs.
Blight Remediation on Tremont Street
A resident expressed frustration over inconsistent code enforcement and uninspected home improvement projects in his neighborhood, asking for better communication from the township.
Commercial Garage Expansion at 815 Patterson Avenue
Womack RE Holdings is building a 6,000-square-foot garage at the old Croydon firehouse site, which will improve stormwater management and bring old pavement standards up to date.
New Commercial Building at 5790 Bristol Pike
Carrier 52 is developing a vacant lot on Bristol Pike into a 4,800 square-foot building dedicated to truck sales and repairs. The plan includes infiltration trenches for stormwater and several design waivers for tight site dimensions.
DCED Grant Application for Digital Document Management
The township is applying for a 50% matching state grant to help fund a $600,000 paperless document management system with Scantek.
Freight Train Horn Noise in Bordering Areas
A resident requested council assistance in mitigating excessive freight train horn noise during nighttime hours caused by industrial rail movements.
United Way Parking Relief at 2901 Edgeley Road
The United Way is relocating its headquarters and community center to Edgeley Road and received permission to keep its existing 56 parking spaces instead of paving over green space for hundreds of unneeded spots.
Historic Preservation Support for Bolton Mansion
Representatives from the Friends of Bolton Mansion invited council and township staff to collaborate on historical preservation and potential Community Development Block Grant funding.
GFO Stone Building Expansion on Veterans Highway
GFO Stone is expanding its existing warehouse by over 12,000 square feet to bring its granite, quartz, and marble storage entirely indoors. The project includes stormwater management upgrades and parking lot improvements.
Annual Council Reorganization and Appointments
The township council organized its leadership and appointed professional firms like engineers and solicitors for the upcoming year.