Bristol Township · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Bristol Township public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Blight Designation for 5606 Tremont Street
The planning commission will review seven residential properties across Levittown and Croydon to determine if they should be recommended to the council for blighted property designation. This process is a key step in addressing neglected or deteriorated housing in the township.
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.
Commercial Property Lot Line and Parking Adjustments
Liberty Tech is applying to use an M-1 light manufacturing property in Levittown as an employee parking lot for workers from three nearby addresses.
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.
Traffic Safety and Speeding on Newportville Road
Residents of Mayfield Terrace raised serious safety concerns regarding heavy cut-through traffic, speeding vehicles, and commercial trucks violating weight limits on Old Rodgers Road, presenting a petition for traffic calming measures.
Proposed Earned Income Tax Rate Increase
Consultants proposed doubling Bristol Township's earned income tax from 0.5% to 1% to close projected budget deficits driven by rising personnel and operating costs. Because most working residents already pay 1% in other municipalities due to reciprocity rules, the increase would redirect millions back to the township's general fund rather than outside municipalities.
Storage Container Storage & Enforcement Appeal
Walter Rybas sought temporary relief to keep metal storage containers on a residential property, but the board denied the appeal, supporting code enforcement.
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.
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.